Waking Charley Vaughan Read Online Free Page B

it. Either way, I need to stop at my place to get clothes and stuff.”
    “Exactly what I was afraid of,” she mumbled, rolling her eyes.
    As upset as I was, I couldn’t help giving her a small smile. I wondered if this would be harder on her than it was for me.
    At around 10 o’clock, Sara turned the SUV onto my street, and parked in front of my building.
    “Matt is my brother,” she said finally. “I love him, but I also love you, and what he did to you was wrong. You deserve better. That being said, I know you, Charley, you aren’t going to be able to move on without some closure. Eventually, you’re going to have to talk to him. Until you are ready for that, I have no problems playing bodyguard. So please don’t try to keep me out of this. It’s too late. I’m in it.”
    I wasn’t really surprised she had taken my side in this. She and I had been close since that day we literally ran into one another on campus. Instead of grabbing a quick coffee, we’d spent the entire afternoon talking. It was strange to find out how much the two of us had in common.
    She’d been the one to introduce me to Matt. She never really wanted me to go out with him. She told me from the beginning that he was a jerk, but I ignored her. I’d fallen in love with his kind eyes, and sweet smile from the moment I met him. Yet, some part of me had probably always seen this coming. That part of me that knew that it was too good to be true, and that guys who are jerks to everyone else, will eventually be jerks to you, too.  
    I looked at my best friend and smiled weakly. “Thanks Sara,”
    “Always, Midge,” she replied. “Should we go get some clothes and stuff for you?”
    “Actually…” I began, and Sara sighed.
    “I knew it,” she said sadly. “I knew you weren’t really going to stay at my place. Why won’t you ever let me help you?” her voice was annoyed and a little sad.
    “It’s not that,” I explained. “I just think…maybe I should be alone right now. It’s a lot to process, and I don’t want to drag you into my crazy head right now.”
    Sara rolled her eyes. “You make zero sense right now. You know he is just going to show up here.”
    “I know. I don’t have to answer the door, though.”
    “You will,” she said, sounding sure. She was right and we both knew it.
    “I don’t know, Sara,” I sighed. “I just need to be alone for a few hours to process. Just give me a few hours to decompress. I’ll come to your house after I’ve had some time.”
    This seemed to appease her slightly. We argued over details, but finally agreed upon my sleeping at her apartment for the next two nights if she would agree to give me some time alone to process the events of the night. She said she’d try to hold Matt off as long as she could.
    “Thanks,” was all I said as I started to get out of her car. As I was fishing in my massive purse for my keys, Sara got out and walked around to the sidewalk where I stood. “Come here, Midge,” she said again. She wrapped me up in her long arms once more. This time my cry was shorter, and less powerful. I was already so exhausted.
    “You’ll be better off,” she spoke into my hair, her chin resting on my head, “you deserve so much better. I’m just sorry you had to find that out like this.” She gave me one last squeeze before holding me out at her arm’s length.
    “I better see you crashing in my guest room when I get up in the morning!” She gave me one last squeeze before she turned and headed back to the car.
                  When she was gone, I took a few more seconds to breathe, and calculate my next move.
    As I was calculating, a familiar song began to play, the sound emanating from the same oversized purse I’d just rescued my keys from. “Dammit,” I spat, and began digging for the phone. It was Matt’s ringtone, and if I didn’t answer, I knew he’d be there before I had time to plan my exit. I sat my bag down on the steps in front