All-American Girl Read Free Page A

town now. “I want to leave tomorrow, Gram. Like you said, the sooner the better.”
    Gram’s expression folded quickly before she smoothed it out. “I get it. You really do want to get a jump on things. Don’t worry.” She patted Samantha’s hand. “I’ll take care of it.”
    “You’re the best, Gram. I love you.”

    Samantha shoved the last of her luggage into the back of Gram’s car. She spun about, giving the house one last good look. The birds were quiet, and the sidewalks leading to and from the modest craftsman home were empty. Closing her eyes, she thanked the powers that be for this escape, Gram for being willing to go the extra mile for her, and her brother for always looking out for her. She would be sad to leave both of them, but it was something she had to do for herself.
    She would make a name for herself after graduating college. Her entire future was waiting for her—a future full of writing beautiful novels, full of men who didn’t take advantage of her, and full of fun she could never have in this town. She was going to live her life on her own terms without remorse or regret. She could thank Lance Cummings for one thing, and that was making her see that she really needed to focus on herself.
    She would take his stinging betrayal and build from it. Grow from it. She wouldn’t come back to Burlington, Vermont, until she was whole again. And when she did, she would have a few choice things to say to the man who stole her virginity then made a mockery of it. She was stronger than this, and she would prove it.
    “Ready to go?” Gram’s voice snapped her from her thoughts.
    “I’ve been ready my whole life for this.”
    Samantha ran over to the porch and gave Cole a bear hug and kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for everything, Cole. I love you.”
    He frowned and shook his head. “I’ll miss you.”
    “I’ll be back before you know it.”
    “Promise?”
    She nodded, allowing herself to smile despite the feelings still digging at her heart. “I promise.”
    “I’ll hold you to that.”
    “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She bounded off the porch, jumped into the passenger’s side seat, and waved liked crazy as they drove away.
    This was her time. She needed to get away from the sudden blackness that was her hometown, from the man she loved who had broken her heart, from everything that had hurt her. She would start fresh, find a new life, a new love, and show everyone that she could be a success.

Chapter One
    “If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh?
If you poison us do we not die?
And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”
~William Shakespeare
    S EVENTY -F IVE I N A S IXTY . Samantha gave the car more gas, wanting to get to her destination more than anything. A car swerved in front of her, and she jerked the wheel to keep from colliding with it. A semi came out of nowhere on the right, making her pitch the car back to the left. The rear end swung out a little, and she gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to regain control. Her heart jumped into her throat.
    Her phone buzzed on the passenger’s seat, and she glanced down, wondering if it was the hospital. Still fumbling for it, her eyes darted back to the road. She eased up on the gas as her fingers found it.
    “Hello?”
    “Where in God’s name have you run off to?”
    She flinched, wrenching the car a little off the road. Ryan.
    “What the hell do you want?” she bit out. “You aren’t supposed to call me.”
    His voice was low, annoying. “You’ve got caller ID and you answered. I’ll take that as a sign you wanted to talk to me.”
    “I’m driving on the middle of the goddamn freeway. I almost side-swiped a freakin’ eighteen wheeler when my phone rang. Caller ID was the last thing on my mind.”
    “This is important,” he snapped.
    “Nothing you say is important. After a year of being divorced, I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out.” Her hand cramped from her