Running Lean by Diana L. Sharples Read Free Book Online Page B

along the bottom edge of a picture frame in the hallway outside her room, straightening it.
    “Yeah, but … not the same,” he muttered. “Maybe I can go over to Flannery’s house and borrow a bike. I don’t know, though. Her dad usually fixes the other bikes up in order to sell them in his shop.”
    Flannery’s house?
    He wasn’t asking her permission to go over there and ride around with that girl. It didn’t sound like he even wanted her opinion. He was just making his plans. Without her.
    “M-maybe you can fix your bike,” Stacey said. “You’re good at that stuff. I’m sure you can fix it.”
    “I need a new cable. I’m hoping Flannery’s dad can find one.”
    He went on talking about cables and bike models and eBay and blah, blah, blah, as if he hadn’t just dumped the news he was going to spend time with another girl instead of Stacey during spring break. And he expected her to be okay with that? Stacey pressed herforehead against the wall and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears trembled in their ducts. She couldn’t turn them on and off as easily as Zoe.
    When Calvin stopped rattling about his motorcycle for a second, she said, “So, I’m just supposed to find something else to do this week?”
    “What? No, of course not. I’m just thinking I’ll go over there one or two days. Although she doesn’t have trails like at my house—But you can come too! If you want.”
    “I don’t ride a motorcycle, remember? What am I going to do while you’re having fun with—” With pretty, thin, exciting, everything-in-common Flannery.
    “Stace, come on. I really want to ride this week. Just ride. I’ve hardly been able to get out on the bike all winter, and I’ve been looking forward to this week.”
    That’s right. He’d been talking about it since before Christmas. He felt better whenever he could get out and feel the wind in his face, become one with nature or something like that. He could forget about Michael being gone for a while. How could she deny him that outlet?
    Stuff the emotions. Get back in control
. “Never mind. It’s okay.”
Maybe it’ll rain
.
    “We’ll get together plenty this week. You’re coming over tomorrow, right?”
    She tried to put a smile in her voice to end the conversation. “Yes, I’ll be there. Two o’clock. And I hope you get the cable fixed. I know how much you love riding. But I should get back to Zoe before she repaints my bedroom walls.”
    “Wait. There was, um, something else I wanted to talk to you about.”
    Did he have another bombshell to drop on her? She pictured Calvin sitting on the front steps at his house, the phone drooping away from his jaw while he tugged at his hair.
    “But I guess, since you’ve got Zoe there …”
    “What is it?”
    “Okay, I’m just going to say it. I’m worried about you, Stacey. I need to know what’s going on. This diet you’ve been on since, like, forever—I don’t think it’s healthy. You don’t need to lose any more weight.”
    Ka-boom
. She
so
did not want to have this conversation with him.
    “Really, Calvin? You know that for a fact, huh?” Did she really just talk that way to him? The words kept coming, though her heart jumped like crazy in her chest. “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t worry about you while you’re off riding around with Flannery if you don’t worry about me and what I eat.”
    “Huh? That’s not—”
    “I have to go, Calvin.”
    “Stacey, I’m worried about your health.”
    “I’m fine. I told you, I just got dizzy yesterday. It’s a female thing. It happens sometimes. Why can’t you believe me?”
    He sighed. “I want to believe you. But—”
    “I’m fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.” If she didn’t make an excuse not to show up. Stacey pinched the bridge of her nose.
    “Okay.” Resignation softened Calvin’s voice.
    Silence stretched to an uncomfortable length, and Stacey imagined Calvin pouting. It tore at her heart. She couldn’t be cruel to him. She made