Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1) Read Free

side myself, being the socially shy, closed off to the world, bossy bitch that I was.
    What was it about him that consumed my thoughts this way? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt any interest in a guy. Was that what I was doing? Jesus, Jordie it hasn’t been that long since you’ve been attracted to someone that you would forget what it feels like, has it?
    Oh Lord, it has.
    I finished arguing with myself as the water began to turn frigid, and stepped out clean, refreshed, and feeling silly. I had a tendency to over think things. I grabbed a towel and examined myself once again in the full-length mirror, this time giving myself a full body scan. I wasn’t skinny by society’s standards. Nor would I have wanted to be. I was a perfect size ten with curves. Thank god I never lost ‘the girls’, I thought, giving my bust a little push up. I’d worked hard to stay where I was.
    Pleased with myself, I wrapped the towel around me and headed to my bedroom. It was two forty-five a.m. I turned the light off and climbed into my ever-so-welcoming bed.
    Somewhere, a phone was ringing.
    “Too early,” I mumbled as I was pulled out of my unconscious state. I dazedly looked at the clock. Nine forty-five a.m. Holy shit. I slept in. I closed my eyes again while my hand scrambled over the nightstand and tried to feel its way to the phone.
    I finally wrapped my hand around the handset and pressed it to my ear. “Hello?” I managed to croak out groggily.
    “Mommy?” It was my daughter Emma.
    “Hi, sweetie, how are you?” I forced my eyes open and struggled to sit up.
    “I’m good, Mom.”
    I made the mistake of smiling, forgetting about my busted lip. “Ow.”
    “You okay?”
    “I’m good. I cut my lip last night, and it hurts is all. What are you doing today? How are Aunt Kelly and the kids?” I rubbed my eyes, a bit more conscious now. My sister Kelly took care of Emma for me on the weekends, so I could work. Shit, if it were up to her she’d have Emma all the time. She loved Emma like one of her own. Kelly, her kids, and Mark, Kelly’s husband, were the only family we had left.
    “Everyone is fine, Mom. We’re going to the mall in a few.”
    “Oh, fun stuff.” I yawned.
    She sounded far older than her nine years of age, and I briefly wondered where the time had gone.
    “Okay, Mom, gotta go. Aunt Kelly got worried when you didn’t answer your cell or the house phone earlier, so I decided to call you again.”
    Shit, my cell phone. I remembered my belongings being scattered all over the sidewalk last night. Rachel had only given me back my keys and smokes. “I guess I was really tired.”
    “Yeah, I know you sleep like the dead, but you know her.”
    “Yes, yes, I do.” I shook my head with a smile.
    “Okay, Mom. See ya tomorrow.”
    “Hey, Em, I lost my cell last night, so if you guys need anything I’ll be at the bar. Call me there.”
    “Okay, I love you.”
    “Love you too, angel face.” I hung up and let myself fall back into bed, smiling at the picture of Emma on my nightstand. There was no doubt whose child she was. Emma looked exactly like me—long, almost black hair, green eyes, and a smile identical to mine.
    It was time to get this day moving. I dragged my ass to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, pulled my hair up in a half-assed bun, and headed downstairs. When I got to the kitchen the empty coffee container aggravated me more than it really should’ve.
    “Fuuuuucckkkk, what a wonderful start to this day.” I slammed the coffee container into the trashcan. “Bad shit happens in threes. What’s next?” I wondered out loud.
    I headed to the Starbucks a few blocks over to get my java fix and then walked back to the bar. It seemed like a shorter walk than usual. I guessed it was because that Nathan guy was totally consuming my thoughts again.
    I searched the open area out front by the entrance, the sidewalk, under the small table sets, and near the railing for my phone. Aside from