January Dreams Carrigan Richards (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

you to drink something so they can spike it with who knows what.

“Well, now that you’re sitting here, they’ll leave me alone. Unless, you find someone,” I say and take a drink of the coke.

“I’m only here for one reason.”

I meet his eyes quickly and look away.

“How was your date last night?” he asks and seems genuinely interested.

“Oh, I hung out with Cherry. Girl’s night.”

“Cool. So, what do you like to do? When you’re not working.”

“I read. Write. Hang out whenever. I go to a lot of concerts, at least I try. You?”

“Mostly hang out with friends. We play a lot of pool and video games. Stuff like that.”

He asks me about my writing, and we launch into an easy conversation. It’s like we’ve been friends our whole lives. I enjoy being around him and I’m surprised we never hung out until now. There’s a nagging guilt inside the back of my mind, though, that I’m doing something very, very wrong. Like I should be at home waiting for Vincent’s call or something. I shouldn’t be out having fun while he’s not.

“Karaoke.” Cherry squeals as she and Luke walk toward us. “Do you wanna sing?” She looks at me.

“Not really.”

“Oh, come on. I’ll sing with you,” she begs.

Casper smiles. “I’ll play the drums if you sing.”

“See? Even he wants you to play.”

I can’t figure out what is with her. She hates that I invited Casper but seems okay that I’m hanging out with him. She’s starting to get on my nerves. I feel like she brought me along to show off Luke in front of me.

A guy hands me a microphone and gives another to Cherry while Casper takes the drums. I can’t believe I’m about to do this. But we sing a Tegan and Sara song, one of mine and Cherry’s favorites. I’m actually having fun, which is nice.

Once we finish the song, Cherry and Luke go back to the dance floor, at least I think they do. I can tell she’s had some liquid courage and I wonder if they’re going to find a bedroom. Casper and I return to the loveseat.

“You’re a good singer,” Casper says.

“That was Cherry. I mumbled through most of it.”

“I heard you.”

I smile and blush. “Thanks. Cherry and I sing a lot in the car.”

“Megan, I know you’re with Vincent, but I think—”

A cold liquid splashes all over me as two girls fall near the loveseat. I gasp and stand.

“Sorry.” One of the girls slurs as she and her friend giggle away in the floor.

“You okay? I’ll get a towel,” Casper says.

“No, it’s cool. I’ll clean up in the bathroom.”

“Sure.”

I slip up the stairs and pass several couples making out. Glad they can’t see my beer-stained dress. I enter a bathroom that is attached to a room, grateful no one has claimed it. The rooms in this place are endless, like at Casper’s house. The bathroom is long and has two sinks and infinite counter space and cabinets. At the very end is a shower and garden tub separated.

I grab a towel from the closet and run cold water over the stain. Of course, it looks worse now. I groan and hope the dress will dry soon. I know Cherry will kill me if it’s ruined. Not like it was my fault. I try washing the beer out of my hair. I feel the cold beer inside the dress and in my shoes. Ugh. Stupid drunk people.

I jump once I hear the door close.

I look up and see Adam, the guy from earlier, smiling as he leans against the door. “I moved along, but I came back,” he slurs.

I swallow hard. “I’ll leave so you can use the restroom.” I make my way toward the door. But he doesn’t budge. “Are you going to move?”

“Do you know how adorable you are?”

“Can you please move?”

He pushes off from the door and walks me against the counter. I try to go around him, but his hands are on my arms in an instant, planting me in front of him. I feel the countertop digging into my back. I can kick him and go around him. I can scream so loud he has to release my arms to cover his own ears. I have to get away from him. I don’t like the way he towers over me or the tight grip he has on me.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”

“We’ve never met. You have the wrong girl.” Even though he does look familiar, but I don’t know where I’ve seen him.

“I’m afraid not, Megan.” He smiles, but it isn’t friendly. How does he know my name? “Looks like you’re spending time with the enemy.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

My mind is going a thousand miles a second. He knows my name and he accused me of being with the enemy. Like the guy in my dreams. My heart pounds and I can feel the walls caving in. “What are you talking about? Who are you?”

Adam glares at me and a menacing smile stretches across his face. He roughly lifts me onto the counter. My breathing labors. I kick and push, but nothing works.

“Please, sto—” He cuts me off with his mouth bearing down on mine. I jerk back and smash my head against the mirror.

I try to block him with one hand and the other pats against the counter for something to throw at him, but I find nothing. He grabs my wrists, raising them above my head, and slams me against the mirror so hard I hear it crack. It leaves me briefly dazed, but I let out a scream. He smashes me against the mirror again. Broken bits of glass stab my back and arms.

“Shut up,” he