Out of Breath (Exposed Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

and gave away your cat so you could go
on the trip of a lifetime.”
    “Yeah.”
    “So you have to find some meaning outside of her. For both your
sakes. Make a bucket list or something.”
    “I don’t think I have time for a whole list.”
    “Well at least do some things you’ve always wanted to do.”
    My mind drew a blank.
    She stuck her finger in the air. “Like you’re always saying
you’d like to do one of those nude drawing classes.”
    “Yeah…”
    “And you’ve always wanted to go to the ballet.”
    “Some bucket list so far,” I said. “So glad you mentioned it.”
    “And you used to talk about wanting to write a book."
    "Did I?"
    "Yeah. About your sexual adventures and what you learned
from them after you read that other book. What was it?”
    “Advice to a Young Wife from an Old Mistress.”
    “No, that’s not it.”
    “No. That is it, and you’re totally busted.”
    “My bad.”
    “I bought you a copy of it and everything!”
    “I just haven’t had the time.”
    “You get emails that are longer than that book!”
    “Okay. I suck. Can we get back to the point for a second?”
    “The point is no one wants to read some single, past-their-prime
Cancer statistics’ opinions on sex and relationships.”
    “Not true. In fact, that’s exactly what’s popular right now.”
    “You’re so full of it.”
    “I am.” She smoothed her hair back towards her low bun. “But the
only reason it’s not is because you haven’t written the damn thing.”
    “Who’s going to read it, Tina?”
    “Me.”
    I laughed. “Well in that case, I’ll get right on it.”
    “You should.” Tina stood and put her hand on my shoulder. “Even if
I was the only one that read it, it would be nice for you to leave me
something.”
    “As if you don’t already have everything you want.”
    “True. But I don’t have anything of yours. To remember you by.”
    “What do you want?”
    “Well none of your furniture or jewelry that’s for sure.” 
    I shook my head. “You can be such a bitch.”
    “So write it. For me. And Kate. I bet she would read it.”
    “She might,” I said. “If it existed.”
    “I’m glad I could help. I was starting to think I was just an
accessory for you to bounce ideas off of.”
    “Not at all.” I smiled. “I also needed to meet you so I could
get your spare key for Kate.”
    Tina reached in her purse where it was hanging on the back of
her chair and pulled out a key ring that looked more expensive than my car.
Then she got my spare key loose and handed it to me.  
    “Thanks,” I said, placing on the table.
    “Of course.” Tina slung her bag over her shoulder. “Call you
later?”
    “Sounds good.”
    She took two steps and turned back in my direction. “Dawn?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I’m glad you’re sticking around a while.”
    “I know,” I said. “Me, too.”
     

Chapter 5: Kate
     
     
    Annie wedged her cigarette butt into the crowded ashtray, and I watched
the last trickle of smoke rise towards the umbrella that stuck out from her
patio table.
    “So how long do you think you’re going to stay with your Aunt?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. As long as she’ll let me. I mean, she’s
way chiller than my parents.” I lowered my cigarette and ashed on the ground.
    “And it’s cool with your Mom and Dad?”
    “Honestly, they were gonna send me to live somewhere else anyway.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Like to a boarding school or something for wild kids like me.”
I forced a smile.
    “Fuck me. Do they think you’re that wild?”
    I shrugged. “They never drank or smoked at our age.”
    “So what? I swear they’ve gotten worse.”
    “I think my getting caught when Trey’s got busted did it.
They’ve been, like, super paranoid since then.”
    “It’s not like you got alcohol poisoning. Danielle said you guys
weren’t even that shitty.”
    “We were kinda shitty.”
    “Shittier than usual?”
    “No.” I said, gearing up to