Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance Read Free Page B

head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. Rory’s smile slipped from his face. He wanted to punch the wall and lie on the floor kicking and screaming. This was life at its most unfair, its most brutal and he hated it. He breathed out a silent sigh and began to read.

    Cass closed the book and smiled at Harry. Dropping the book on her lap she slapped her hands on the cover.
    “Well, you were right, even though I’m obviously loathe to admit it. That really was a beautiful story Harry. I can see why you’re such a fan. And of course I am so delighted to see you profess your love for Carmen Electra’s boobs. All over the back page too. Classy. I didn’t realise big boobs did it for you Harry. You really are a bit of a dark horse. I guess it does explain why you and Mark christened me Cass-tiny-tits for the first three of my teenage years. Cheers for that by the way. I don’t think I ever thanked you properly for that psychologically damaging episode.”
    She laughed quietly to herself and laid the worn and much loved copy of ‘East of Eden’ by John Steinbeck on the bedside table. She rubbed Harry’s hands gently with a wet wipe and took in every line and indentation of his palm. She wanted to remember every bit of him; even now she was afraid that her memories of Harry would fade in time. No! She told herself crossly . I’ll never forget . I’ll never forget one inch of this beautiful boy . Her heart ached inside her chest.
    Today was the day. The day Harry would die. Cass couldn’t even fully process the thought of it, so alien it was that they should know the date of his death in advance. Most of us have no clue when we will die. It isn’t something that is preordained.
    It can happen so suddenly, so unexpectedly. One random day when you’ve left the washing up in the sink. Or thrown your knickers carelessly on the floor, never thinking for a moment that someone else will have to clear them away. People leaving their homes in the morning never realising that they will never step through their front doors again.
    Or else death comes slowly in the shape of an illness, still without adequate warning. Death, working hard to drag the last few remaining breaths from the living until the person is no more than the beginning of a memory. But, Harry’s day would always be April twenty third. His new special day. Two weeks to the day of the accident that had changed all their lives forever. The stream of visitors had stopped at her mother’s request, they needed this time. Just for the three of them. To say goodbye to him and to let him go. They knew after the first day that there was no hope to be had. The doctor had come into the waiting room, solemn-faced and apologetic. “A massive brain injury,” he had said. “No hope of recovery I’m afraid, brain dead.” Harry as they knew him was gone. Already drifting off somewhere else. His soul waiting to fly off into the ether. And had they thought about organ donation? A team could talk to them, he had said. If they so wished. Her parents hadn’t been sure and looked to her for reassurance.  Cass had remembered their first term in college, they had all signed up for a donor cards at Harry’s insistence. She had been so proud of him then. Her Harry, always the first to offer himself to any of the many causes he believed in. And they had all signed up, all followed his lead as was normal for their little group. Without him they would be lost.
    She had spoken to her parents about it and they had decided between them that honouring his final wish, was the only way in which to validate his life properly.
    And that had brought them here. To this date, to April twenty third. Harry’s death date, his last day on earth.
    “Hey you.”
    Cass felt the trembling hands of her mother on her shoulders as she sat lost in her own thoughts. She still held the book fiercely and hugged it to her chest.
    “So you finally finished the story.”
    “Yeah, all done. What time-? What