Labor of Love by Rachel Hawthorne Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t say anything to Chad. Ever.”
    â€œWe won’t tell,” Jenna said.
    â€œOf course, we won’t,” I assured her. “You don’t even have to ask.”
    â€œThanks. He just so wouldn’t understand.” She looked at Jenna. “What about you?”
    â€œWhat about me?”
    â€œYou and Tank. Are you going to see him again?”
    She shrugged. “I gave him my cell phone number, but we were in such a rush at the end, we didn’t really say good-bye or make any plans—”
    Her cell phone rang. She took it out of her shorts pocket and just stared at it.
    â€œAnswer it,” I prodded.
    â€œIt’s Tank. What do I say?”
    â€œHello?” I suggested.
    She took a deep breath, opened her phone, and answered, “Hey.”
    With a big smile, she said, “Oh yeah. We’re fine. I know it was crazy there at the end. I didn’t realize it was so late until Dawn found us.” She laughed. “No, we don’t turn into pumpkins at midnight.”
    Rolling onto her side, she curled up and started talking really quietly.
    â€œShould we leave the room?” Amber whispered.
    â€œNah. We can’t head out every time one of us gets a phone call.” I turned off the pump and tested the firmness of my bed. It worked.
    â€œWhat are we going to do if she keeps seeing him?” Amber asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWell, the other two guys will probably be there. I just don’t know if it’s such a good idea for all of us to hang out together. I mean—”
    â€œWhy don’t we worry about it if it happens?”
    She jerked her thumb toward Jenna. “You don’t think his calling means it’s going to happen?”
    It probably did.
    â€œI’m too tired to solve this right now,” I told her. I just wanted to go to sleep. We’d been running around all day.
    â€œI know I’m probably worried about nothing. Gawd, I wish we hadn’t decided to visit a psychic.” Amber got her stuff together and went into the bathroom.
    I fingered the beads dangling around my neck. I didn’t know why I’d freaked out when Brady kissed me. Yes, I did. Brady was nice and that scared me. I didn’t trust him not to hurt me. Even for one night. It was a lot easier leaving him than it would be having him leave me.
    Jenna had talked about having a summer fling, but I’d never had a casual relationship. Drew had been my first date. I didn’t know how to date a guy without caring about him. And why would I want to?
    Why spend time with someone I didn’t like? And if I liked him, well, the more time I spent with him, it seemed like the more I’d start to like him, and the next thing I’d know . . . I’d be vulnerable again.
    The best thing for me to do this summer was to just hang out with Jenna and Amber. And if Jenna was with Tank all the time, then Amber and I would buddy up.
    I was probably worrying for nothing.
    I’d never see Brady again, anyway. Even if Jenna saw Tank, it didn’t mean that Amber and I would hook up with the other guys.
    Brady was no doubt going to be just a one night . . . whatever.

Chapter 6
    â€œO kay, I’ve blogged day one of what I’m calling our Amazing Summer Adventure,” Jenna said, leaning away from the desk where she’d set up her laptop.
    It was the next morning. Ms. Wynder had knocked on our door shortly after the sun made its appearance. When I’d volunteered for this, I hadn’t considered that I’d be sleep deprived the whole summer. Even when I worked for my parents, I didn’t go in until just before the lunch crowd hit.
    Although I suppose I wouldn’t have been dragging so much if I hadn’t stared into the darkness for most of the night, thinking about Brady. Reliving the kiss. Wondering if he’d decided that I was a total nut.
    What did I care what he thought? I’d probably