The Shadow Girl by Jennifer Archer Read Free Book Online Page A

haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.
    Twisting my hair into a braid, I return to the living room where Wyatt is sitting on the floor next to Cookie’s pen. He has the gate open and his hand is resting on Cookie’s head. I plop down beside him and cross my legs.
    “Who was that guy you were talking to at the lake?” he asks.
    “His name is Ty Collier. He’s the guy who helped me with Dad.”
    “Oh, man,” says Wyatt. “If I’d known that, I would’ve thanked him.”
    “He goes to college at Columbia. Or did. Ty told Mr. Dimitri he took this semester off.”
    Shifting to look at Cookie, Wyatt says, “So are you going to go out with him?”
    “I thought you were snooping.” I shove him. “He didn’t ask me out, he just asked me to meet him for coffee.”
    “Well, I’d steer clear of him if I were you. I mean, the guy showed up out of nowhere. He could eat babies for breakfast, for all we know.”
    “Whatever.” I roll my eyes.
    The door opens and Addie hurries in, followed by a rush of cool air. “I finally wore her down. Your mother’s closing up the shop. She asked me to get her purse.”
    “Doesn’t want to see me, huh?” I try to keep my voice light, even though it hurts to think that Mom’s avoiding me.
    “Give her some time,” says Addie, sending me a look of sympathy.
    Heading for Mom’s bedroom, I find her purse, then bring it to Addie.
    She opens the door and steps onto the porch, saying, “Hold down the fort while we’re gone.”
    “We’ll do our best,” Wyatt says, then in a teasing mock-whisper to me, adds, “Go see if she locked up the liquor cabinet.”
    Addie shakes her head and mutters something sarcastic about Wyatt leaving for college as she closes the door.
    Suddenly serious, Wyatt says hesitantly, “Speaking of college, are we still on for going to OU together in the fall?”
    I tell him that I’m not sure I should leave Mom alone so soon after Dad’s death, and that maybe I should go to Silver Lake Community College next semester instead. I could transfer to OU in the spring.
    He exhales loudly. “Man. It won’t be the same without you. Maybe I should—”
    “Don’t change your plans because of me, Wyatt,” I break in. “Dad said we should do our own thing and not influence the other’s decisions.” My throat tightens. “We’re not little kids anymore. We’re not always going to be around for each other.”
    Wyatt looks like I stabbed him, then he turns and stares into the fire.
    “That came out wrong, Wyatt. You know what I meant.”
    “It just seems weird that you might not always be close by,” he mutters.
    “I know.”
    He gives me a sideward glance. “I wasn’t seriously considering staying here with you, though. Did you really think I’d give up a semester of beer pong and hot college girls for your sake?”
    I smirk at him. “Yeah, I should’ve known better than that.”
    Wyatt stands up and stretches. “So what do you want to do this afternoon?”
    “Take advantage of Mom being gone.” I motion toward the hallway. “Come on.”
    He frowns. “Where are we going?”
    “To look for Dad’s spare keys to the workshop. I want to see what Mom finds so interesting out there.”

5

    After going through all of the dresser and nightstand drawers in my parents’ bedroom, I start in on their closet.
    Wyatt stands inside the doorway, leaning against the frame. “I don’t feel right about this,” he mutters.
    “You don’t have to help,” I tell him, shoving hangers across the rod. I understand why he doesn’t approve. I feel like a thief as I search inside pockets and shoes. If Mom walked in, she might never speak to me again. I’d be furious if I ever found her nosing through my personal items. How can I expect her to feel any different?
    But I can’t stop myself, and it doesn’t help that Iris is urging me on. She frets through my mind, as anxious as I am to figure out what’s up with Mom.
    Standing on tiptoe, I snag my