Raina's Story by Lurlene McDaniel Read Free Book Online

that Tony's a creep, but I'm mad at my brother for acting like I did something terrible because I kept my mouth shut. You'd think he'd be proud of me for being a good friend.”
    “You'd think,” Kathleen mumbled, sleep still making her groggy.
    “Mom's calling us to breakfast, then we head off to church, so I can't call Raina until this afternoon.”
    “I'll call her a little later.”
    “Call her now. From the sound of it, I'm sure she didn't sleep a wink after Hunter left.”

seven

    K ATHLEEN REALIZED that Holly was correct the second she heard Raina's voice, which sounded thick and raspy, like she'd been crying. “You all right?”
    “Not really.”
    “Holly told me what happened. I can come over if you want.”
    “Don't,” Raina said. “Mom will be home about three and I've got to pull it together before I face her.”
    “What are you going to tell her?”
    “I don't know yet. I never told her that Tony has moved back and is in our high school, because she would have freaked.”
    “You're Queen of Denial.”
    Kathleen felt rewarded when Raina gave a short laugh.
    “You know what a fuss she raised to the principal back in middle school. I can't have her fly off the handle like that again. I don't want it all over school.”
    “Yes, but Tony was out of control and he was smearing you.”
    “But I'm a big girl now.”
    Kathleen fluffed her bedcovers while she thought of something encouraging to say. “This is going to work itself out.”
    “It all depends on what Hunter does.”
    “Hunter loves you.”
    “I'm not sure he loves me quite as much today as he did yesterday.”
    “All because Tony spilled some dirt about you and him? That sounds harsh.”
    Raina knew she could never explain it to either of her two best friends. She hardly understood it herself. Hunter's assumption had always been that she was waiting for marriage to have sex, just as he was. Now that he knew she wasn't “pure,” would he even want her around? She said, “How is it that I hooked up with the one guy who's a morality major?”
    She didn't expect an answer, but Kathleen said, “Because you'd already been used and abused by a guy who isn't.”
    After they hung up, Raina showered and put on makeup. She wanted to look less unhappy when her mother arrived. Raina would have to tell Vicki something, because her mother would know something was wrong as soon as she saw her. She kept hoping that Hunter would call after church and ease her pain, but he didn't. Bythe time her mother shouted, “I'm home!” from the foot of the stairs, Raina was desperately sad again.
    “Did you have a good time?” Raina called back from her bedroom, putting off the meeting as long as possible.
    “I actually snoozed through two of the lectures, but the head of nursing for the Mayo Clinic was sensational.” Vicki's voice bounced up the stairs in front of her footsteps. She was still chattering when she opened Raina's door. “Anyway, I—Raina! What's wrong?”
    “I—I had a bad night. Does it show that much?”
    Vicki eased into the room. “You look like you've been crying.”
    “Good diagnosis.” Raina rose from her bed and crossed to the window. She stared down at the parking lot, at the roofs of cars parked in neat rows like waiting chariots. She wanted to run down, jump into one and drive far away. Maybe not come back.
    “Tell me,” Vicki said.
    Raina turned, slumped against the windowsill and began telling her story, but at the mention of Tony's name, her mother recoiled. “He's returned? Why didn't you tell me? If he says one bad word about you—”
    “Too late,” Raina said. “But I don't care who he talks to about me. Except for Hunter. He told Hunter.”
    Vicki rolled her eyes. “For crying out loud, Hunter's more mature than that! Isn't he?”
    “It was a shock. I don't want to lose him.”
    “Look, you made a bad choice with Tony. Surely Hunter understands bad choices.”
    Raina's eyes filled with tears. “I'm not