Breathe Me - C.R. Jane Page 0,6

took out of the truck.

Seeing the error of his ways, he rubs the back of his head again, a shy smile tugging at the corner of his lips, making him look even more endearing.

“So does your friend live far?” I ask, trying to snap out of my awkward state.

“Who? Carter? Nah. He lives right next door to you. We’ll go get him,” Quaid retorts, pulling at Logan’s elbow.

They turn around and stop in the middle of the driveway, talking a mile a minute with each other. Again, I can’t hear them, but I really wish I could, since they look like they are about to butt heads. However, whatever they were discussing so heatedly is quickly resolved, and both boys run across our yard next door in a mad dash.

“Welcome to San Antonio, kiddo. I think we just met your welcoming committee.” Dad chuckles as he takes the three boxes out of my hands.

“Nope, that doesn’t count, since you kind of forced their hand. Offering pizza and cash. You can’t bribe kids to be my friends, Dad.”

“Ah, Val. Those boys were dying for any excuse to come meet you. I just gave them the golden opportunity they were praying for,” he teases, walking past me and back into the house with his load.

I turn to get another box from the truck, when something catches my eye from the second floor window next door. At first, it looks like a shadow lurking behind dark black curtains, but then I catch a glimpse of something shiny. Like a flash of light, it’s there, and then suddenly, it isn’t.

“Weird,” I mumble, and go back to my task, anxious for Quaid and Logan to come back.

Though Dad had a lame way of introducing us, I’m still happy he did.

Sure, when I was thinking about making friends, I presumed I’d start with girls and work my way to boys. But like every other part of my life, nothing is ever as I expect, so why should making friends be any different?

It doesn’t matter.

All that matters is that Dad and I will finally be able to live like a normal family and be happy for once.

“Welcome to San Antonio, Val,” I whisper my dad’s words back to me.

I send a silent prayer to the big guy upstairs to make this home the safe haven Dad and I always dreamed about. Let this home be filled with only love and laughter.

Lord knows we’ve both shed enough tears to last us a lifetime.

Chapter 2

Then

________________________________________

Logan

I'm about to annihilate the zombie on the screen when my phone’s ear splitting ringtone starts blaring away, breaking my concentration. I try to ignore it, but the damn thing just won’t quit. Annoyed, I press pause on my remote to see who it is, and I’m not the least bit amazed when I verify it’s Quaid who decided to blow up my phone so early this morning. He must be bored out of his mind all alone next door, so it’s no surprise I’m the one he decides to bother. Between bugging me or harassing Carter, he knows I’m his best bet. It wouldn’t bug me so much if he didn’t know that I’ve been trying to finish this game for weeks now. Unsuccessfully, but still trying. Unfortunately, I know if I don't pick up, he'll just keep calling and calling until I give in. Quaid’s stubborn that way.

"This better be important, asswipe. I was about to crush the final boss on Resident Evil,” I blurt out in greeting.

“No, you weren’t. That game has been kicking your ass all summer and you know it.” He chuckles, and I swear I can almost see the smug metallic smirk on his face on the other end of the line.

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Wait!” he yells.

“Out with it, Quaid! I told you I have shit to do.”

“That can wait. Trust me. Just go downstairs and take a peek out of your living room window, will you?"

“There's not going to be a paper bag with dog shit on my porch, is there? Mom is going to be pissed if you do that again.”

"Nah. It’s not April Fools’. And besides, I'm not a one-trick wonder. I wouldn’t pull the same gag on you twice,” he has the audacity to say.

“Funny.”

“Stop being a grouch, and just go downstairs already,” he orders impatiently.

“Fine.” I sigh, knowing if I don’t do as he says, he’ll just come on over and make me.

I’ve never met someone so pig-headed, but the persistent dipshit is one