Secrets by Melinda Metz - Fingerprints - 4 Read Free Book Online Page B

answered. She glanced over her shoulder. “Alicia, we have a job to do,” she called to a girl Anthony thought was one of the pompom girls.
    The girl hurried over. “What’s up?”
    “Anthony needs clothes-something for McHugh’sparty,” Jackie said, shooting Anthony a knowing smile. “And he, being a boy, needs help.”
    Alicia nodded. “First thing, we have to get you out of here. The Gap’s fine for basics, but there’s nothing here that really says party.”
    Jackie tightened her grip on his arm-she’d never let it go-and Alicia latched onto his other side. Together they pulled him out of the store. “I’m thinking Him,” she said to Alicia.
    “Good place to start,” Alicia agreed. And they were off, towing Anthony between them. “But can we stop at Bangles for just one sec? I really need to drool over that bracelet a little more.”
    “Fine,” Jackie said, rolling her eyes. “But not too long. Our agenda for the rest of the night is Anthony.” They swung into a jewelry store that felt way too small to Anthony. Like one wrong step and he’d send one of the glass cases crashing to the floor.
    The sales chick took one look at Alicia and pulled a silver bracelet from one of the cases. Alicia let go of Anthony and rushed over, making little crooning noises at the piece of metal. She’s like Anna with her cardboard tiara, he thought, amused.
    Jackie released him, too, and headed over to a display of earrings. Anthony wandered over and watched her try on a couple of pairs. Rae would look good in those big hoopy ones, he thought.
    She’d need big ones to show through all that curly hair of hers.
    He shook his head. Why was he thinking about Rae? She was the last person he should be thinking about right now. She’d made it pretty clear she’d be happier if he somehow disappeared from her world.
    “One more minute, Alicia,” Jackie warned, switching earrings again.
    “No. If I look at it for one more minute, I’ll buy it, and my parents will have a hissy if I put anything else on my Visa this month,” Alicia answered.
    “Tell you what,” Jackie said. “I’ll get it for you, and you can buy me something next month.” She pulled her wallet out, then tossed an AmEx on the counter.
    “Thanks, sweetie,” Alicia cried, giving Jackie a smacking kiss on the cheek.
    What planet have I landed on? Anthony wondered as he watched Jackie sign the credit slip. His mom had worked who knew how many hours for the money she’d given him tonight, and Jackie had just spent almost the same amount on a freakin’ bracelet. And it wasn’t even for her.
    “Now it’s all about Anthony,” Alicia said when she had the little jewelry store bag looped over her wrist. She latched back onto him. Jackie grabbed the other side.
    A few minutes later he was standing in Him-a store he’d never even heard of-with an armful of clothes. “Uh-uh.
    Stop right there,” he told Alicia. “I am not even trying on those pants. They’re silver.”
    She took a step closer. “They’re hot.”
    “They’re silver,” Anthony repeated. “Forget it.” These girls had clearly decided he was their own personal Ken doll, but they were wrong.
    “How about these?” Jackie asked, holding up a pair of dark brown leather pants. Anthony actually thought they were somewhat cool, but he’d seen the price tag on another pair of leather pants, and he definitely couldn’t go there.
    “They make me itch,” he told Jackie. “Look, I have too much to try on already. I’m hitting the dressing room.” He bolted without waiting for Jackie or Alicia to answer. It’s not like he needed their permission.
    The first thing he did when he had one of the dressing-room doors closed safely behind him was a price tag check. That eliminated half of Jackie and Alicia’s picks. He stared at the rust-colored suede-suede? Something like that-pants. They were in his price range, barely, but were they actually anything any guy would want to be seen