Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 09 - Romance & Revenge Read Free

us.”
    “Have you been to therapy?” I asked , thinking if she had it was probably a good thing. There was a lot of history there and as a result a ton of baggage. I didn’t know how she did it and still managed to be in such a great mood. Katy had always been one of the most positive people I’d known, my rock. Something I had come to count on over the years.
    “No, I thought about it, but so far I’ve just been making my way through the self-help section at the book store. For as many years as I spent hung up on Chris, once I realized how bad that relationship was, I feel I’ve bounced back pretty well.  And I’m not just saying that.”
    “I’m glad you’ve been able to move on.”
    “Me, too.”
    “I know it’s not easy.”
    “ Once I came to terms with my feelings for Chris and forgave myself for being so stupid all those years, I’ve been able to enjoy spending time with Dirt and looking forward to the future. He’s been so patient. He knew I had to sort this all out for myself and that pushing me wouldn’t help. I can’t believe how I overlooked how kindhearted and sweet he’s been all these years. Can you believe he told me he’s been in love with me since middle school? Why didn’t you tell me I was acting foolish allowing myself to take Chris back all those times?” Katy seemed giddy with happiness, which she so deserved.
    “Uh, I believe I did try to tell you. Many, many times. You just weren’t ready to listen.“
    “Oh, yeah. Maybe that’s true .” She laughed. “Better late than never, I guess.”
    “What’s he doing now?” I asked. “Dirt, I mean.”
    “He wants to go back to the police force , but he still has the prison escape charge on his record, which of course makes that impossible. He hired an attorney to try and get it taken off his record, but in the meantime he’s taking classes at University of Illinois. He said if he can’t get his record cleared, then he needs a field to go into where it doesn’t matter as much if you have a felony record and he’s interested in computers. Anyways, he is in great spirits about it, much more so than I would be. He says he’s not going to worry about what he can’t control.”
    “It’s good he’s planning for the future,” I said. “And that things worked out.  This could have been a mess with him stuck in jail for twenty years.”
    “That’s actually been one of our biggest issues. I’m pissed he did that for me and I’m having a hard time getting over it. It could have ruined his life, and it wouldn’t have been worth it.”
    “At least it all turned out OK.”
    “Yeah, it did,” she said, pausing. “Speaking of planning for the future, have you talked to Cooper lately?” 
    “No .” I shook my head sadly. “Not in over a month and that was just email. I haven’t talked to him on the phone in forever. I feel like we’re so disconnected. He’s still out of the country as far as I know.” As I said this, I noticed a funny look on Katy’s face. “What? Do you know something I don’t?”
    “He was in Alkon last week. To see his dad for Christmas,” she said hesitantly, and I could tell she didn’t like telling me this since I thought he was far, far away.
    “Oh.” I hadn’t gone home for Christmas this year. My parents had gone on a month-long cruise and we had celebrated our Christmas at Thanksgiving. I spent Christmas here in Chicago with Jared. Not that I would have necessarily expected to spend the holidays with Cooper, but I couldn’t help but be really hurt he hadn’t at least called. I had been telling myself he hadn’t called because he was out of the country and wasn’t able. But after finding out he was back in the States … did that mean we were over?
    “I’m sorry, Presley.”
    “It’s OK,” I said, even though it wasn’t. Last time I’d seen him was almost six months ago when he’d taken a job out of the country and said he wouldn’t be back for a while and that maybe it