After the Rain by Lisa de Jong Read Free Book Online Page A

minute. I’m going to ask my mom,” she says before leaving me standing on the front porch.
    I wait patiently with my back to the door. Our neighborhood is quiet except for a few barking dogs down the street and an occasional car that goes by. My mom always says I should thank my lucky stars that we live in a small town or she wouldn’t let me go outside and play. I’m glad we live in Carrington.
    As soon as I hear the door click open, I spin around. “My mom said I could play for a little bit. She’s going to call me when dinner is ready.” She smiles and steps outside in her favorite pink chucks. Those things always make me smile, especially when she’s standing right next to my black ones.
    “What do you want to do?” I ask, starting down the sidewalk.
    “Do you want to ride bikes?”
    “Sure, let me get mine from the garage. Be right back,” I say running back to my house.
    I’m not gone for long, but as I come around the front of the house again, I see her surrounded by some of the other boys from the neighborhood. One has her handlebars in his hands while another has his legs wrapped around the back tire.
    “Don’t touch my bike!” I hear her yell.
    “Oh, come on twerp, you don’t really think we’re going to listen to you, do you?” It’s Jacob, the biggest bully at our school. He’s not really smarter than anyone else; he’s just so much bigger, and he knows exactly how to use the size advantage.
    “Leave her alone!” I yell, walking in their direction.
    “And what do you think you’re going to do if we don’t?” Jacob asks, turning the handlebar grip in his hand.
    I take another step. “I don’t think you want to find out.” I used to play with these guys almost every day, but when I started playing with Kate, I realized they weren’t as exciting to play with. She’s a lot more fun.
    “Fine, we’ll let her go this time, but next time she might not be so lucky.” They let go of her bike, allowing it to fall to the ground. I watch them disappear down the sidewalk while I pick up Kate’s bike.
    “Are you okay?” I ask, checking the bike over.
    “Yeah, I’ll be okay.”
    “I’ll always protect you,” I reassure her as I start walking the bike toward her garage.
    “You promise?”
    “Promise.”
    I’ve taken care of that girl over and over again, but when she needed me the most, I wasn’t there. I never want to let her out of my sight again.
    “Will you stay with me tonight?” I ask when her tears subside.
    She sits up and looks at me. I wish I could see the green in her eyes. “I don’t know. I probably wouldn’t be very good company tonight.”
    “Come on. I need you to help me take care of my hand,” I say, flexing my swollen hand between us. I wince; it hurts more than I thought it did. I’d be surprised if I didn’t break anything.
    I watch her bite her lower lip. “Yeah, I’ll probably sleep better if I’m with you anyway.”
    “It’s going to be okay,” I say, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead before tilting her lips up to mine. “I love you, Kate.”
    “I love you, too.”
    I lean in to kiss her, letting my lips linger on hers for a little longer than I usually do. As I pull back, I run my thumb over her bottom lip. “Let’s get you to bed then.”
    At least temporarily, I’ve been able to take some of her pain away.

Later that Night – December 2012

    H EARING D REW H ESTON ’ S VOICE made me feel like someone had punctured my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. It was something I wasn’t expecting, but I was better equipped to handle it because of all the things Asher taught me. He took everything that was fragile about me and laid a foundation for me to grow and gain strength. I continue to build on it every day with Beau there to help me.
    And this time, Beau was there to save me. I went in to get Cory in case Drew tried anything, but as Rachel and I waited in the kitchen, we could hear lots of shouting. We both ran