Troublemaker (Troublemaker, Book 1) Read Free Page B

place better than home. Some place new, with someone new.
    But no t with a total stranger ! He helped me out, that doesn’t mean he wants to marry me. Not to mention he’s pretty much the opposite of my type.
    “I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds, but I couldn’t watch another guy treat a girl like that.”
    “Yeah, well, I had things under control.”
    Cage smirks. “No, you didn’t.” He picks up his board like he’s ready to take off, probably frustrated that I’m completely stone cold after he just rescued me from a complete asshole. “But whatever. Who am I to try to do the right thing?” He looks… hurt.
    Relax. Breathe. Trust .
    “Thanks, Cage,” I say. His back is now turned to me.
    “No problem.” He wipes some of the sand off the tip of his surfboard and looks back at me. “See you around.”
    I open my car door and throw my stuff across the sea t.
    Real nice McKenzie. Real nice.
    My eyes well up… something that’s been happening a lot lately.
     
    * * *
     
    I get home and crash. I can barely get through a shower without passing out. I’m completely mentally wiped. I plan a night by myself, definitely not ideal, but I don’t exactly feel like hanging out with Jess and Evan. Not that they would even want me around after what happened today.
    After trying to fight of f the pint of ice cream that was calling my name from the freezer all night, I surrender. Now my stomach’s killing me from trying to eat away all my pain. It never works, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to stop trying.
    Exhausted, I turn down the lights. I’m not a big fan of being alone at night, but it beats having the Colonel around.
    Anyt hing beats being with him .
    10:00. I strip down to just my underwear and a t-shirt and I get in bed . My head is reeling from what happened today, but my body’s had enough as I fade off into sleep.
     
    * * *
     
    I wake to a loud banging and Maroon 5 blaring in our sub-unit.
    “AND SHE WILL… BE LOVED!” I h ear what sounds like two drunk people losing their minds.
    Cage .
    And someone else.
    I look at the clock. 3 a.m. I’m so pissed off.
    I turn on my bedroom light and start to throw on my pants t o give him a piece of my mind. The two voices get louder. And closer. Sounds like Cage and some other girl.
    Jesus, it didn’t take him long to find someone to shack up with. I hear footsteps coming down the stairs that lead to our patio. I quickly turn off my light and start peaking through the blinds as the two of them make their way onto the patio.
    Wow McKenzie, this is a new low. Even for you.
    I look through the blinds and see two dark silhouettes under the moonlight. One is Cage. And the other is whoever Cage is having his way with tonight. I get a shooting pain in my stomach, something worse than any pain I’ve felt in a long time.
    I’m jealous. Not of Cage, because I don’t even know him. And again, just because he’s hot, he’s totally not my type. Not even close.
    But their laughter, their joy… that’s what hurts most.
    You’re never going to have a good life, McKenzie. It’s not your fault, it’s just who you are.
    Thanks dad.
    Is he kissing her? I steal a closer look through the blinds.
    Pathetic McKenzie. Real pathetic.
    No kissing. Thank god.
    I shake my head, trying to get rid of the nonsense.
    But seriously, why the hell do I care so much?
    I don’t care. At least that’s what I tell myself.
    Cage pulls out his ukulele and starts strumming a Bob Marley song, not a care in the world. “I said a DON’T WORRY… ABOUT A THING.” The two of them start giggling feverishly. “EVERY LITTLE THING’S… GONNA BE ALRIGHT!”
    Is it really? Is it really gonna be alright when you start making out on my patio as I spy on you in my underwear?
    Suddenly it hits me… it hits me hard.
    I need to get a life.
    What the hell am I doing right now? I’m better than this.
    I can do this.
    I run with this wave of confidence, never knowing how long it’s actually