Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry Read Free Book Online

typing.
    “Don’t just call him now!” I reach for it, but she pulls away.
    “Chill. I’m just putting in his number.” She’s furiously tapping my screen. “You know, in case.”
    “Are you seriously trying to set me up with your cousin?” I finally grab my phone from her outstretched arm.
    “You’re right.” She shrugs, still looking smug or knowing or something. “Stupid of me.”
    I blink a few times, my phone in hand, but Jen’s expression is still unreadable.
    “Forget it.” But as I step up the stairs, Shelton and Tamara are coming down.
    I feel all shaky and thin, like I could shatter on the stairway if they touch in front of me. Have to distract myself.
    I’m cleaning my fingernails, fiddling with my cell phone. Is that a split end? My heart flips, jumps, and speeds. Yeah. I definitely need out of here. I spin around and jog down the stairs, not at all caring if they see me or think I’m crazy.
    After sneaking out the back of the school across the soccer field and around the track through the woods where the cross-country kids practice, I head to the road. I flip my phone over and over in my hands.
    What to do. What to do.
    Do I call Aidan? It’s not like I really know him or anything. I flip to his name in my address book where Jen has added a few smiley faces where his address should be. Guess she does think it would be fun if I liked her cousin.
    I push send before giving it too much thought, feeling more twisted up inside than I did while sneaking out of the school.
    “Hello?”
    Wow. He really does have a nice voice.
    “Hello?” he says again.
    Crap. I’m on the phone.
    “Aidan?”
    “Who’s this?”
    “Kate? From the other night? In the too-small dress?” He’s a boy. That should jog his memory.
    “Right.” He chuckles. Then there’s this pause.
    “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
    “Well…yeah, but…” Just get it out, Kate.
    “Bad day?”
    “Kind of.” And he doesn’t say anything else. Have I made a complete ass out of myself ?
    “You, uh. Maybe want a ride somewhere? Or if you’re looking for Jen, she’s at school. With you.”
    Something about his tone makes me feel like I’m thirteen and he’s twenty-five. My face totally heats up, even though we’re only on opposite ends of a phone line . I totally wasn’t thinking when I hit send. It’s like, just because he’s Jen’s family doesn’t obligate him to help me out. Jen didn’t even feel obligated enough to me today to sit and eat lunch with me. “It was stupid
    to call you, I just—”
    “You know that grocery store near the school?”
    “You’re going to meet me?” My voice gets all high and squealyscreechy with excitement, which sucks because I’m trying to play cool here. And I don’t want him to get the wrong idea. It’s not him . It’s getting away.
    “Only if you promise not to say anything weird.”
    Silence. I have no idea what he means by this. Is he joking, or will I be better off in silence or hitchhiking.
    “I’m teasing you, Kate.” He chuckles again. “Don’t be so serious. Meet you in a few.”
    “Thanks.” The word pours out in a rush of breath.
    Something in my day is finally going right.
    Time ceases to move forward when I’m waiting for someone. Ceases. Completely. I stare at my phone, flicking the light back on several times while waiting for Aidan to arrive. I shove up the sleeves on my short jacket again, and slide the strap of my bag between my fingers. My butt’s planted on the backrest of a bench, and my feet are squarely on the seat.
    My turquoise Vans are all scuffed on the edges, which sucks ’cause they’re my favorites. What I want is a huge doughnut, but it means counting carbs, measuring insulin, and I’m not into it. Also Dad would freak if I tried to eat something like that—well, and I’ve already gone high once today. Aidan already thinks I’m crazy. I definitely don’t need to add to the pile with my finger pricking and insane-o