Tied - Part One Read Online Free Page A

“We should celebrate.”
     
    “How?”
     
    “However you like!” She retrieved her guitar and strummed a few chords. “We could do another open mic night.”
     
    “Definitely.” I flopped down on the couch and she returned to her chair, positioned next to the television. “Let me hear what you’re working on.”
     
    We were practicing the harmony of Alexa’s new song when she had to leave for her job some local bar called Coconut Cup. “I’d invite you but the place is really cheesy and the drinks are worse,” she joked.
     
    “I don’t drink, anyway.”
     
    “I know. But just being in their presence would rot your teeth.”
     
    She gave me another quick hug on her way out the door. “I’m super stoked that you’re here,” she said, smiling, “We’re gonna have a great time.”
     
    Then she was gone. And I was alone in the apartment.
     
    The silence was crushing, despite the fact that it wasn’t the least bit silent in the room. It was strange to be left by myself - the place didn’t feel like home yet. How could it? I felt like an intruder. But I’ll be paying rent soon. This month. It will get better .
     
    Still, feeling so shaken and out of place, I knew who I had to call.
     
    I picked out Patrick’s number in my phone and hit dial. My sponsor had promised to pick up no matter what time of day I called, especially while I was adjusting to the move, but I still paced while it rang and prayed he’d pick up.
     
    “Katherine,” he said, “Hi!”
     
    I released a long breath of relief. “Patrick. It’s good to hear your voice.”
     
    “Is everything okay?”
     
    “Yeah. Actually everything’s great. I got a tutoring job.”
     
    “Congrats!”
     
    “I feel like a fraud.” I’d learned long ago that I didn’t need to bother with dancing around the problem - not with Patrick.
     
    “You say that every time you get a gig,” he said.
     
    “Because it’s true. Because I am.” He was right, I’d sung this song before, but a lump formed in my throat anyway.
     
    His voice was firm. “You aren’t a fraud, Katherine. You made one mistake. One single mistake. And you sought out help, and now you’re healing, and you’re succeeding. Do you deserve to lose all your dreams over one mistake?”
     
    “No,” I said, my voice small. A nagging part of me still said “yes.” But that part grew smaller with time.
     
    “Should your entire future be ruined because of one poor choice?”
     
    “I guess not.”
     
    “I want you to be more certain than that.”
     
    I sighed. “I know. I think the whole move is just stressing me out.”
     
    “When can we get together?”
     
    “Well…” Should I invite him? Would it be weird? I spit it out before I could argue with myself too much. “My roommates are throwing this party in just a few days. You could come. If you want.”
     
    “Just text me in the info and I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER 3
     
    A Tuesday was a strange night to host a party, but there we were with a full apartment.
     
    I’d had my first shift with Lockett’s niece and nephew that afternoon. I’d picked them up from the bus stop (nanny duties, as predicted), then helped eight-year-old Amber with a few things she struggled with in her science books. Thursday would be history with ten-year-old Finn. The rest of my time I’d spent searching for a second gig to fill up a few more days of the week.
     
    The party wasn’t as wild as I was afraid it would be. Mallet and Lockett had invited some of their fighter friends, and though the guys were loud, they didn’t want to party hard enough to affect their training.
     
    Alexa’s friends from her bar, on the other hand, were finishing off drinks at an alarming rate. At least it was alarming to me - but I knew I was hyperconscious of it. They all seemed to be doing just fine.
     
    Relax. Have fun . This was no different than Alexa’s post-Christmas gathering - maybe there were a few more people, but everyone