Rooter (Double H Romance) Read Free Page A

their sockets and asks, “What the hell was that?”
    “I have no idea,” I lie. Rooter told me he’d be there if I needed him, but I hadn’t expected him to come along and handle the situation on his own.
    Miranda darts up the stairs after Mike. I hear Rooter’s motorcycle roar to life followed by him speeding away. After several minutes of pounding on Mike’s door, begging him to open up and talk to her, Miranda gives up. A moment later she sits next to me on the sofa.
    “He really is sorry, Soph. It’s all he talked about on the way home.”
    Miranda is hands down, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She has an exotic appearance to her which most blonde’s lack. Her face is heart shaped with flawless tan skin, a button nose and full, pouty lips. The exact opposite of me, she’s short. Petite, yet curvaceous in all the right places. Men and women alike drool over her bust size. I call her a “mini Jessica Rabbit.”
    I gape at her and wonder how she can possibly believe him. Her warm brown eyes plead with me to forgive Mike. Most of the time, her puppy dog face wins me over, but not this time.
    I’m sure Mike vomited apologies on their way here. And he probably promised to change and be better and to never, ever attack us again. It’s what he always does. He’ll act nice for a few days and then bam, dickhead Mike will be back just like that.
    She constantly defends him and I can’t understand why. I willfully gave him the benefit of the doubt when it first began. Both of his parents had just died unexpectedly, I’d rejected him when he admitted he was in love with me. But at twenty three he’s a grown man who should know right from wrong and be willing to take responsibility for his actions and for his life.
    My life hasn’t been a cake walk by any means. In my opinion, his problems don’t even compare to mine, yet I don’t treat people like shit or attack them. What makes it worse is most of the time he appears to feel justified in his actions.
    “I don’t care.” I don’t say it to be mean or to piss her off, I’m just unwilling to lie.
    Miranda pulls her eyebrows together in a frown. “That’s a messed up thing to say.”
    “But it’s honest. How many times are you going to allow him to lash out and get off with a simple apology?”
    The afternoon sun leaks into the house illuminating dust on the old hardwood floors. I want to remind Miranda it’s her turn to clean them, but now isn’t the time. 
    She sits upright and crosses her arms. “As many times as I have to, he’s my brother.”
    I shake my head in exasperation. “Have you taken a look in the mirror?” I ask. The right side of her mouth is swollen and bruised. “I won’t allow him to do that to me and get away with it.”
    She waves her hands in the direction of Rooter’s house. “Is that why that guy came here today? Did you send him here?”
    My mouth falls open. How can my best friend of sixteen years think I’d do such a thing? She can’t possibly know me at all if she thinks this of me. “Of course not!”
    Mike comes rushing down the stairs. He stops in front of the sofa and points at me. He must’ve been eavesdropping. “Bullshit!” He hollers. “Admit it. You sent that goon here to scare me.”
    “No, I didn’t!” I protest. “But from the look on your face when he was here, I’d say you were pretty fucking scared.”
    “If you didn’t send him, why was he here?” Miranda asks calmly.
    My head twists in her direction. As I open my mouth to respond Mike interrupts.
    “Because she’s fucking him!” He answers for me.
    Miranda shoots me a questioning glance.
    I stand and face Mike head on, infuriated by their accusations. “I am  not  fucking him.” My voice escalates with each word. “I don’t even know him.”
    “Lie,” Mike growls and stares me down, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. “I caught you flirting with him the other day.”
    Miranda’s eyes dart back and