Barely Breathing (The Breathing #2)(87)

"There's a good one," he said, stopping to bend down and pluck a white pearly shell from the sand. "What do you think of this one, Emma?" He held it up for me to inspect.

I took the shell in my hand and ran my fingers over its smooth surface.

"It's perfect … " I looked up, but he wasn't there. I turned around, searching, but I was alone.

"Emma?" the smooth voice whispered in my ear. "Emma, we're home."

I blinked my eyes open in a panic. I was still wrapped in Evan's arm, but the empty car was quiet and dark. I inhaled deeply, and stretched to sit up.

"I wish I could've let you sleep," Evan said softly, still holding my hand in his. "You looked so peaceful. You haven't been sleeping much, huh?"

"Not really," I admitted. "I can't believe I slept the entire car ride. Did everyone leave?"

"Sara and Jared are inside."

He opened the car door and held it open until I stepped out.

"Wanna sleep over tonight?" Sara asked when Evan and I entered the kitchen door.

"Of course," I answered, deciding I'd already witnessed way too much strife between my mother and Jonathan, and I didn't want to be there for whatever was about to happen tonight.

After saying our good-byes, Sara followed me to my house. Seeing Jonathan's truck in the driveway, I parked along the street since I planned to leave my car at the house. I just needed to run in to grab my books and clothes for the next day. For a moment, I considered jumping in the SUV with Sara and forgetting about my things―having no idea what I was about to walk in on―but I had assignments due that I couldn't leave behind.

"I'll be right out," I told Sara before jogging up the walkway. I stopped at the front door and hesitated. I couldn't hear voices; I could only hear music. I assumed they were in her room since the downstairs was dark. 

I took a deep breath and slowly opened the door, planning to slip in and out so they didn't even have to know I was there. I closed the door and concentrated on the stairs. I just need to get my things and I'll be gone, I kept thinking over and over.

I clenched my teeth as the loose board squeaked beneath my foot halfway up the stairs. I froze, listening. A caressing voice came from the speakers, filling the entire house, but then I heard …  a moan? I held my breath as I slowly turned on the stairs.

The breathing became louder. There was movement on the couch. I focused in the dark and my mouth dropped as the intertwining of legs came into view. I remained frozen, unable to look away, scanning the length of his body. His muscles rippled above her as she gripped his back. Her eyes were closed as her mouth rounded.

A moan escaped him, releasing me from my paralysis. I practically flew down the stairs and out the front door. I ran to Sara's SUV and slammed the door behind me, panting.

"What's wrong? Where's your stuff?" Sara asked in a panic.

"I couldn't … " I huffed trying to catch my breath, the image seared into my brain. I tried to shake it away, but I couldn't.

"Are they fighting?' Sara asked, her tone anxious.

"No," I replied adamantly. "They are not fighting."

"Omigod," Sara gasped. "No way. You didn't just walk in on … " She started laughing in amazed disbelief.

I flopped my head against the head rest. "Yup," I breathed, "I guess they didn't break up." Sara laughed even harder. I looked back at the house as we drove away―an uneasiness washing over me.





23. Boundaries



"Feeling any better?" Sara asked at breakfast the next morning. Her parents had already left for work, so it was just the two of us.

I shook my head, still haunted by the compromising position I'd caught my mother and Jonathan in the night before.

"I don't know how I'm ever going to look at either of them again," I groaned. Sara laughed, overly amused by my trauma. "Sara, I saw his ass, his naked ass―on top of my mother! I may seriously need to go back to therapy after seeing that." I flopped my head onto my folded arms.

"I bet he has an amazing ass," Sara mused dreamily, the smile consuming her entire face.

I peered up at her, appalled, with my cheeks scarlet. My reaction only made her laugh harder.

"I don't think I've laughed this hard since you tripped in front of those college guys in California." Sara held her stomach.

"You love seeing me tortured and humiliated," I sulked. "Great friend you are!"

"Stop," Sara chuckled, unable to hide her smile. "It is funny, really."

"Walking in on my mother and her boyfriend, sure, it may be horrifyingly hysterical. But he was supposed break up with her. This is so not good."