Heart Strings by Betty Jo Schuler Read Free Book Online Page A

Megan jumped up. “You can drop me off,” she said.
    Megan and Tripp leaving? Together? And her stuck with Will, the eternal child? “You can't,” she protested.
    “I know, I should walk,” Megan said, running her hand over her rounded rear. “I haven't forgotten saying I'd start an exercise program when school was out.”
    That worked for Keely. “I seem to remember hearing the words 'five pounds off these buns by the Fourth of July, or die'. Or was it diet?” she asked, cocking her head for a better look.
    Megan stuck out her tongue. “I hope you also remember I said you had to join me in running, and you consented.”
    “I did not, I hate sweating.”
    Will slid his arm across her shoulders. “I could go along and wipe your brow.”
    “Better yet, you can take my place because I'm not running with anyone.” Nudging him to let her out of the booth, Keely forced a smile. “I'm riding home. Thanks for the Monster Dog.”
    “You want a lift?” Tripp asked Will.
    “No, thanks.” Grabbing Tripp's deserted fries, Will blew Keely a kiss. “Just drive carefully with my girl.”
     
    *****
     
    “I'm glad you came by Mosley's,” Keely told Tripp after they dropped Megan off. On the way, the two of them had decided Megan's dad used dry onion soup mix in his hamburgers, and when she said they had some on a pantry shelf, they'd been very pleased with themselves. Now, a frown creased Tripp's forehead.
    “I'm surprised since you had Will the Wonder Boy there.” He shot her a suspicious glance. “Is that why you said you were going to J's and went somewhere else?”
    “Don't be silly. I was going to J's, and I was sitting in class wishing I'd asked you to meet us there when I got in trouble.” She didn't say she'd been thinking about him holding her in his arms, dancing. “After that, I was too bummed to join the crowd.”
    “What did this Cranbrook say to you?”
    “Nothing important,” she lied. “He's weird.”
    “Speaking of weird, is that juvenile jerk your boyfriend?”
    “You mean Will? Don't be insulting.”
    “He acts like a six-year-old, except he can't keep his hands off you.”
    Keely smothered a smile. Tripp sounded jealous. “Will's had a crush on me since … fall, I think.” Since Mark was killed and she wasn't dating anyone. “I never let Will close before.”
    “I hope you don't again. How can he be such a baby? Building forts with fries. My fries, at that! I'll bet his mama used to play choo-choo to get him to eat his food, and he never got over it.”
    “Maybe,” she said, grinning, then told Tripp about Will's confession he'd had rheumatic fever and his parents babied him.
    “That's no excuse. The kids at University Hospital are more mature than he is.” He pulled his car into Mrs. Jefferson's drive and leaned so close, she could feel his breath, warm and minty. “I'm sorry, but I drove by J's because you said you'd be there. Then I find you somewhere different with that … that….”
    “Wonder Boy?”
    “Wonder Infant,” Tripp said. Smiling, he hopped out and came around to open her door.
    “Since you missed out on your afternoon celebration, why don't you and I go to J's tonight?” he asked, as they walked toward her house.
    “I don't know…” Was he asking for a date?
    “Come on. We could grab a sandwich.”
    “We just ate.”
    “I'll be ready to eat again by … ” He checked his watch. “Seven o'clock, easy.”
    “I … I think Megan wanted me to do something.”
    Tripp brushed her cheek with his thumb. His touch was light and she didn't shiver. “Would you rather be with her than me?” he asked.
    “No, but Devon Davis, her boyfriend, is nice—you'd like him. Maybe they could come along. Then I could be with you and her. Megan's been after me to double with them for a long time.” Keely blushed, realizing she was giving away her 'nothing love life'.
    “And why haven't you gone?” Tripp's voice was soft, teasing.
    “I—I haven't been seeing