Picturing Perfect by Melissa Brown, Lori Sabin Read Free Book Online Page B

eventually, like they did in high school.
    "Everyone's waiting at Joe's," I reminded him.
    "Do you have a curfew?" Tucker asked. Auden fumed.
    "It's New Year's and I have cool parents. So, no," I said, grabbing my backpack from the floor.
    "Are you sure you wanna go to Joe's? Dave said there's a kickass party downtown. We could get a hotel room."
    "We told him we'd be there," Auden snapped. Joe and Auden had engaged in a flirtation for months over email. She was eager to see him. "If you want to go downtown, go with your precious Dave. Hadley and I are going to Joe's."
    "Fine, maybe I will. Better than going to some lame ass 'sleepover' at Joe's," Tuck said.
    "What? Tucker!" I said with wide eyes. "It's New Year's Eve. I want to spend it with you. Can't you see Dave back at school?"
    I didn't even attempt to mask my disappointment. We'd been dating for two years and this was to be our third New Year's Eve together. The thought of being ditched pissed me off, but even more than that, it hurt. A lot.
    "I guess I can catch a cab. Gimme an hour, though."
    "Don't do us any favors," I said.
    "Look, sorry. I'm having fun. What do you want from me?"
    "Forget it. Happy New Year, Tuck." I slammed the phone shut and pursed my lips into a thin line.
    "I'm sorry," Auden said.
    "Let's not let him ruin our night. Let's go."
    Joe's was fine. Nothing exciting, but a bunch of friends ringing in the new year with drinking games, more shots than I cared to remember and guitar jam sessions. Every so often, I'd glance at the door, hoping Tucker would show up. But, that didn't happen.
    The next morning, when Auden dropped me off at home, we found my parents sitting on the couch, drinking their morning coffee. But, something was off. Something was wrong.
    "Good morning," my dad said with a forced smile.
    "Auden, can Hadley call you later? We need to talk to her…as a family," my mom asked, her eyes red and puffy. Had I misunderstood my lack of a curfew? I was pretty certain they approved of my staying at Joe's. And I didn't have any messages on my phone. Oh no, a divorce? Were they getting a divorce? Starting the new year apart? My heart pounded in my chest.
    Auden pulled me in for a brief hug. "Call me later."
    Her words were soft, gentle. She knew something was wrong as much as I did.
    When Auden left, my parents sat in silence as I joined them in the living room. They glanced at one another with questioning eyes and furrowed brows.
    "Are you guys getting a divorce?" I asked, eager to get the discussion over with.
    "Oh god, no," my mom said, pursing her lips and looking at my dad.
    "Sweetheart, I…I have cancer," my dad said softly.
    "What? No…no." Bile rose to my throat. I covered my mouth with my hand, pleading with it to go back down.
    "The next few months are going to be hard," he continued.
    "What kind?" I asked.
    "Pancreatic."
    "That's a bad one, right?" I asked, turning to my mom.
    "It is," she said, tears threatening to run from her eyes.
    "So, what are we going to do?"
    "Chemo, radiation. Whatever my doctor suggests."
    "Okay," I replied.
    "But, there are no guarantees," my dad said, his voice choking up. "You need to know that, sweetheart."
    "Okay," I said again. I was still trying to process the words. Pancreatic cancer. Even as a self-involved college kid, I knew that diagnosis was fatal. I knew his chances were low. But I had no idea just how little time I had left with him.
    That afternoon, a hung over and remorseful Tucker showed up at my door. When he saw what a mess I was, he assumed it was about him. He apologized, he groveled, he made tons of promises to be better. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I broke down. I told him about my dad. And sweet Tucker returned. He held me as I cried. He stroked my hair. All was forgiven. All was forgotten. I needed him and he was there.
     
    For years, what happened that morning overshadowed everything else in my life—the good and the bad. But, now, I had to face the facts. Sweet Tucker