The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle Read Free Book Online Page B

women who’d paid good money and were probably squeezing in some ohm before picking up school-age children or grocery shopping.
    â€œShit,” she muttered, head down and racing past the front desk, where Beverly was sitting, before her boss had a chance to ask her where the hell she’d been.
    Rain threw open the door to the studio but recoiled in shock. Instead of a roomful of angry women she found her class in full swing, everyone’s butt high in the air. Layla popped her head up from her downward-facing dog and mouthed, I got this . Then she jerked with her head toward the door.
    As Rain backed out, she saw more than a few familiar students looking back at her from between their knees, foreheads wrinkled in confusion.
    Rain walked to her locker, to grab her water bottle, trying to figure out why she didn’t feel grateful that Layla had filled in and spared her students the annoyance of a late class. Rain checked her phone, fumbling it just as the hysterical mother in the park had done. For the first time since she walked back in through the NYC front door, Rain noticed her own hands were shaking.

8
    M organ was so drowsy on the grass in the park, feeling the sun paint her all over with the warmth of the tailing ribbons of summer, she almost didn’t open her eyes when her phone chimed with a message. It chimed again and she sighed. Mom would have the police combing the town for her remains if she didn’t reply in a nanosecond.
    Morgan saw it was David and turned the phone over with another snort of disgust. “Whatever.” She hoped to sound casual.
    Ethan was stretched out on the grass next to her, their open AP English notebooks between them, pages fluttering in a slight breeze. He cocked his eyebrow.
    Morgan intoned, “High school senior commits homicide over continued texting from hypocrite ex-boyfriend. Film at eleven.”
    â€œHomicide ruled justifiable by a jury of indignant teen girls. Film at eleven.”
    Morgan laughed and propped up on her elbows. In the late-afternoon light flickering through the trees, Ethan looked older than she remembered. No, not older. More mature. She recalled his face earlier in the week when he thought he lost her in the crowd, and the feel of his large hand over hers, pulling her along.
    â€œWhat?” he asked. “Do I have a zit?”
    â€œNothing,” she replied, quickly. “No, you don’t. Just spaced out a sec, that’s all.”
    â€œSo what’s up with Dashing Dave? Is he trying to get back together?”
    â€œNo, at least, I don’t think he is. It’s like he wants to pay me just enough attention so I’ll fall for him again, but not so much he has to be my boyfriend. It’s screwed up.”
    â€œYeah. That empty-headed jock didn’t appreciate you anyway.”
    Morgan felt her face grow hot despite the shade from the trees. “Hey, he wasn’t that bad.” After all, she’d spent the best part of her junior year in his arms and gave him her virginity.
    â€œIt’s solidarity. I thought we were hating ex-boyfriends.”
    â€œJust don’t hate him so much that you cut me down for liking him in the first place.”
    Ethan sat all the way up, then, and turned to her with dark, serious eyes. “I’d never cut you down. Ever.”
    Morgan blinked under his steady gaze. She caught herself stroking her scar, so she sat up and leaned forward, allowing her hair to draw over it like a curtain. “I’m so mad at my jerk brother for what he said about you the other day. I’m sorry I told you, though. I shouldn’t have even mentioned it.”
    Ethan shrugged and looked away toward the park’s fountain. A couple was being photographed. Morgan guessed by the way the photographer kept directing her to display her left hand on his shoulder it was an engagement shot. “Whatever. No big deal.”
    Morgan sat up straighter. “No, actually, it