Heirs of War Read Free Page A

it hurt?"
    "Just the back of my arm," she responded automatically. Was she imaging his breathy tone? Or could he really still be just as affected by her as she was by him? She turned around, shuddering as he lifted her hair off her back. "It, um, sort of collided with the dresser. And yes, I iced it."
    "There's going to be a bruise," he managed weakly before clearing his throat. "Keep it covered." In response to his words, he pulled her jacket back up. He turned his attention back to the bruise surrounding her eye. "Don't forget to massage it. The bruise will go away quicker."
    She reached for the offending area, using her finger tips to knead the area around her eye and wincing. "I hate that part."
    "I remember." He removed her hand and replacing her fingers with his own and massaging gentle circles into the purpling areas. "I know it hurts, but this is for the best."
    She looked up at him from under her lashes, more confused than ever before by his actions. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
    He gave her a half-hearted smirk as his fingers stilled against her face. "Old habits."
    They stood staring at each other for what must have been an eternity. She didn’t know how they had gotten so close, but his face was only inches away from hers. She didn’t pull away as he leaned down, his tentative lips brushing against hers.
    "What are we doing?" she asked as her lips grazed against his with each word.
    His blue eyes bore down into her, searching her face for something, though she had no idea what. She felt her mouth pull into a smile, and he responded by crushing his lips against hers. For one beautiful moment, she allowed herself to think their story-book romance had a happy ending after all.
    The moment died as his hand managed to find her bruised arm, and she cried out in pain. She pushed away from him, her hand tentatively resting against her mouth as she processed the last ten minutes, the fury building within her.
    "What the hell was that?"
    "Old habits."
    She nodded, her whole body trembling with anger. "Well, keep your old habits to yourself. And stay away from me. I can take care of myself. I don't need you anymore."
    He opened his mouth to retort, but he bit down on whatever it was he intended to say and let out a sigh. "You're right. You'll be eighteen soon anyway, and you won't even have to put up with them anymore, right?"
    "Right."
    "Guessing you'll be moving in with Varrick?"
    "Not that it's any of your business, but yes."
    "Well, looks like you get to get rid of the Kruegers and me in one fell swoop. Since you'll have to transfer schools, I mean."
    "Looking forward to it," she responded, though her anger waffled at the thought of never seeing Kyle again. Was that really what she wanted? She shook off the questions in her mind as she headed for the door. She needed to get as much space between her and Kyle as possible if she ever wanted to think straight again.
    "I won't say anything to Rob about what happened if you want to try to work things out with him. He's a good guy."
    "Don't worry about it," she said over her shoulder. "Like you said, I'll be leaving soon." She turned around to face him, one hand on her hip and the other on her door. "So I guess you were wrong about something."
    "What’s that?”
    "It's not that I don't fit in your world," she said, throwing the words from their breakup back at him, "it's that you don't fit into mine."
    "I thought you didn't remember anything," he challenged.
    “I never forgot. And I never will.”
    She turned on heel and marched away, slamming the second door of her day.
     

CHAPTER TWO
    “Taking pictures.” Ariana gestured to the stadium in front of her and turned to her best friend in exasperation. “That’s what my life has come down to. Taking pictures.”
    “Oh, it’s not that bad,” Emma, ever the pure-hearted optimist, lifted a shoulder to the edge of her light blonde bob. “I mean, I know your parents are a little strict—”
    “I’m a spectator of