Always You Read Online Free

because I wasn’t a size zero like the girls Rob brings around? My curves caught men’s attention, so I knew I wasn’t disgusting. I thought we had something going on. He seemed like he was at least a friend.
    I did an about face, then practically ran to my bedroom. I let the tears fall that I hadn’t shed before while I stripped the stupid outfit off. Time to shake Alex off my body.  My crush was over. Once I got myself together, I walked downstairs dressed in joggers and a tee shirt and a towel in my hair. There was no point in looking good in front of him anymore. All that effort and skimpy shit was a waste of time.
    “Hey guys, where’s mom and dad?” I asked my brother, avoiding making eye contact with Alex.
    “They went out on a date. You’re stuck with us tonight,” Rob said with a shrug.
    “Actually, I’m not feeling company, so I’m going to my room.” I returned his shrug with one of my own.
    “I’m leaving for Italy tomorrow,” Alex piped up, jumping from his seat on the sofa.
    “Good for you. Have fun,” I said with a steady voice I didn’t know I had.
    “It’ll be for business for two years,” he added, like us not seeing each other was supposed to mean something.
    “Good for you. Make money.”
    “What’s wrong with you?” Rob asked me.
    “Nothing’s wrong with me. I think I’m just fine. I can’t wait for you to leave. I wouldn’t want you getting grossed out by me anymore.”
    “Cali,” he called out to me. I hated hearing him say my name. It was tainted now.
    “Don’t Cali me. Only friends call me that, and you sure as hell aren’t one.” I pressed my finger into his chest angrily. “Have a safe trip, Mr. Richmond.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “You’re not sorry. You’re just sorry I heard. Goodbye.” It was my last words to him for the next two years.

Chapter 3
    “Alex is getting engaged.” I think my heart stopped when Rob announced the news to the family. I wanted to cry on the spot. I didn’t know what I expected. It had been two years since we last saw each other, and he was in a place with beautiful Italian women. Over the years he did ask about me and Rob told me about his time in Italy, but not once did he tell me that he was dating someone. I knew it wasn’t my business, but after two years my crush hadn’t gone away. I thought about him all the time. I couldn’t even date because of him. I tried, but it failed during the first few days.
    “Wow,” I muttered. My parents and brother looked at each other then back at me like they were gaging my reaction. I thought my feelings for him were well disguised, but apparently I was wrong.
    “It’s fine. Congrats to him and whoever he’s marrying.” I tried to feel nothing, but I couldn’t. My heart hurt. My birthday was tomorrow, and Rob told me he was coming back in two weeks. “If you’ll excuse me, I don’t feel like going out tonight.”
    “That’s fine, sweetheart. It’ll work itself out,” my mother said, giving me a big hug.
    “Thanks, Mom,” I hugged her tight before my brother pulled me into his arms, then my dad did, too.
    “I’m okay, everyone. I may have had a school girl crush, but it’s nothing I can’t get over.” I was about to walk upstairs when I changed my mind. “You know what? I’m going to go out with you.”
    Rob wrapped his arm around my shoulders and told me to stay home. “No, stay and take it easy. We’ll bring you something back tonight.”
    “Okay.” I wasn’t hungry anyway.
    I woke up at midnight when my doorbell rang and my world collapsed.
    ~~~~~~
    I had just landed in Dallas and was on my way to Irving to surprise Calista. I missed her so much that I didn’t care that I had wait until tomorrow for her birthday. She was mine, and I needed her to know that. I called Rob to see what was going on.
    “Hey, man. Are you home?”
    “Yeah, but we’re all going out to dinner tonight. When are you coming back?”
    “I just landed in Dallas. I’m waiting for