Katie Sprinkles and Surprises by Coco Simon Read Free Book Online

slamming the door shut behind her.
    I just looked at her. I don’t tell Callie anything anymore, so why would I tell her about Mr. Green?
    But Callie didn’t even wait for a response. “I mean, it’s weird your mom is dating anybody, right? And it’s a teacher on top of that? Seriously, how are you okay with that?”
    Callie sounded genuinely sympathetic, and suddenly it was like we had never stopped being friends.I mean, we had spent almost every day together practically since the day I was born. (Callie is three months older.) She used to know every detail of my life—every hope and every secret.
    I sighed and sat down on Callie’s bed. “I’m not sure if I’m okay with the whole thing,” I confessed. “I mean, it’s weird. And Mom told Jeff about me before I knew he was Mr. Green.”
    â€œJeff? You get to call him Jeff?” Callie asked.
    â€œOnly when we’re out of school,” I answered. “See what I mean? Weird!”
    â€œSo I guess your mom really likes him, then,” Callie said. “I don’t think she would put you through this if she didn’t.”
    â€œI know, and that’s good, but it’s also bad,” I said. “If she likes him that much, they might get married. And I might have to move. Or share my room with his daughter.”
    â€œDid she say she was going to marry him?” Callie asked.
    I shook my head.
    â€œThen don’t stress just yet,” Callie said. “Your mom waited this long to get a boyfriend. She’s probably not going to jump into marrying somebody right away.”
    â€œTrue,” I admitted.
    â€œAnd I bet your mom wouldn’t make you move if you didn’t want to,” Callie said. “She loves you, Katie. You’re, like, her whole world.”
    â€œI was her whole world,” I corrected her. “Now Jeff is part of that world. And, lately, it feels like he’s the Pacific Ocean or something and I’m just a tiny little island.”
    â€œThat’s not true. You’re still the most important thing in her life,” Callie said convincingly. “And at least Mr. Green is supernice. And cute!”
    I rolled my eyes as Callie giggled. “Yeah, because I care about a cute stepdad,” I said. And then I started giggling too.
    That’s when Mom knocked on the door. “Girls, the food is ready,” she said, and then she saw us both laughing. “Well, that’s a nice sight to see.”
    I had to agree. It was nice to laugh with Callie again.
    Mom went back downstairs, and I got up from the bed.
    â€œI haven’t told anyone else about Mr. Green,” I said, knowing Callie would understand.
    Callie nodded. “Come on, let’s get a burger before my dad eats them all.”
    And, suddenly, things weren’t weird anymore, just like that. Because when it came right down toit, Jeff was really nice. Mom was really happy. And Callie and I were good.
    Maybe things are going to be okay, I thought. Maybe I was thinking about this all wrong. I immediately assumed the worst when I found out my mom was dating Mr. Green, but what if it turned out to be just the opposite? Maybe things would just keep getting better and better. Only time will tell.

CHAPTER 9
The Secret Is Out
    T he rest of the day was pretty fun. We all played volleyball together, and I found out Jeff is just as bad as I am at playing volleyball. (In fact, I’m so bad that George calls me “Silly Arms” after that sprinkler with a bunch of arms that wave and wiggle all over the place. I guess that’s what I look like when I play.)
    When Jeff dropped us off at home, Mom and I showered and got into our pj’s and ate leftover taco dip while we watched the food channel. So it was cool we could have Jeff time and then Mom and Katie time all in the same day.
    That’s why I was in a pretty good mood at school the next day—until lunch,