Infinity & Always Read Online Free Page A

over at me.
    We
arrive at the apartment and he asks me to come up to talk. Following
him I feel sad when I walk in. This has been my home for three years
and I have to admit, it feels horrible being away from it.
    “You
want some dinner?” he asks.
    “No,
thanks. I just had a shake.”
    I
automatically sit on my side of the sofa and kick off my shoes while
pulling the throw over myself. I snuggle down. Knox brings me in a
cup of hot chocolate and stops when he sees me. He looks confused and
puts the drink down on the table.
    “You
okay?” I ask, watching him.
    “Yeah,
it just brings back memories seeing you like that.”
    “Oh
sorry,” I quickly pull off the throw and sit up putting my
shoes back on. “Thanks for the drink.”
    “I
didn’t mean for you to get up, Bailey.”
    I
wave him off and take a sip of the hot liquid. I don’t know why
I even came here.
    “I
want to come with you,” he blurts out.
    “Excuse
me?” I ask, looking over at him, wondering why he has decided
to be by my side now.
    “I
mean go to Grove with you.”
    “I
know what you meant,” I smirk at him. “I just don’t
know why now.”
    “I’ve
been thinking about things lately, and I know I have been acting like
an overprotective ass. I just want to keep you safe darlin’,
that’s all I ever wanted since seeing you after that last time
in court. I couldn’t take it anymore. He fucked you up again,
and I lost you.”
    I
remember that last day I was in court and I had to Provide testimony
against Ben. He sat in the courtroom with a smug look on his face as
I relived what he did to me. His attorney tried to make out that I
provoked him and I hit him first, but it was his word against mine. I
was a wreck afterward. I stayed in bed for weeks and wouldn’t
talk to anyone or let Knox near me. My nightmares even came back,
adding to the list of problems.
    “Bailey?”
    Turning,
I find Knox staring at me with a worried expression. “I’m
fine Knox. I should go.”
    “No,
I don’t want you to go,” he says taking hold of my arm.
“I’m sorry darlin’, I miss you like crazy, and I
know I shouldn’t have told you leave. I was just angry and hurt
and…” he closes his eyes and sighs. “I want you
back, all of you, Bailey, not just the shell. I love you so much
darlin’, this is killing me.”
    “Me too, but I don’t trust myself, Knox. I don’t
know if I can give you everything again.”
    “I
still have everything, darlin’. I never gave it back, so you
can’t justify that answer.”
    I
can’t help but smile. I know he owns every piece of my heart
and soul, but I also know that over the next few weeks I won’t
be what he wants me to be.
    “You
know how this will play out Knox. I don’t think you understand
just how much Ben has affected my life. Every part of me hurts from
him and therapy helped, but it didn’t heal me. I don’t
think anything can.”
    “I
can darlin’. I promise I can. Just let me in,” he begs.
“Baby,” he whispers.
    Closing
my eyes, I fight hard to keep him out. I feel like I’m drowning
without him, but drifting out to sea when we are together.
    “Don’t
darlin’, don’t shut me out.”
    Opening
my eyes, I look at him for a long time. I want so much to crawl back
into his arms, but my resolve builds again, one brick at a time and
Knox deflates. I can see it in his face the minute I harden my heart
against his words. He lets my hands drop and falls back against the
sofa, rubbing his face. I walk out of the apartment without another
word, only stopping on the stairs, ready to run back to him. But I
force me feet forward and drive home, mentally healing the wound I
just caused myself.

 
Chapter 3
     
    Over
the last few weeks, I have pushed myself in my classes and practice.
The date for the court has been set for November 5th. Pulling into
the office, I go straight up to my dad’s and sink down into the
chair.
    “Hi,
sweetheart.”
    “Hi,
Dad.”
    “Good
news,” he smiles at me,