Trading Paint (Racing on the Edge) by Shey Stahl Read Free Book Online Page A

how upset I was with her backing out. It went straight to voicemail so I expressed my concerns with: “ I hate you. Come rescue me.”
    I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting in my room sulking and wondering if I could make myself appear sick when I heard a tap at the window. I turned to see Sway standing there, balancing herself on a ladder.
    My first concern should have been how in the hell Sway made it to my second story window but it wasn’t; it was relief. I had no intention of going to that goddamn school dance nor did I want my pictures taken as a reminder that I was forced to attend in the first place.
    “What are you doing?”
    “You said you needed to be rescued. Are you coming or not?” Sway asked breathlessly. “The food is getting cold.”
    “You brought food?”
    “Well yeah, I was hungry.”
    “I haven’t climbed out my window in years.” I admitted climbing out nonetheless. After falling about five feet, I landed on my ass with Sway standing over me laughing.
    “Smooth Riley, real smooth,”
    I glared at her brushing grass and dirt from my tux. Why I was still wearing it should have concerned me. “I should have changed.”
    Sway glanced my direction.
    “Nah, you look good. Keep it on.” She winked.
    I finally looked at her appearance. While she looked beautiful as always, I had to laugh at her attire. She had on a black tutu over her jeans. “What’s with the tutu?”
    “ It’s prom isn’t it?” Her brow furrowed like I was stupid for asking. “This is my dress.”
    I shook my head. This is what Sway did, never what you expected her to do.
    A few minutes later, we were sitting inside Emma’s tree house eating Chinese food. I could always count on Sway to bail me out of situations like this. I laughed to myself at the thought of Chelsea looking for me at the dance but I was almost certain she’d find someone to dance with. There were times were I felt badly for the way I treated Chelsea but I was also well aware of the guys she flirted with and did god knows what with when I was out of town. I wasn’t stupid. She was using me as I used her.
    We watched as Tommy picked up Emma for the dance. They were going as friends but that didn’t stop me from threatening to cut off his balls if he tried anything.
    Mom fussed endlessly over her dress while we laughed. I knew damn well I’d catch hell from mom over this but like always, I didn’t care.
    As I took a bite of my egg roll, I noticed Sway gazing at mom and Emma talking.
    Unbuttoning the top buttons of my undershirt, I attempted to get more comfortable.
    “Do you miss her?” I asked softly leaning into her shoulder.
    “Miss who?” I knew she knew who I was referring to but was stalling. She fidgeted with the ruffles on her tutu.
    “Your mom?”
    Sway was silent for a long moment eating her noodles before sighing and leaned back on the wooden floor of the tree house. Setting down my food, I leaned back on my elbows to lie next to her.
    “I miss her.” She mused nodding once. “I don’t remember much about her. I wish I did ... I feel like I’m constantly forgetting memories that I wish I wouldn’t.”
    “What do you remember?”
    We had talked about Rachel every now and then but it wasn’t a typical conversation. Sway was a happy go lucky type girl and that’s what I loved about her. It was refreshing. She’d rather have good memories than bad and she’d rather laugh than cry.
    “I still remember what she smelled like.” I watched her face closely as a tear slide down her cheek.
    “I’m sorry,” I reached for her hand taking it in mine intertwining our fingers together. “I shouldn’t have asked.
    “No,” she sniffled wiping her tears away. “I just miss her. It’s okay to talk about it. With you, I can talk about it.”
    “Come here,” I pulled her into my arms trying to comfort her in any way I could.
    I had no idea what she must feel like. Other than my uncle Lane dying when I was nine, we hadn’t