Chasing Destiny Read Free

in here?”
    “My dirty clothes,” I replied, my voice even.
    He dropped it. “Next time warn a person.”
    “Let’s just get this mattress out to the truck,” I said, picking up one end.
    “Fine by me. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I get to go back home to Megan.”
    We picked it up and carried it to my truck, then went back for the box spring. “Anymore furniture?” he asked as we tossed the box spring on top of the mattress. “We can fit it in the back of my truck.”
    “No. Just boxes, so it should all fit in mine. The apartment I’m moving to is already furnished.”
    We loaded the rest of my boxes and clothes into the back seat of my truck, then took off toward my new place.
    “So, have you set a date?” I asked.
    “No. It’ll be a while,” Ryder answered while texting on his phone.
    “Is that Megan? Tell her she can come over and help me christen my new place if she wants.”
    He scowled at me. “I will beat your ass.”
    I laughed and turned up the rock music coming from the speakers even though my head was still pounding. I loved messing with Ryder about Megan. She had always been the good girl from what I could tell, and…well, Ryder used to get in trouble a lot. They were complete opposites and a nauseating couple.
    I backed the truck into a parking spot close to the apartment and got out. “I’m just going to go unlock the door. I’m not sure whether Kristin’s here or not.”
    “Okay, I’ll get started un-strapping the mattress.”
    I climbed the steps and unlocked the door, swinging it open. Kristin was sitting at the small dining table, eating cereal with her dark brown hair piled up on top of her head. She looked adorable.
    “Hey,” I greeted.
    She swallowed. “Hi,” she said, glancing at the clock on the microwave. “I really wasn’t expecting you this early.”
    I already knew the answer, but I asked anyway. “And why is that?”
    “Because it’s Saturday. I figured you’d be hungover.”
    “I am,” I said. “Do you have any painkillers?”
    “I do,” she replied, then went to the kitchen and opened a cabinet. “Is it just your head?”
    “Yeah. Surprisingly, I’m fine otherwise.”
    She rifled around for a few more seconds, then slammed the cabinet. “Here.”
    I walked up to her and took the bottle out of her hands. “You are a lifesaver, flower girl.”
    “Now that we are roommates, you need to stop calling me that, Janson,” she said, a smirk forming on her lips. “I can easily smother you in your sleep.”
    “Please do,” Ryder interjected as he strolled into the apartment. “The world would be a lot better place.”
    “Shut up, juvie,” I replied as Ryder scowled.
    Kristin shook her head and laughed. “Do y’all need any help?” she asked as I filled a glass with water and downed the pills.
    “We’ve got it.” I looked back to Ryder, who was smiling as he watched Kristin and I. “You ready?”
    “Yep,” he answered, still smiling.
What the hell is he smiling about?
    We jogged down the stairs and both went to opposite sides of the truck. “I think you’ve met your match.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?” I questioned as I grabbed the box spring.
    “I don’t think she’ll put up with your shit. You need someone like that.”
    I let my gaze settle on him. “We’re just friends. I’ll admit she’s hot, but I’m never going down that road again.”
    “We’ll see,” he said, lifting his side. I rolled my eyes and began walking, holding up the box spring.
    Once we got it up the stairs and into my new room, we went back and retrieved the mattress, rails, and boxes. “I’ll get my clothes later,” I said. “Thanks for helping, man.”
    “Anytime.”
    “You hungry? I’m starving.”
    “I could eat. I’ll call Megan and see if she wants to meet us somewhere.”
    Nodding, I went down the hall toward Kristin’s room. I knocked on the door before pushing it open. “You wanna come eat?”
    “I just had