Next to Me Read Online Free Page A

tea and continued fiddling with the menu.
    “Not at all, Walter, but I like it.” She was flirting. It was shameless and she didn’t care. Something about him made her feel good. When Sophie returned they both ordered the burger and fries, talking about themselves as they waited.
    “Where are you originally from, Whitney?” It had been a while since a guy was interested about anything but her measurements and the color of her underwear. She was elated, suspicious, and overwhelmed.
    “I’m from here. Lived here with my family since I was born doing nothing much. How about you, Mr. Morris, are you from somewhere exciting?”
    “I wish,” he said. “I’m from Stanley County, and I’ve lived there my whole life.” Stanley County was only a thirty-minute drive from Ruftin, so he lived close.
    “What are you doing in Ruftin if you live in Stanley?” Whitney said. She couldn’t help her curiosity and wanted to know as much about him as she could. Their food came at that moment and they spent a few minutes situating plates and applying condiments. She wasn’t hungry at all, her stomach was angry with all the coke and liquor she’d made it take, but she didn’t want to look anorexic, so she nibbled her fries.
    “I was just passing through and got a little hungry. I was hoping for a stiff drink, but you’ll do just as nicely.” Whitney wondered if that was a compliment or not and continued barely eating her fries. “Would you like to go for a ride after your shift?”
    Secretly she was hoping he would ask, but didn’t want to be too eager. “That would be cool.” Time to try and eat the burger without looking like a pig; it was hard to take a dainty bite of the monster. Before she’d taken two bites he was already almost completely done with his meal. They spoke a little more about their likes and dislikes, but didn’t go into anything too deep, and made plans to see each other later.
    Smiling, he finished off the last bite of his burger and held his arm up for Sophie to bring the check. “I have some things to take care of in town, and then I’ll come back and pick you up around ten. Will that work?”
    “Yes.” Whitney was excited. She knew she wouldn’t look her best, but the thrill of riding with him overrode her vanity.
    The jealousy of her co-workers couldn’t touch her as she went through the rest of the shift with a smile on her face. Tonight was going to be an amazing time, and she was thinking Walter might just be worth a second or third night.
    It was almost time for closing and Whitney was anticipating going out with Walter when she felt a tug on her hair. She’d been counting her money down at a booth when someone came up and pulled her hair. It was more than a tug. It actually really hurt. Whipping her head around, she saw a skinny girl with red hair piled on top of her head and huge hoop earrings. The chick wore a tight tank top that said Sex Kitten and shorts that were so short her pockets stuck out.
    “What the hell?” Whitney started, but the girl grabbed her hair again and pulled her out of the booth.
    “I don’t know who the hell you think you are.”
    “I’m sorry, but why do you keep pulling my hair?” she asked, noticing that they’d pulled in an audience and all the waitresses were watching.
    “Don’t pretend you don’t recognize me. You came into the bar I work at and you took my boyfriend home with you. What kind of trashy whore does that? Even after you saw that we were fighting, you went home with him. You don’t think I know, but my friend saw you get picked up at three in the morning, so I know you went home with him.”
    “Jason?” Whitney didn’t remember seeing the couple fight, or knowing that they were together at all.
    “Don’t say his name.” The girl slapped Whitney and it took a lot not to pull the hoop earrings right out of her ears.
    “I’m not going to fight you here,” she said, looking around and seeing her boss was watching. Hannah would