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

I’m blown away and instantly hooked. As I read, a part of me wishes I could be more like Kyla. She is a true heroine, strong and determined on her quest for vengeance. Uppercut Princess definitely gets me through the remaining hours of the night. I can't put it down.

By 6am, I drag myself out of bed, my arms and legs feeling heavy. I take a long hot shower, once again watching the door the whole time with my heart racing, and by 7am, I’m sitting at the kitchen table taking small bites from the pancake stack that Barbara whipped up. Ayden comes in from the loft not long after that, and he and Marcus join me at the table. It’s a struggle to look up from my plate of food as I pretend to eat. Making eye contact with the guys and Barbara is uncomfortable because I feel like an intruder. I really just want to go home, which makes no sense since that house holds nothing but nightmares for me.

I’m utterly exhausted by the time breaky is done. Sleep tugs at me, filling my lethargic brain with dark, swirling clouds. All I want to do is go to sleep, yet if I give in to the need, I risk falling into the nightmares.

Unfortunately, the boys have other ideas about how I’m going to spend my Saturday and drag me to the footy again. The sun is out today, and the air doesn’t have as much chill in it. It’s already a week into spring, and finally, the weather is acting like it. Spring is my favourite season. With the days becoming warmer and the sun staying in the sky longer, it brings me a sense of hope.

“You’re pretty tired today,” Garrett observes from next to me, his blue-grey eyes seeing what I was hoping to hide. We are sitting on the same bench seat we sat on last weekend at the footy; the only difference is that today, Ayden is sitting on my other side.

“Yeah, I didn’t get much sleep.” Well, I didn’t get any sleep, but Garrett doesn’t need to know that.

“Maybe you should have stayed in bed, Lex.” The concern in Garrett’s voice is evident, which sparks Ayden’s interest.

Ayden’s head suddenly blocks my view of the footy oval as ocean eyes study my face. His dark brows pull together when he sees what I’ve been trying to hide from him all morning. I close my lids blocking out his intense gaze and take a deep breath. I prepare for criticism, but it never comes.

“I can take you back home, Lex,” Ayden’s soft tone oozes into my pores and wraps itself around my heart.

I shake my head, digging deep to open my eyes again. I’m here; I may as well watch the game.

Ayden’s mouth thins, but he turns back to the game. A moment later, I feel him slide closer to me on the bench seat.

“You can rest your head on me if you need to.” He doesn’t look at me when he speaks, but I glance up at him.

His face is a mix of emotions. I can see he’s struggling to figure out if his comment oversteps the friendzone line I’ve drawn. His worry makes me grin. Why does he have to be so adorable?

“Maybe just for a few minutes,” I say, and his head whips in my direction, his brows reaching his hairline. I’ve surprised him. I’d laugh if I weren’t so tired.

I offer him a small smile before a yawn engulfs me. He grins then, reaching across my back to pull me into his side, where I melt right into his heat.

I swear I only intend to shut my eyes for a power nap, ten minutes tops. My body has other ideas, though, and it’s the third quarter siren that rips me from sleep again. I can’t believe I slept through the first three-quarters of the game. Not to mention sleeping while sitting up drooling on Ayden’s hoodie.

Feeling more alert, I move casually away from Ayden’s side. Garrett’s blue-grey eyes catch mine when he turns to me and welcomes me back to the land of the living. When I give him a small smile, he shoots me a wink before continuing his conversation with Ayden about how the umpires are one-sided today. I have no idea what that even means.

After footy, we congregate at Simon’s for lunch and gaming, which is when I notice a new voicemail, as well as a text from Rhys on my phone. Sneaking off to the toilet, I listen to the voicemail. Part of me hopes that it’s from Rhys, but part of me already knows it’s another one from my dad.

“Alexis, I had to go to great lengths to find out your new number. The least you can do is call me back. I have a few errands I need you to run for me. Call me back today!”

My dad’s voice does nothing but make me cringe. Why the fuck does he think I’ll do anything for him? And how did he find my number? It hadn’t even occurred to me yesterday when I received his first message. I should probably contact the police and tell them he’s been calling. Not that it will do any good. Unless he comes out of hiding, then they can’t get to him.

Not wanting to think about that arsehole any longer, I move on to the text from Rhys.

Rhys George

Bitch, you ready to party with me tonight?

I spoke with Andrea about going to the party with Rhys last night. She was reluctant to let me go, but she caved and told me to be home by midnight. Of course, then she said that if I change my mind and stay with Marcus and Ayden instead of going to the party, I could do whatever I wanted. She really should have chosen her words better because it leaves my possibilities wide open.

It’s foreign to me this whole having rules thing. My mum has