The List by Kate L. Mary Read Free Book Online

way we’ll be nice and rested to shop our asses off tomorrow!” She grinned from ear to ear, and I couldn’t help smiling in return.
    Before I climbed into bed, I pulled my cell phone out from under my pillow. I’d missed a few calls from my dad and one from each of my brothers. I didn’t want to cut them out completely: that would kill them. Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to my dad after everything he’d been through. But I couldn’t keep letting him run my life. Moving away was a big step and had resulted in dozens of fights, but ultimately I’d won. And I had no intention of going back.
    After turning the ringer off on my phone, I tucked it away. I’d deal with calling them all later. It was too late now anyway. Plus, I had no idea what I was going to say once I had them on the phone.
    I flipped off the lights and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. My stomach buzzed with excitement and I felt like a little kid on Christmas Eve. There was no way I was going to be able to get a good night’s sleep.
    â€œThanks for doing this, Cami,” I said to the dark room.
    Her mattress crunched and she said, “No problem. It will be fun.”
    I chewed on my lip—a nervous habit that I needed to get rid of. “Can we just keep the list between the two of us, though? It’s kind of pathetic and I don’t want anyone else to know.”
    â€œYour secret is safe with me,” she said, mid-yawn.
    Her mattress crinkled again and I could imagine her rolling over onto her side. I did the same and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to calm my pounding heart so I could drift off to sleep. It was hours before I finally managed it, and the smile was still pasted on my lips when I did.

5
    C ami was on the phone when I came out of the bathroom. She frowned and shook her head. Even though it was rude to eavesdrop, I couldn’t stop myself from listening in on the conversation.
    â€œOf course you can come if you want to, but we’re going shopping, Ryan. I don’t want you whining the whole time about how long we’re taking.” She pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes and I couldn’t help laughing. She and Ryan reminded me so much of my brother Adam and me. “You are infuriating! Fine. You can come, but I’m going to warn you, we are literally planning to shop until we drop.”
    I got to work untangling my long hair, and Cami groaned when she hung up the phone. “Ryan is going to drive us to the outlets. Apparently, Chris crashed on his couch last night and when he heard you and I were going shopping, he was just dying to come. I don’t think you’re going to have to work too hard to knock some of this stuff off your list.” Cami flipped the book open and scanned the words. “Chris seems very interested in you.”
    My cheeks burned and my stomach jumped to my throat. I swallowed it back down and focused on my hair. “So you know Chris pretty well?”
    Cami giggled. “I guess the feeling is mutual?”
    I tried to keep the smile off my face, but it didn’t work. “I don’t know. He’s cute and nice, but he’s the first guy who’s ever really paid attention to me. Maybe that’s all it is, but it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him more.”
    â€œWell, he’s a great guy. I approve. Some of Ryan’s other friends I wouldn’t let near my shoes, but Chris is one of the good ones. Of course, if you start dating seriously right away, you’re going to have a tough time doing things like number fifteen or sixteen. That would kind of be cheating if you had a boyfriend.”
    Boyfriend? Crap. I hadn’t even thought about that. After everything I’d missed out on, having a boyfriend seemed like an impossibility. How in the world would I learn how to flirt enough to attract a guy?
    â€œLet’s just take it one step at a time,” I whispered.
    Ryan