Lives Collide (Collide #1) by Kristina Beck

Author:Kristina Beck [Beck, Kristina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B01MT6QIHE
Goodreads: 33815063
Publisher: Kristina Beck
Published: 2017-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Lisa

I drag my feet into the grocery store and see it’s closing in fifteen minutes. There’s nothing like buying dinner at 9:45 p.m. As I reach over to grab a grapefruit, I hear a familiar voice. My body stiffens. I slowly turn in the direction it’s coming from. It can’t be.

It’s Bryant, and he’s talking to someone. I crouch behind the grapefruit stand with only my eyes peeking over the top.

I stay there for a few heart-banging seconds. As if watching something in slow motion, a woman appears. He walks up to her, kisses her forehead, and rubs her big belly. Her pregnant belly. The grapefruit slips from my fingers to the ground, rolling toward his feet. He turns in my direction, and our eyes briefly meet. His eyebrows rise.

I start to tremble as my heart leaps out of my chest. He can’t see me like this. I leave the basket on the floor, searching for the quickest exit. I take my time as I walk to the cashiers to avoid making a scene. Once I’m near an empty one, I dash through the line.

I run out of the store and feel like I am going to puke on the sidewalk. Why can’t I handle this? I’m such a fool. He finally got what he wanted. Another slap in the face, reminding me of what I already know. Is there a hole around here I can crawl into? I run toward my apartment, keys already in my hand for a quick entrance.

After dropping the keys twice, I’m finally in my apartment. I slam the door and throw my handbag across the room. I lean my back against the door as I gradually sink to the floor.

I thought I could handle running into him. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him. Didn’t I come to the conclusion I’m better off without him? But why does it hurt so badly? Here I am trying to help James and other people with their problems, when I can’t even deal with my own.

I drag myself to the bathroom, strip off these disgusting scrubs, and get under scalding water. I sit down in the bathtub while the shower streams burn my skin. I have no energy left to stand. I rock myself back and forth, just as I did with James. It’s soothing, but I wish Mom were here instead. She would take me for a secret hot fudge sundae.

After a while my skin is almost raw. I’m clean, but I don’t feel any better when I get out. I stagger into the bedroom to find my pajamas and see the leather jacket hanging over the desk chair. I put on the pajamas and then the jacket. This jacket will get me through the night.

I wander to the kitchen with a desperate need for a glass of wine. I search and realize there’s not one damn drop in this apartment. Funny, I don’t want James to drink his sorrows away, but it’s the first thing I want to do.

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