Following Me by Linde, K.A. (good e books to read txt) 📕

find a job soon,and in the meantime, feel free to stay as long as you like.  I’ve made dowithout the rent this long, so I think I can manage otherwise.  I trust you topay it back when you actually do get a job.  Don’t stress yourself into theground over it,” he told her, pulling back his hand.

Devon felt like a shitty person. Was she a completely wrong judge of character?  Or was she just so used topeople being horrible and taking advantage of any situation that she hadassumed someone like Garrett could be like that, too?

“Thanks, Garrett,” Devon said. “I appreciate it, but I’m still going to look for work as hard as I can.”

“I’ll see if I know anyone that’shiring.”

“That would be really helpful,”she told him, breathing a sigh of relief.

They satback then and enjoyed the next two episodes of Heroes before Garrett hadto get ready for work.  Devon wanted to be out of the house before Hadley gotback anyway.  It had been easier like that lately.

ALMOST ANOTHER WEEK with no luck wassending Devon’s already spiraling depression farther down the rabbit hole. Garrett’s search had come back with grim results.  No one was hiring.  Shecouldn’t believe it.

How hard was it to find a jobin this town?  Seriously, it shouldn’t be this difficult, she thought,crossing the street.

May had disappeared so quickly.  Howhad she already been here a month without finding a job?  It felt like itwas just yesterday when she had pulled up to Union Station with Dustin’s musicblasting in her ears.  She was amazed she had made it this long.  She had neverthought she would be strong enough, but here she was.  She was still searchingfor a job, so she could find a way to stay two more months.

The route Devon normally hadtaken walked past Jenn’s Restaurant, but kept her out of sight.  She had beenin the city long enough that it would be really strange if she just suddenlyshowed up there.  She and Hadley weren’t all buddy-buddy anymore, so theyhadn’t spent their afternoons together in Jenn’s, but Devon knew Hadley stillfrequented the locale.  Devon wasn’t about to force an encounter with Hadley. Devon’s anger hadn’t fizzled, and she didn’t know if she was just thatirritated with Hadley’s presence or if it was because of her drug use.  Shewanted to help, but Hadley wasn’t going to allow her in anytime soon.  Howcould she help if Hadley was avoiding her at every turn?

Devon crossed to the other sideof the street, and as she did, she glanced into the windows as she passedJenn’s.  She tried to tell herself she did it to see if Hadley was inside. Devon was pretty good at fooling herself.  Sometimes, she had even searched outfor the familiar blonde hair, but Hadley had never been there when Devon walkedby.

In truth, Devon was generallyhoping to see someone else.  It was silly.  Brennan didn’t know she was in thecity.  She had turned him down.  She had a boyfriend.  But she still walkedthis stretch to see if he was working the bar, so she could catch a glimpse ofhim.

No Hadley.  No Brennan. Devon kept walking.  Reminiscing about her first week in Chicago wouldn’thelp her find a job.

Turning the corner, Devonimmediately jumped out of the way as someone came barreling directly towardher.  She got off a few choice words for the person as he passed her.  Peoplein Chicago are so rude!  People just didn’t act like that in Nashville.

When the person abruptly skiddedto a stop, Devon retreated a few steps.  She hadn’t thought her cussing at theperson would cause him to stop.  She didn’t want to draw attention to herself. She certainly didn’t want to set off some street thug, or worse, tilt theemotional imbalance of some crazed serial killer.

When the person turned around,Devon’s fear dried up.  It was immediately replaced with what she could onlydescribe as an oh-fuck face.

“Devon?” Brennan saidtentatively, facing her.

Breathing heavily from his runwith a sheen of sweat on his forehead, he looked astonished by her presence. She couldn’t blame him.

“Uh…hey, Brennan,” shewhispered.  She was ashamed that they had to meet like this after what hadhappened between them.  “You looked like you were in a hurry—”

“What are you doing here?” heasked, ignoring her statement.

“I, uh…didn’t leave,” shemurmured softly.

“What?” he asked, lookingconfused.  “You were supposed to be gone like three weeks ago.  Why would youstay?”

She had clearly shocked himenough for him to speak plainly.  Normally, she thought he was so reserved, buthis face was giving him away as clear as day.  He hadn’t wanted her to leave,and now, he was glad to see her.  Could she possibly be reading himcorrectly?

“I decided to stay and…helpHadley,” she told him.  It was the truth…mostly.

Brennan’s eyes narrowed inresponse.  “I’ve seen Hadley almost every day for the past three weeks, and shenever mentioned that you’re still in the city.”

Devon shrugged.  Well, thatlooked seriously implicating.  It wasn’t that she had told Hadley not to tellBrennan.  It was just that Hadley wasn’t talking about Devon at all.  Now, itlooked like she had been avoiding him.  Well, she had.

“I haven’t been succeeding…” shesaid.  That much was also true.

“So, she’s avoiding you like theplague because she wants to keep using,” he said intuitively.  “I’ve seen thatbefore.  You’re going to have to try harder.”  He paused, glancing down andthen up, like he wasn’t sure what to say.  “Maybe you should swing by Jenn’s. It might help.”

“Oh,” she whispered, looking awayfrom him.  Why did he insist on complicating things?

“To see Hadley,” he added.

“Maybe,” she said.  “I’m kind ofbusy looking for a job, so I don’t know when I’ll have a lot of time.”

“You’re looking for a job? You’re staying?” he asked.

She clearly continued to shockhim every time she opened her mouth.

“Oh, yeah, I’m staying throughthe summer.”

She could see the question on hisface.  He wasn’t on guard like he normally was.  He seemed to want to know whyshe hadn’t come to see him since their last encounter.  Still, he should knowwhy.  She had given him reason enough when she had broken the kiss in hisapartment.

Instead, he said, “Come withme.”  Then, he turned on his heel and walked away from her.

Devon