Fighting to Breathe(13)

“I think you should eat something. You didn’t eat at the party.”

“No, thanks,” I repeat.

“Go get on your pajamas, then come sit down and eat some food.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” I mutter watching his jaw start to tick. How someone pissed off can be hot I have no Idea but he seriously looks good angry.

“Stop being a pain in the ass, Lea, and just do what you’re told. You’re sick, and you need to eat something so you can take some medication,” he growls.

“Fine.” I toss my arms up in the air and stomp down the hall like a teenager, into my room, and slam the door, then pull stuff out of my suitcase onto the floor until I find a pair of sleep shorts and one of my old work out t-shirts that’s three sizes too big. When I get back into the kitchen, Austin has a bowl of soup sitting on the table, along with some crackers and a glass of orange juice.

I’m never going to admit I like being looked after by him, but when I sit down and he comes over to sit with me, handing me a couple pills, a small glimmer of hope alights deep inside of me. Not hope that Austin and I will get back together, but hope that I can right the wrong I had done to him and he will somehow accept my friendship and my apology when I think the time is right to give it. “Thank you for bringing me home and making me food.”

His feet stretch out in front of him and his arms crossed over his chest, he grunts but doesn’t say anything. We sit there until my bowl is empty, then my eyes start to feel heavy.

“The medication was for PM. I can see it in your eyes that you haven’t been sleeping much, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt if you took it now.”

“Since Ken, and now Mom, my brain hasn’t really had a time to shut down,” I say without thinking then want to take the words back as anger once again appears in his eyes. When he’s pissed at me, I don’t have to worry about the way my heart feels when we’re in the same room. At least that’s a plus.

“Go to bed. I’m gonna head home.”

“Sure,” I nod, he doesn’t say anything else, just leaves through the door, letting it softly click closed behind him. I look around my mom’s house and take in the silence, wondering how I’m going to do it when she’s gone and this becomes my norm.





Chapter 4




Lea


“Are you ready to go?”

“Yep.” I smile at my mom then grab the bunch of red balloons that were floating in the kitchen before following her out of the house to her SUV, where I shove them all into the backseat.

“How many people are coming?” I question as I drive down to the dock, where there are cars jammed into the parking lot.

“I’m not sure. I know a lot of people wanted to join us when they found out what we were doing.” She mutters absently looking around while my heart fills with warmth at her words. I knew a lot of people loved my dad but seeing how many showed up to say goodbye with us is almost overwhelming.

“We should have done this a long time ago,” I say quietly, reaching over to squeeze her hand.

“I should have been stronger,” she says, and I hear tears in her voice as she gives me a squeeze back.

“You did the best you could, Mom.”

“When I go, honey, I don’t want you to hold onto that pain. I want you to breathe through it and move on with your life don’t do what I did.”

“I’m not sure it’s going to be that easy.”

“You need to make it that easy honey,” she says, opening her door and getting out before I have a chance to say anything else. Taking a deep breath, I pull the balloons from the backseat then follow her.

“Holy crap,” I whisper, taking in the scene before me. Five boats are docked side-by-side, each of them with at least twenty people onboard. I make my way down to Ben’s boat, and my heart begins to hammer in my chest when I see Austin. His hand is out, helping my mom aboard.

“Give me your hand baby.” Austin calls and I hadn’t even realized I was standing froze in place near the edge of the boat.

“I.” His hand shoots out wrapping around my wrist before I can back away then he puts one foot on the dock and lifts me over the ledge of the boat. When my feet touch the floor his face dips towards mine.

“Are you okay?”

I lift my eyes to him and feel my lip tremble at the concerned look in his gaze.

“I’m okay.”

“You’re lying.”

“I know,” I agree, trying to pull free from his embrace.

“I want you to come over tonight.” He says and all worries about being on the boat are forgotten.

“Why?” I lower my voice. “We’re not friends, Austin. You told me that straight up, so there is no reason for us to spend time together.”