Fight Like A Girl: An Opposites Attract Romance (Fighting For Love) Harley Reid (top 100 books of all time checklist TXT) 📖

the screech of his chair on the paved floor as he sits back down, holding his head in his hands, his elbows perched on the edge of the table.

The door chimes loudly as I enter the brightly lit coffee house and weave between the closely spaced bistro tables and fancy wrought iron chairs towards the small queue of people waiting at the counter.

I pull my phone from my back pocket and text Ethan while I wait.

Mia: I’m just waiting to order. Be home soon and then I’m all yours.

Within seconds, the dots appear, followed by his reply.

Ethan: OK. See you soon.

A wave of emotion takes control of my face contorting into a huge grin as I reach the front of the queue, stuff my phone back into my pocket and lean against the cool chrome.

Leaning against the long counter stacked with machines, carafes of blended coffee beans and a vast selection of toppings and flavourings, I wait for the barista to tear herself away from the conversation she is currently having with her colleague about the guy she went out with last night for long enough to take my order.

Normally I would be polite. I would stand and wait for her to notice me and then quietly go on my way but today, I’m itching to get back to Ethan, and if that means I have to tap my nails on the countertop impatiently then so be it.

"Good morning Miss, what can I get for you today?" The young girl forces a smile and tries to pretend that she is happy with me interrupting her very important conversation, but the little frown lines tell a different story.

"I'll have one large cappuccino and a large caramel Frappuccino to go please." The smell of freshly baked muffins draws my attention to the glass case beside me, "And two of those apple and cinnamon muffins please. They smell delicious."

"Coming right up." She rolls her eyes and begins working on my order.

As I wait for my order to be called, I’m tempted to watch in case she decides to spit in my drink but instead, I gaze out of the giant glass windows, watching the people passing by while hypnotised by the thick whir of the frothing machine behind me.

A couple of minutes later, I'm handed two paper cups and a bag of muffins. I pass her a ten-pound note and toss the change into the tip jar with a clink.

I know Ethan is cutting weight, but one muffin won't hurt, and we’ll burn the calories off later anyway.

I’ve never had a huge sexual appetite but with him it feels like I can never get enough. Some people are addicted to drugs and alcohol, but I guess I’m addicted to him, and I can’t wait to get home for my daily fix.

I'm about to leave when the door chime goes again, and I'm suddenly face to face with my old flame again.

I don't have time for this and what else is there to say?

Rushing to put some distance between us, I sidestep around him and heading for the street, my pace quickens. Crossing to the other side of the road, I wait for the approaching car to pass before looking back but he is nowhere to be seen.

As I approach the faded trail leading back through the woods to the house, a sharp pain explodes in my head. The drinks fall to the floor with a thud and suddenly the coffee-stained ground lunges towards me as the world fades to black.

Where am I?

I slowly blink my eyes open, trying to force them to focus enough to give me at least a small clue.

“Ow, my head.” I groan, wincing as the pain in my head pulses.

Ethan. The last thing I remember is walking to the coffee house to grab me and Ethan some breakfast. After that, everything goes a little foggy.

Brrrr, it’s freezing in here. Goosebumps prick my skin as all the hair on my body stands to attention. The cold plastic ties around my wrists digging into my trembling hands.

Was Peter there? Little fragments of memory bubble to the surface. I remember seeing him but when I try to recall the conversation, my mind draws a blank. Why was he so far from home? Was he there to see me? What did he want?

The damp, musty air is so thick I can almost taste it. Nausea rises up in my stomach.

When I try to move, every muscle in my body screams at me, telling me to stop. A throbbing pain vibrates in my head and instinctively I reach to touch it. Oh my God, what’s going on? My heart races, making the pulsing in my head louder.

Darkness surrounds me, making it impossible to see where I am. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness in the windowless room, but everything is blurry — The last time my vision was this bad was after a night out with Lexi. I’d drank way too much and just like now, all I could make out were blocky shapes and shadows.

Sliding my knees in between my arms, I curl up into the foetal position and begin to rock backwards and forwards.

“It’s going to be okay.” I repeat to myself, over and over again. “It’s going to be okay.”

The ceiling creaks under the weight of footsteps as dust falls from above — okay, so I must be in some kind of basement… That means, there should be a staircase somewhere that leads to the main house.

Maybe., just maybe, I can figure out where the staircase is and try to sneak out without them knowing. Considering I can barely move, it’s probably a bit ambitious but what else am I going to do?

I could appeal to their better nature and make myself seem more human to them but that barely ever works in the movies.

Sinking back against the cold, concrete wall behind me, I sigh. I’m going to die!

A door slams, making me jump, followed by