Set Me Free Read Online Free Page B

keep making her so scared, she must have encountered him somewhere else. There's got to be more to it."
    "Have you asked her?"
    Zach gave his friend a droll glare. "You've seen her, right? She's a sack of bones with black bags under her eyes. She's exhausted."
    "Where's she been?"
    Zach's jaw clenched. "Homeless, just walking around, eating scraps and sleeping in dumpsters." His gut ached as he pictured her frail and alone. "I just want to take care of her. She needs to recover and then we can deal with this."
    Elliot pursed his lips, lightly kicking the bannister with the toe of Converse. "Just don't leave it too long. If the threat is real then we need to act sooner rather than later. You guys have no hope if this doesn't end. What she gonna do? Follow you to Arizona? We both know she hasn't graduated. Is she gonna fake her way through college too? You can't live your life looking over your shoulder and that's exactly what you'll be doing if you stay with her."
    "I'm staying with her." Zach's voice was hard and sure, although Elliot still looked skeptical.
    "I want you to have a life, man. A good one. You deserve it."
    "I'm not ditching her."
    "I'm not asking you to. Just don't sit on your ass all summer. Find a way to help her get out of this mess."
    "I will."
    Elliot nodded. "I'm here for you; whatever you need. I want in on this."
    Zach's eyes narrowed as he looked up at him. "You're not falling for her too are you?"
    "Get real." Elliot rolled his eyes. "I just admire her, you know. Most people would have buckled, but she just quietly survived. I think that's kinda cool."
    "So you get why I fell for her then?"
    Elliot rolled his eyes again. "I knew the second I saw her you'd be a goner. You're so lame."
    "I love you too, man." Zach slapped his best friend's arm with a grin before jumping up and pulling him into a headlock. They tussled their way down the stairs and exploded into the kitchen, making everyone jump.
    Pulling and pushing each other a few more times, they finally sat down at the table a scraggly, laughing mess and dove into their pancakes. AJ was in the middle of some story about a patron at the restaurant where he cooked. He always spoke with so much flair. Lucy was laughing, the sweetest sound in the world. Zach couldn't stop looking at her as he popped a blueberry into his mouth. Her straight little nose crinkled as she threw her head back and tapped the table. Everyone else was chuckling too, everyone except Jaeda.
    She was so demure today and Zach knew why. When it came to her "family" she was like a lioness. You hurt my family, I rip your head off. She wanted to hurt Lucy big time and it made Zach wish he hadn't moped so much when she first split.
    "So going to miss that guy when we leave for college." AJ shook his head then winked at Liesl.
    "Where are you guys going?" Lucy's voice was soft. I knew the others probably wouldn't notice, but there was a yearning in her tone. She knew college was a pipe dream and it hurt Zach's heart to watch her.
    "I got into Texas Culinary Academy and Liesl's going to the University of Texas in Austin."
    "That's so cool you guys." Lucy grinned, obviously loving the fact they would still be close.
    Liesl nodded, squeezing AJ's hand and giving him a kiss on his round cheek.
    "How about you?" Jaeda's eyes bore into Lucy. "You heading to Arizona?"
    Lucy's brows wrinkled. "Why would I do that?"
    Zach's stomach hitched as Jaeda's eyebrow arched. "Well, didn't you know? That's where Zachy's going."
    Lucy's soft lips parted as she turned to look at him, her blue eyes dancing with pleasure. "You got into the Journalism School?"
    He nodded, trying to contain his grin. It had been the only thing to get him really excited since she left.
    "That is so awesome. Congratulations."
    Her unchecked pleasure at his success was testament to everyone at the table how she really felt about him. Liesl caught Zach's gaze and gave him a sweet smile. Lucy was instantly forgiven in her eyes. AJ was