Feeling This by Heather Allen Read Free Book Online Page A

you really have to go there today? I was hoping to grab a cup of coffee and catch up.” She whines at me.
    “Heidi, you know I have to go. Not everybody has a free ride like you.”
    “That was a low blow Kimber. Remind me not to talk to you for the remainder of the semester while ‘ Mr. Perry’ is your teacher.” She emphasizes his name as she says this.
    I shake my head ignoring her reference to Andrew by his last name, “Kay, whatever, I do have to go. But you should come to the Duck tonight.”
    She acts as if she’s thinking about it and wrinkles her nose, “Um, no, you know I wouldn’t be caught dead in that place. Every low life in this town hangs there.”
    I turn on my heel, knowing I’m going to be late if I stand here any longer. She calls out apologetically, “Kimber, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it…”
    I turn around smiling, “Yes you did. It’s fine. I understand but I don’t have a choice, you know that. If you aren’t already too busy with a boy toy, you know where to find me.”
    I add, “Oh and did I mention, I get to sing on Friday nights now.”
    Abruptly I turn and walk down the hall silently hoping I don’t run into Andrew.
    She calls out behind me, “Damn Kimber, you would wait until now to tell me. I want to hear the deets, okay I’ll be there tonight, but just this one time. “
    A smile spreads across my face as I continue walking. I knew she’d come, guilt has a way of doing that to my bestie.
    The walk to my car is quick. Andrew doesn’t make an appearance which I’m thankful for. To top it off the car starts right up. My hand automatically goes to the dash and pats it gently, saying a quiet thank you for not giving me a hard time. The ride to the Bruins goes pretty quick for a twenty-five minute drive. They live outside of town on a sprawling two hundred acre ranch. If I were smart, I would take up helping Mr. Bruin out in the fields. I’d probably earn more but hard labor really isn’t my thing. 
    Pastures of brown grass reach out on either side of the two-lane road. Once I approach the drive a wooden sign above the gate greets me, Bruin Ranch is scrawled across it in western looking letters. The dirt road twists deeper into the property through a canopy of white ash trees, my favorite part of the drive. Finally, I pull up to the grey two story house stretching to the south. The front porch runs the length of the house. I step out of the car, trying to shake the uneasiness that seeing Andrew caused.
    As I climb up the front steps, Mrs. Bruin comes out of the screen door wiping her hands on a towel. Her light brown hair is pulled up into a bun with wisps of gray falling down framing her face. She is dressed in a long cream skirt topped with a chambray button down shirt with her sleeves rolled up. Her blue eyes crinkle with age at the corners as she asks me with concern lacing her voice, “Kimber, is everything okay?”
    “Yes, Mrs. Bruin, everything is fine. I got a late start today.”
    She nods, “I was getting worried, afraid somthin’ happened to your Momma.”
    I chuckle more to myself than to her, “No maam, she’s still alive and kickin’.”
    She looks away at my dry humor. She is so good to me. I know I shouldn’t show any disrespect, even if it is to my momma who isn’t even here, but sometimes I can’t help the words that come out of my mouth. Usually she ignores me as if I didn’t say anything; other times I’ll get a disapproving look from her.
    I climb the last few steps and follow her into the house. As soon as my foot hits the wooden floor, Michael and Martin run up, each grabbing a leg, squeezing me to death. They both have buzz cuts and blue eyes that mirror their mother’s.
    “Whoa there boys, you’re gonna squeeze me to death.” And I fall to the floor dramatically as if they squeezed the life out of my legs. Both boys disengage themselves and burst into fits of laughter. I lean over and grab each one in the chest, tickling them.
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