Heart Strings by Betty Jo Schuler Read Free Book Online

looked forward to celebrating liberation from school and Cranbrook. Now, all she had to look forward to was an empty house. Mom had arranged for Joey to go home with a friend so she could go to J's. “Okay. I’ll take that Monster Dog.”
    When they reached Mosley’s, most of the booths were filled, but a couple was just leaving the front one. Keely slid in facing the window, so she wouldn't have to face the people. Some kids from her history class might be there. Will sat next to her.
    A love song was playing on the jukebox. Thinking about dancing with Tripp to J's jukebox got her in trouble just half an hour ago. Shaking her head, she tuned into the present and saw Will had a French fry stuck behind each ear. “You're an overgrown kid, Will.”
    “I had rheumatic fever real bad when I was little and my folks say they babied me, so now I refuse to grow up. Peter Pan, that's who I am.”
    She could see that parents might baby a sick child, but he was milking the results and Keely thought he should see a counselor. Her Monster Dog was out-of-this-world, and when it was gone, she was out of there.
    “No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks,” Will was chanting when she looked up to see Megan— and Tripp.
    Keely choked and had to pull a string of kraut out of her throat. While Will introduced himself to Tripp, Megan slid into the booth across from her. “Cute,” she said, wiping mustard off Megan's chin.
    “How did you two get together?” Keely asked as Tripp sat down beside Megan. She hoped she didn't sound jealous, but she was.
    “I was cruising by J's,” he said.
    “And I was just leaving, coming to look for you, and he brought me,” Megan added. “This was the only other place I could think you might be.”
    A waitress came to take their orders. “What's that you're eating?” Tripp asked Keely, frowning.
    “A Mosley Monster Dog. They're delicious.”
    “I think I'll pass,” he said, scanning the menu.
    “Takes a man to eat one,” Will said, wrapping his lips around his, then taking them away to add, “or a girl like Red.” He tapped her on the head.
    “My hair isn't red. And you're hardly a man.”
    Tripp quietly ordered a cola and fries.
    “Why did Cranbrook bother to keep you?” Megan demanded, leaning forward eagerly.” Why would a teacher keep anyone after class on the last day of school? Do you think he's a little touched?” She tapped her head.
    “I hear you're into reading mysteries,” Tripp said, grinning at Megan.
    She laughed. “I'm especially fond of Sue Grafton's books.”
    “I like Stephen King.”
    “He's more horror, I think,” Megan said.
    Tripp shook his head, and while they batted authors and titles back and forth, Keely finished her Monster Dog. A rap song came on the jukebox and Will, who knew the lyrics, joined in while tapping on the table to the beat. The waitress brought Megan's and Tripp's orders, and Will helped himself to one of Tripp's fries.
    “Touch mine and you're a dead man,” Megan warned Will, then smiled at Tripp. “I'm a mystery buff, but not as bad as Keely's bitten by the love bug.”
    “There you go again,” Keely complained. “Just because I like romance—”
    “I like romance,” Will put in.
    She rolled her eyes. “Like you ever read one.”
    “Who said anything about reading?” Will asked, winking, as he began building a fort with Tripp's fries. “You gotta do this for maximum taste, Tip.”
    “Tripp,” Keely corrected him.
    “Whatever.” Will splashed some catsup on the fries. “Now all you need is a little blood.”
    “Hey! I like dipping my fries,” Tripp said.
    “Sorry, man,” Will said. “But when there's a battle, blood splatters. You know?”
    “There hasn't been a battle.” Keely could hear the unspoken word as Tripp shoved his plate away, and looked directly at her. “Anyone want a ride home?”
    She couldn't wait to get out of there, with him. Smiling, she opened her mouth to accept and