Single Wide Female: The Bucket List Mega Bundle - 24 Books (Books #1-24) Read Online Free Page A

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    “Nothing to see here…” I walked fast across the room and opened the door. As it fell shut behind me, I heard the woman whisper to the other people in the circle.
    “Some of us just aren’t ready to ask for help yet. One day she’ll admit she has a problem and we’ll be here for her.”
    I groaned and tried to edge my way along the wall. I didn’t think I was going to make it all the way back to my apartment like this. Would I be arrested for indecent exposure? Would I offend nuns and small children? My heart was pounding with embarrassment. I was certain that I could not possibly feel worse.
    Then a car driving beside me began to slow down. I pretended not to notice. Just keep going, I told myself.
    “Sam, is that you?” a familiar voice asked as the car pulled to a stop.
    In that moment I cursed myself for challenging the universe. I had been certain nothing could make my situation worse, and now I was about to be proved wrong. Not only was I to be humiliated in front of my entire neighborhood, but also in front of the man whose face occupied ninety percent of my fantasies. I refused to look in his direction.
    “Go away, Max!” I said, already too embarrassed for words.
    “Oh, come on, what’s wrong?” he asked.
    I knew he wasn’t going to let it go unless I confessed. I glanced up and over at him. Again, things got worse. He was the passenger in a flashy convertible, with a drop-dead gorgeous woman, and I was walking around with a paper towel covering my bottom. Ha ha, universe.
    “Nothing. I’m fine,” I said and kept walking. I might have been able to ask for a ride, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I would rather walk home in shame than reveal what had happened to me to Max. He climbed out of the car and followed after me.
    “Max?” the woman who was driving called out, not sounding happy at all.
    Max ignored her as he caught up with me. “Why do you have that paper towel—”
    The woman in the convertible, apparently annoyed that Max would abandon her, drove off, causing a slight breeze to ruffle my paper towel.
    “Oh my god.” Max ran up behind me and put his hands on my waist, using his own body to shield me from view. “What happened?” He was laughing, seemingly unconcerned about his fleeing ride.
    “It’s not funny,” I said, feeling increasingly more irritated. I tried not to think about how close he was to me.
    “Oh, yes it is.” He laughed harder and had to rest his head on the back of my neck to keep from losing his balance, he was laughing so hard.
    “I’m so very glad that my embarrassing moment is amusing to you,” I said, putting some distance between us as I turned around to look at him. “Now, give me your shirt.”
    “My shirt?” He looked down at it. “No way, this is brand new. Besides, I don’t want to walk around with no shirt on.” He glanced around. “People have no decency any more.”
    I glared over my shoulder at him and pointed to the paper towel.
    “If you make me walk home like this, I promise you I will turn all of your underwear pink.” I had been doing most of his laundry, whenever I did my own, for the past ten years.
    “Well, what are you going to give me for it?”
    God, he was being obnoxious.
    “My undying affection,” I said as sweetly as I could.
    Our conversation was starting to draw more attention. The paper towel was steadily flapping in the light breeze.
    “I already have that, don’t I?” The expression on his face changed a little bit.
    For just a moment I thought he might be hinting that he knew about my crush.
    “Okay, fine, then what do you want?”
    I was getting impatient now. I didn’t like that he was being so cruel when I was so embarrassed. He knew he could get me to do just about anything, and he was taking advantage of it.

Chapter 7

    There was a strange expression on Max’s face again, but only for a second. “If I give you my shirt, then you have to promise me you’ll let me read that piece of