Jude's Salvation: This Love Series Read Free

I nod as I finish my canned fruit salad. I look over onto Mariana’s tray and scoop up her croissant just before the trays are cleared. She is the only one out of the four of us that insists on remaining a size two, although she prefers to be a zero. Sophie is naturally petite. She can eat anything and in any quantity and never gain a pound. Angie and I refer to ourselves as healthy, certainly not skinny. We are both gym members and appreciate a little muscle and curve on a woman’s physique.
    My mother has complained every time she sees me in a strapless dress, that my shoulders look too defined and my biceps are very unladylike. I’m far from being a bodybuilder. I like the slight definition and how toned they are though. At sixteen I had slept over at Angie’s house, she had fallen asleep but I couldn’t so I made my way downstairs to their den and found her brothers watching the original Terminator movie. They motioned to the free sofa so I sat down and was mesmerized watching Linda Hamilton doing pull ups. I’ve always wanted arms like hers. I’m still not even close but I’m satisfied with my body.
    Mariana scowls at me as I drop crumbs on my lap from the flaky pastry. I know she keeps baggies of celery sticks in her purse. I am determined to get her to eat an entire chocolate éclair in Paris, even if I have to get her drunk first. I want photos of her eyes turning up in her head like she’s having an orgasm when she takes her first bite. I know she’ll lick the chocolate from her fingers. I smile as we prepare to land.

 
    CHAPTER TWO
    Collide
     
    The airport is bustling once we finally pass through customs. Sophie leads the way, bringing us straight to the hired car waiting for us by the first exit doors of our terminal. There is a driver holding up a sign reading Strickland.
    “ We’re seriously taking a hired car to a hostel, Sophie Strickland? Really? I thought we were roughing it,” I groan, looking around for a bus. I thought we had all agreed on buses, sardine packed tubes and walking whenever possible. I was looking forward to showing Beth my blisters when I get back. I may be alone in this dream as I watch the three of them hand over their backpacks to the driver. Well, at least I got them to use backpacks. I laugh as I throw my pack in with the rest of them. Sophie gives the driver the address to our hostel and we sit back in silence as we travel down to the heart of London.
    Double Decker buses, men in suits and more scooters then I’ve ever seen race past me as I stare out the window. How many roundabouts can there be in a thirty minute drive? I sit back, grateful I’m not navigating these streets. Back at home, Beth and I spend most of our time in L.A. so we never drive anywhere anyway. My parents have always had drivers for us.
    Once we are checked into our very first hostel we make our way up a long narrow flight of stairs that creek with every step. The lighting isn't the best either, casting eerie shadows behind us.
    "Does our buddy have to be responsible for getting our drunk asses up these stairs too?" Angie asks seriously. I laugh, reaching the top and grab Angie’s hand.
    “ I gotcha Buddy,” I tell her with a wink. She laughs this time. We all try and peek inside as soon as Mariana opens the door to our room, almost afraid to enter.
    "It's cozy," Mariana says, trying to sound positive. Once we choose our beds the four of us just stand there dumbfounded as we look around the sparse room. There is an old alarm clock radio on one of the nightstands, two lamps and a dresser. In the far corner a small television sits on a shelf. The thing looks older than me.  
    “ This will be fun,” Angie mutters sarcastically. We’ll be spending four nights here in downtown London before moving on, if we make it that long. I watch the frown form on Mariana’s face when she lifts the old wool blanket from her bed and places it on the floor. I know she’ll be examining each bed before she