Rock My Heart (Luminescent Juliet #4) Read Online Free

whine.
    Pick. Pick. Pick. Jason shakes his head too as we
both stare at the hole slowly growing in his jeans.
    Jeff asks Misha to share, and she’s soon relating
one of her customary sexcapdes with a stranger. She
is pouring it on thick today. Most likely for our newest member.  
    I take a peek at our newest member. Arms crossed,
muscles bunched, and large boots crossed out in front of him, he seems to be
bored, appearing to not listen as Misha describes
performing oral sex in a bar bathroom. Chad is transfixed. Jeff tries not to
appear shocked as usual. Jason picks. And I wonder if I can keep doing this,
especially with Gabe here now.
    Less
than three more months , I tell myself.
    Next it’s Chad’s turn. He goes on and on about his
stepfather who is ruining his life with chores and the demand of getting a job.
I’m pretty sure Chad is here via his mother who had created the self-indulgent
monster and doesn’t know what to do with him anymore. So this group is stuck with him.
    Obviously bored with the never ending complaining,
Gabe glances around every now and then, but his view never stops on me, which
is relieving. I’m still attempting to get over the shock of seeing him across
our little circle.
    After twenty minutes of Chad whining about his evil
step dad, Jeff goes back to droning, mostly about goals. However, as soon as he
says, “Your first goal will be the simplest. Next week I want you all to think
of something new to share. Whatever you want. A great memory, a favorite family
member, a time when you felt down…anything. You have a whole week to think of
something, therefore be prepared next week,” he says, his regard shifting over
Jason and me.
    Oh, how manipulative, a new way to force Jason and I
to share. I’m already planning on something mundane.
    “Well, gang,”—Jeff’s reference to us as a gang is so
nerve grating it even causes me irritation—“we’ll meet next week same time and same place,” he says with a
goofy smirk as if he’s being funny.
    I grab my purse and escape out into the hall, then
past the receptionist’s desk.
    Jason, as usual, is right behind me.
    As I step into a warm autumn afternoon, my hand on
the logo, New Hope Center , in the
middle of the glass, I turn and ask, “Need a ride?”
    After seeing him walking away the first time, I ask
Jason if he wants a ride following every session.
    “No thanks,” he quietly says like always and turns
toward the sidewalk.
    “All right, see you next time.” I sigh and head into
the parking lot of the medical facility, which is mostly doctor and dentist’s
offices. Apparently everyone, except me, and Gabe, live in the area.
    I had done a ton of research before I agreed to join this group. Partial insurance
coverage and discreet were my top priorities when it was recommended to me.
Mainly, I didn’t want anyone to know I was in a therapy group . People tend to think I’m perfect. Not
that I am perfect—quite the opposite—but it’s a persona I’ve learned to
cultivate. It keeps me on the straight and narrow, or more specifically, aiming
toward fake perfection keeps from losing it, as in becoming depressed to the
point of won’t-get-out-of-bed.
    As I near my car and click unlock, I wonder how Gabe
ended up here. Since we’re all close in age? Wanted discreet? The partial
insurance? Probably not. His joining was court ordered and I’m sure he didn’t
have a choice. Not that I had much of one.
    Opening my door, I recall my vow five days ago to
stay away from Luminescent Juliet. Just my luck that the person I wanted to
stay away from is in my therapy group. I go to shut my door, except someone
outside, specifically the grip on the door handle, stops me.
    I glance up and meet a pair of hard, mahogany
colored eyes partially hidden by wisps of hair. Gabe looks anything but
indifferent now.  
    I let the handle go and he stumbles back a bit. “Can
I help you?” I ask innocently, though my heart is beating wildly in my