Breaking Skin by Debra Doxer Read Free Book Online Page A

ironically.
    She gives me a dour look. “I guess, but I really don’t think those are healthy.”
    Using Renee’s keys, I lock up behind us. Once we’re outside, Langley points at the house next door.
    “Derek’s here.”
    I slide my gaze in that direction and release a pent-up breath when I see the same boy in the driveway, alone now, wiping down the SUV with a cloth.
    “You know him?” I ask, wanting to get information without being too obvious.
    “He goes to my school, but he’s older. He lives here sometimes and he lives with his mom sometimes too. Since it’s Saturday, he probably just got here.”
    “Oh,” I say as if it’s of no interest to me. “Derek’s parents are divorced?”
    She nods.
    I feel relief, even though it shouldn’t matter after all this time. “When did they move next door?”
    “A few weeks after school started. They’re nice. Mom and Derek’s dad are friends.”
    Friends? My relief is short-lived. I know Renee too well. She’s never just friends with a man.

 
    T he car isn’t locked, and Langley already has the back door open when I get there. It’s as hot as an oven inside as I try to get her strapped into her booster seat, but I’m too distracted by my own thoughts. Finally, she gets tired of waiting, takes the seat belt from my hand with an eye roll, and buckles it herself.
    “Thanks,” I mumble.
    Once the car is running, I turn the air-conditioning on full blast. As it cools the interior, I try to call Renee again but get her voice mail. It makes no sense that she won’t answer her phone or at least call me back.
    “Are we going to go soon?” Langley asks.
    I grin at her through the rearview mirror to cover the turmoil swirling beneath my moist skin.
    Renee and Cole? Of all the people in the world, he moves next door to her?
    My insides feel like they’re being run through a meat grinder. Squeezing my eyes closed, I determine to get ahold of myself. It’s not my business. It’s not like Cole and I are together. There’s no reason to fall apart. Maybe that wasn’t Cole I saw next door. Even if it was, maybe Renee isn’t sleeping with him.
    The moment I have that thought, I grasp onto it like a lifeline. Then I push my stormy emotions down and resolve to concentrate on Langley. She’s why I’m here, after all.
    I open my eyes and try to remember where the local Mickey D’s is. I haven’t driven much since I moved to San Francisco, and I back down the short driveway carefully. Ten minutes later, after winding my way through town, I find McDonald’s near the train station.
    Langley is fidgety beside me as we walk inside and get in line. “Are those the Happy Meal prizes?” she asks, pointing to a set of different-colored Hello Kitties displayed in a glass case by the register.
    “I guess so.”
    Based on the longing look in her eyes, I’m thinking she’s not too old for Happy Meals, and when it’s my turn, I order her one. For myself, I only get coffee, even though I wouldn’t mind an order of fries.
    Langley’s food is ready in less than five minutes, which seems to pleasantly surprise her.
    “You got me a Happy Meal?” Her tone is accusing. “I thought we were going to eat healthy stuff.”
    “Sorry.”
    I shrug unapologetically and she releases an exaggerated sigh as if she’s doing me a big favor by eating it, but she can’t continue the act when she sits down and takes her pink Hello Kitty toy out of the box. Her smile betrays her.
    As she takes a bite of her chicken nugget, I pull out my phone and take a picture.
    Langley’s eyes narrow. “You’re sending that to Mom, aren’t you?”
    “Yup.” I grin as I message it to Renee. Maybe now that I’m corrupting her child, she’ll respond.
    “So your mother never takes you here?” I ask, blowing lightly on my coffee. Renee and I used to come here whenever we could scrape together enough money, which wasn’t often.
    Langley bites her lip before reaching for a french fry. “Sometimes