Secrets and Lies by H.M. Ward Read Free Book Online Page B

gives me a crooked smile and we both look out at the bus.
    “No one will notice.”
    “No, of course not.” She’s trying so hard not to laugh, which makes me like her even more. Turning toward me, she adds, “I have heard some very shitty first week of college stories, but yours is the worst. You win. Hands down.”
    I smile primly and bow at the waist. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I’d like to thank my mother for sending me here with no money, and my father for only paying my tuition. Lastly, I’d like to thank the naked man who was lovely to look at while it lasted.”
    Emily can’t help it, she starts laughing and I laugh with her, because it’s either that or cry. “You crack me up. Like, seriously.”
    “If anything, my life is amusing.”
    “So, what kind of gas mileage does that thing get?”
    “I don’t know, but it’s pretty bad. Like a mile a gallon. That beast is personally responsible for the hole in the ozone layer.”
    Emily laughs again, and then pulls her long dark hair back into a ponytail. It’s jet black, but I think she dyed it because her eyebrows are so light, blonde almost. “A bunch of us are going out later. Do you want to come?”
    “Where are you going?”
    “Does it matter?”
    “No.” I pause, and after a second add, “Hey, you’re not just asking me because you need a bus driver, are you?”
    “I call dibs on the seat next to the rodent.”
    “You can have the rodent.”
    “I might take you up on that.”
    After figuring out where I’m supposed to meet up with Emily later, I head to my room. I need to change and unwind before I lose my mind. Lucky me. Roommate is in there. “Hey,” I offer before I flop down on my bed, face first into a pillow.
    “You have a package downstairs.” She points a manicured nail toward the desk we share. There’s a UPS call slip.
    I wonder why they didn’t bring the boxes up, but don’t ask. Roommate is being nice and I don’t want to spoil it. Pushing off the bed, I cross the room and grab the slip. I don’t want to walk downstairs, but I want my clothes. That’s what’s in the boxes. I shipped them because I didn’t have time to pack up my room before I left. I didn’t plan on coming to college here and it was a three-day drive. By the time I decided to come, there wasn’t enough time, so my parents threw my clothes in boxes and shipped them the cheapest way possible. I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the past week.
    After walking down the stairs, I go to the girl at the desk and ask where my boxes are. “Let me see your paper.” I hand her the call tag. She snaps her gum and points out the doors. “This is going to be in the student center by the mailboxes. Go to the window and ask them.”
    Damn it. I don’t want to walk across campus and get them. There are seven boxes and I bet each one is heavier than I am. Taking the slip back, I thank her and start my walk across campus. By the time I get to the mail window, it’s about to close.
    “Wait!” I yell and run the last few steps. The woman in the window looks like she’s going to shut it anyway, so I lunge the call slip at her and slap it down on the counter. “I need these.”
    She picks up the slip and looks it over before disappearing into the back. As I wait, I glance around at the other students. They all seem like they have friends and that they know what’s going on. No one looks lost or like they feel the way I do. It’s nearly dinnertime. I see Carter push through the doors with a bunch of other guys that I haven’t seen before. I nod my head at him, wondering if he’s going to blow me off or say hello. To my surprise, he walks away from the man pack and heads my way. “Hey, Kerry.”
    “Hey, yourself. My boxes finally got here.” I rub my palms together and smile at him.
    “Boxes?”
    “Yeah, my cheap-o parents mailed all my stuff after they threw my butt on a plane. I’m lucky they didn’t buy me a seat on the livestock