Heather's Choice by H.L.B. Adams (english reading book txt) 📖

have a heart.”
“Do you really think you are a cold hearted bitch?”
“I don’t know. When you hear it enough you start to believe it, but I don’t feel cold hearted at least not all the time.”
“Hey I’m sorry if I ever hurt you. I mean other than the cheating. I know I have said some things that I never should have, like calling you a cold hearted bitch.”
“It’s ok.”
“No it is not. You shouldn’t let anyone speak to you like I have, and you especially should never believe any of what they say. You are a good person, who would do anything for anybody. You are the farthest thing from cold hearted.”
“Ok stop now before you make me cry.”
“Oh please you might not be cold hearted but you also don’t cry. At least not easily.”
Heather laughed. Damn this boy knew her way to well, but he said he didn’t know her that well. He said James knew her better than he did. Was it actually possible? Could James really know her that well? Could she be falling for James?

That night they all played cards. James didn’t seem to want to be anywhere near Heather or Tim, but she eventually convinced him. “Oh come on James, I need you to play. You are the only one who will let me cheat and help me cheat.”
“Ok, since you need me,” James replied sarcastically.
Heather heard the sarcasm and it hurt. He didn’t really know how much she needed him, how much she depended on him. But of course she never realized how he felt either. They had a long road ahead and she knew it.
“James sit by me please. You know that will be the only way we can cheat.”
“Ok,” he said, but what he was really thinking was what the hell are you trying to do to me; you are making me sit between you and Tim. What is she trying to do kill me, or rather get me killed? Or maybe she is hoping I’ll kill Tim.
“Ok so we’re playing phase ten, as requested by the lady. I told her no on the whiskey,” Tim said as they entered the kitchen. The look he gave Heather said he didn’t think that this was going to work. Which is exactly what he believed, he didn’t think a game of cards would get James to forgive him and warm back up to her especially since the two of them ate dinner on the porch by themselves. But it wasn’t like what James thought. James thought Heather had forgiven him and taken him back, but Tim knew that wasn’t going to happen again. All Tim had wanted to accomplish with his private talk with Heather was to get her to tread carefully with his brother’s heart, but James couldn’t see that.
“Oh why not, I could really use a drink,” James replied.
“See I told you I wasn’t the only one who wanted to get drunk tonight,” Heather put in.
“Fine I’ll go get the bottle of Jack. Why don’t we play quarters instead?”
“Because the two of you always gang up on me when we do,” Heather replied.
“Oh now we wouldn’t do that,” James said, starting to lighten up at the mention of old drinking times. “Ok so maybe we would, but I promise we won’t tonight. So what do you say, quarters?”
“Ok fine but when y’all get me drunk y’all have to take care of me.”
“Oh trust me I don’t think that will be a hardship for either one of us,” James replied with a little grin and glint in his eye.
Tim headed out of the room to his truck to get the Jack. Heather kept looking at James. She couldn’t help but notice the mischievous look on his face. “What are you up to? You have that look.”
“Me, nothing. I’m not up to a thing,” James replied.
“Oh please I know you better than that. I guess I’ll find out soon, but if I had to guess it has something to do with getting me drunk.”
“Now like I said before I wouldn’t do that.”
“Oh yes you would and we both know it, but I trust you not to do anything once I am drunk so I don’t particularly care.”
“Oh how sweet the little couple is flirting,” Tim said as he came back in. Heather shot him a look that said clearly you’re not helping.
“Well we have to do something, and you know how much I love to flirt. If you had waited about five more minutes he would have been under my control. I could have had my way with him,” Heather replied.
“Oh you know you can have your way with me anytime, anyplace,” James replied with a mischievous grin on his face.
“Ok on that note I think I need to get drunk,” Tim interjected. “So let’s get started. Quarters with rules.”
“Sounds good to me,” James answered.
“Um why not just regular quarters,” Heather put in.
“Now missy you told me you trusted me. Are you taking that back?”
“No I do trust you. Ok fine, but don’t take away snacks.”
“Ladies first,” Tim said.
Heather took the quarter aimed for the shot glass and amazingly made it. She looked up, “James drink.” He looked a little shocked but he poured himself a shot and downed it. Heather aimed again and yet again she made it. She looked up at James and said, “Tim drink.” She didn’t even wait to see if he took his shot, she aimed and made it again. She looked back at James and said, “Drink sweetheart, and the rule is no one calls me sweetheart.”
“Oh come one now. That’s not fair. You just called me sweetheart,” James retorted.
“Yes but see I don’t call you sweetheart that often, but both of you call me sweetheart all the time.”
“Ok we get the picture,” Tim interjected. “Still your turn Heather.
She made one more, “Tim drink up, and it is your turn James.”
“Ok sweetheart,” they both said in unison.
Heather laughed and said, “Drink both of you.”
When James downed his shot he looked at Heather and said, “I think it is time our beautiful companion had a drink.”
“Who are you talking about me or Tim?” Heather replied with a mischievous smirk on her face.
“Well seeing as I don’t think guys are beautiful and especially not my brother, I guess that means you.”
“Ok you two love birds let’s just get on with the game,” Tim interjected feeling a little out of place in their game.
James aimed and made it. He looked up at Heather with that little grin she loved and said, “Well my darling I believe you have to drink.”
“Ok, but next time I make the rule no one can call me darling,” she retorted with a little grin of her own. James took aim again and yet again made it. He just looks at Heather and nodded. She took another shot and waited for him to nod again. In which he did when he made the glass a third time. Then he said, “Lets see…I know no one calls anyone by a nickname. That way we are on even ground with you Heather.”
“Ok,” Heather and Tim said in unison.
“But you know I don’t like even ground,” Heather said.
“Oh well, I do,” James replied.
The night continued like that until they all went to bed. Tim couldn’t help but feel left out. It was his idea to talk to Heather about James which in turn put everything into motion, but he didn’t think he would feel like a third wheel around them. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was the James had felt the whole time him and Heather were together.
Heather headed back to school a week later. When she pulled up at her dorm she was surprised and very happy to see Randy sitting on the steps. He walked over and gave her a hug. "I've missed you girl," he said grinning.
"I've missed you too. How are you doing?"
"Good, the doc put me on some meds so alls good."
"So what's wrong? You never told me."
"Thyroid problem, but its all under control now. Need any help with you stuff?"
"Yes please."
"So, how was your break?" Randy asked when the got to her room.
"Interesting, I broke up with Time. He cheated on me again."
"What the hell! Would you like me to kick is ass?"
"No. I'm fine, but it seems James is interested in me. And I think I might be interested in him."
"Hmmm, that'll piss Tim off. Go for it."
"It wont piss Tim off. He basically so go for it too."
"What?!?"
"Yeah I was shocked too, but he was sincere. He thinks James and I would be good together."
"Well then what are you waiting for?"
"For James to believe that I am really over Tim, and that I want to be with him."
"Anyway I can help?"
"Yeah can you let James stay in your dorm this weeked?"
"Sure, I wont be there anyway."
"I know," I said with a grin.
"Hot damn, my good girl is going over to the bad side. I'm so proud," Randy said grinning like a fool.
"I'm not going over to the bad side, just close."
That weekend James pulled up at Randy's dorm just as Randy was pulling off. Heather waved good bye, then turned to James. "Come on, I'll show where the room is."
They walked up to Randy's room in silence. Neither knowing exactly what to say. When the entered the room Heather decided action was better than words, and kissed him long and hard.
"Well, that was a nice welcome," James said when he caught his breath.
"James, I'm sorry I hurt you. It was never my intention. We'll you please give me a chance?"
"Of course I will. I love you," James said smiling tenderly.
"I love you too. And I think you need to know that the conversation Tim and I had that night on the front porch was him telling me not to hurt you."
"What?!?"
"Yeah, he was worried I would end up hurting you. I cant help but see his point. He loves you very much, he's just an ass hole most of the time."
"Well..." James said not knowing what to say.
"So are we officially together or are you going to make me beg?" Heather asked changing to subject.
"Hmmm, what would begging include?" James asked grinning.
"You only get that if we're together. That does not count as begging," Heather replied trying her best not to smile.
"Well, in that case, yes we're together," James said as he picked Heather up and headed toward the bed.


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Publication Date: 05-26-2012

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