Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (reading tree txt) 📕

“I really hope you’re just trying to fuck with me, Lex.” Turning his intense gaze on me, Garrett frowns.

“Why? What’s it to you who I get down and dirty with?” I’m being a bitch, and Garrett’s in the firing line, unfortunately for him.

His jaw ticks, “I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“Why? You never looked out for me before when I was on and off with Nathan. You never looked out for me at Tasha’s party a few weeks back when I was getting high and wandered off with Travis. Why are you looking out for me now?” Why am I being such a bitch to him?

“You wandered off with Travis? Travis Watson? I wasn’t even at that party. Otherwise, I totally would have stopped that shit from happening!” Garrett’s anger shocks me. Shit, was he really not at that party? As if I would even know. I hardly remember anything.

“Lexi West has a dark past. I love it!” Rhys adds, clapping, but we both ignore her.

“Yes, Travis Watson, and before you ask, it’s not like that. Nothing happened.” Well, if you don’t include breaking into and vandalising the very school we go to as nothing happening. Oh, and the kiss which I’m still in denial about since I can’t remember it.

“Jesus, Lexi. You had me worried.” If he only knew. What would he say if I told him what I did that night with Travis? Or the time I went to the party to give Travis the weed I stole from Mike in exchange for information. He’d finally see me for the trash that I am.

“Why are you looking out for me now?” My voice is low, just above a whisper. Shame twists like a knife in my heart. That night really was a turning point for me. The spiralling out of control started that night.

Garrett steps up to me and cups my face, his warm palm nearly breaking my walls down. I have to crane my head back to look up to his tall height, and I hear Rhys suck in a breath. She doesn’t let go of my arm, and I can see her out of the corner of my eye, watching every moment that passes.

“We’re looking out for you because we failed to do that before and look what happened. Me and the guys can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt again, Lex.” Still holding my head in his hand, Garrett’s eyes bore deeply into mine, and I have the familiar urge to flee.

“I was right! You have a harem.” Rhys’s voice cuts through my emotions, and I push Garrett gently back from my personal space.

“I need to go.” I pull away from Rhys, but she just chuckles, not taking it personally.

“See you tomorrow, Bestie!” She calls.

I ignore her, knowing that my bitchy attitude could very well push her away and end our very brief friendship. I’m so over feeling so shit all the time. I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster getting whiplash every day.

Garrett doesn’t let me get far and catches up with me taking my hand in his to stop me. I keep my eyes cast to the concrete path at our feet.

“Lex, come back to my house for a bit. Let’s try to get you out of that head of yours.”

Peering up at Garrett, his concerned eyes roam my face. He has his own demons to deal with, but here he is, trying to help me deal with mine. Sighing, I nod, letting him lead the way to his house, and we walk in comfortable silence. The walk isn’t long, and less than fifteen minutes later, he leads me into a small generic red brick house in a part of town I’ve never been in.

I can tell he’s a little uncomfortable with having me in his house. A look I’ve never seen him wear worries his face. I hope he doesn’t think I’m so shallow to think less of him because he doesn’t come from wealth. I certainly don’t. My family is obviously better off financially than Garrett’s. Marcus and Jared’s families are much like mine, but Simon’s parents are the richest of rich. I have no idea about Shaun’s family, though. It changes nothing about the way I feel about any of these guys. My guys. Garrett included.

Garrett is totally right about getting me out of my own head. As soon as we walk through the door of his house, we are engulfed by his family. His younger sisters dote on me, and his mum is kind and eager to chat. I don’t have a moment to think about my crappy life. I have no choice but to be in the here and now.

We help his sisters with their diorama project for school, and I find out that Garrett is actually quite creative. I even get roped into staying for dinner where Garrett insists I help him and his mum cook Spaghetti Bolognese. I consider telling him I don’t like to cook, but I keep that to myself. He seems so happy and content in his small kitchen cooking with his mum and me, and in the end, I have to admit; I have fun.

It’s after eight when Shaun drops by with his older brother to pick me up and take me home. Like Garrett, I’ve only known Shaun for a couple of years, and while I’ve been subject to his flirty ways many a time, I don’t think I’ve ever been alone with him for long. Tonight, however, he’s my babysitter, and it’s just him and me alone in my house.

After Shaun’s brother drops us off, I shower in my mum’s bathroom while Shaun plays some online game on the PlayStation. Alone with my thoughts once again, Ayden comes to mind before Mike’s attack rudely bursts in. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to shower again without remembering his face or how he pleasured himself in front of me? I deliberately run the water scalding hot