Triggered by Vicki Grant Read Free Book Online

say that to Jade, not when she’s like this. She’s never liked them very much, and she’s proud, too. I’m not sure she’d want that.
    â€œYou’re exhausted,” I say. “You should go to bed. Get some sleep. I’ll stay here.” She closes her eyes. Tears pour down her face. I put my arm around her and help her up. I’ll talk to Mom about it later.
    â€œWhy don’t you sleep in your mother’s room? It’s nice and quiet there.” Jade normally sleeps on the couch. She’s so tiny and frail, I almost want to carry her. She doesn’t put up any fuss.
    â€œWhy is Jadie crying?”
    Gavin is hugging Kanga and peering at me from behind his door. Jade turns into my side so he can’t see her face.
    â€œJust tired, buddy,” I say. “I’m going to put her to bed, then you and I are going to the park.”
    He starts running on the spot and waving his hands. His headache must be better.
    I tell him to get ready, then help Jade into bed. I grab a box of Kleenex from the chest of drawers and put it on the nightstand. She takes my hand and pulls me down closer to her. “Thank you, Mick. You know I couldn’t do this without you.” She goes to say something else but starts to cry again.
    â€œDon’t worry, Jade,” I say. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
    I turn out the light and close the door. Gavin is already dressed and raring to go.

Jade’s Diary
    Chapter Sixteen
    April 25
    Why does he do this to me? I should never have opened the door. I shouldn’t have let him in.
    He acts like he cares so much. Like he’s a good guy. He touches my arm. He holds me. He looks me in the eye and he’s all like, “Jade. Please.”
    â€œLet me help.”
    â€œDon’t worry.”
    Or my favorite: “We’ll figure this out.”
    We’ll —like we’re a couple. Like we’re in this together.
    And I believe him! I’m finally feeling okay, like this nightmare has finally ended. I get up from my nap. Have a shower. Wash my hair. Clean the living room. Get dinner ready—homemade spaghetti, just the way he likes it.
    He walks in the door carrying Gavin. They both have rosy cheeks and smell of outside. He says, “I bought Gavin a banana. I hope that’s okay. I checked the migraine list before I left, and I didn’t think it was one of the triggers.”
    â€œNo, no,” I say. “That’s fine. I just hope it doesn’t ruin his appetite. You guys must be starved.”
    He looks at me, and he looks at the table. I’ve got it set with three places and even a candle in the middle. He looks back at me, and it’s like I just know what he’s going to say.
    â€œOh, um, Jade. I’d really like to stay, but I promised Dalma…”
    Everything goes blank after that. A week before the spring dance, he has the nerve to say to me, “I promised Dalma.” It was like he stuck a knife in my eye. That’s what it felt like.
    â€œFine,” I say. I smile because there’s no way I’m going to let him know he hurt me, but clearly this has upset Gavin. He wanted Mick to stay too. “You’d better go,” I say. “Thank you for your help.”
    â€œDon’t be like that,” he says.
    Me! Like I’m the one doing it.
    Gavin starts to cry. I stand in front of him and turn to Mick. “Please don’t help us again. You’re the one making him so sick. You know that, don’t you?”

Mick
    Chapter Seventeen
    Dalma looks across the table at me and mouths the word sorry . Mrs. Zagar really did serve intestines, but that’s not what I’m worried about.
    â€œThis is delicious,” I say. Dalma’s little sister, Flora, whispers to her mother in Croatian. Her mother looks at me and says, “Thank you.”
    The whole evening pretty much goes like that. Her parents say something to me.