Where My Heart Breaks Read Online Free Page A

Something about me possibly not graduating from college really rattled her cage, and she insisted that when I was back under her roof I abide by her rules. Rule number one was no drinking. Rule number two was no boys. Rule number three was that I was home by midnight. Her rules sucked. If I hadn’t had Millie to hang out with, I would have gone insane.
    For six long months, I played the part of the good girl. I told myself there was nothing wrong with it, but my body and mind burned for some excitement. Reed Black had unwittingly stirred all of that up with his smoky green eyes and dark good looks. I missed the casual freedom that I’d for the last three years.
    What I didn’t miss was waking up in Trevor’s bed tasting ash and worse in my mouth with no recollection of how I got there or what I had done the night before. I didn’t miss stumbling home and having to explain why I missed yet another class to Millie, who became progressively more concerned about me as the semester wore on. I didn’t miss being surrounded by beautiful people who loved to party, but couldn’t care less about what happened to me after the party. Trevor never even bothered to call me again when I told him about my parents’ ultimatum during Christmas break.
    There was something seriously messed up inside of me. What I craved, I had yet to find. Even as I told myself that I wasn’t going to do anything dumb, I cataloged the scant inventory of clothing that I brought along with me to the Willoughby. Surely something would do for a small town bar on a Saturday night.

CHAPTER THREE

    My excuse to go into town was brilliant in its simplicity. “Patrice, I need to get a new tire for my car right away. I can’t drive it around on that spare. The driveway will eat it up. Plus, it’s a safety hazard.”
    My aunt was straightening the paperwork in her office and looked up in surprise at my sudden arrival in her small space. “The only place in Bleckerville where you can get something like that done is Bud’s.” She pointed at the clock. “I don’t know that you’re going to get that fixed today. It’s already five.”
    “How about I take it into town and check? My dad always told me not to drive on those tires for too long. Better safe than sorry.” I kept my eyes downcast and shuffled my feet trying to look innocent. Having changed into jeans, a thin grey pullover, and tennis shoes, I knew that I looked about twelve years old. There was no reason for her to doubt my story, but regardless I knew she still did, was which was annoying.
    Patrice sighed. “I’ll call Bud and tell him you’re coming. When you get into town, his shop is on the far end of Main Street. You can’t miss it.”
    It was hard not to smile at how easy it was to pull the wool over her eyes, but somehow I managed it. I was so close to freedom that I couldn’t mess it up now. I nodded. “Do you need me to grab anything for you while I’m in town?”
    “No,” Patrice said.  
    I turned and had only gone two steps when her voice carried out to me. “Eight o’clock sharp tomorrow morning, Kate. I wouldn’t make it a late night if I were you.”
    Apparently, my ruse was more transparent than I thought. I’d have to watch myself around Patrice. Of course, she and my mother were genetically related, so it made sense. I might have gotten a thing or two past my dad, but I don’t think my mother believed a single word that came out of my mouth anymore. I knew that was my fault. I had become a pretty good liar during my “crazy phase” but it still rankled.  
    I made my way out to the car and looked back up at the Willoughby. I couldn’t deny that it was beautiful and romantic. There was something about it that called to me, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen. I was in the mood for a drink.
    As I crawled back up the driveway, I dug out my phone and was delighted to see that I had two bars. I hit speed dial on Millie’s number.  
    “Where have you been? I