Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross Read Free Book Online Page A

the pool house driveway. She looks at Brody pointedly, waiting for him to exit the car. “I can drop you off now, Annie.”
    I tap my fist against Brody’s seat, hinting for him to get out. “I’ll walk.” I need to get my head on straight before facing Dad, who unfortunately is relentless when it comes to waiting up for me.
    Lenny turns to me. “You sure?”
    Brody finally opens the door and gets out. I tumble after him, answering Lenny’s question.
    “See you at school tomorrow, Annie,” she calls, heading around the back. “Thanks for being my cover tonight.”
    I’m prepared to stalk quickly away from the infuriating pitcher ruining all my fun, but he grabs my purse, holding me in place.
    “Johnson was right, you know?” he says.
    Nerves flutter in my stomach. I don’t want to like the way his long-sleeve shirt forms over his muscled body or the perfect way his worn-out jeans hang from his waist. “What? About the ex-convict thing? I’ve already heard all of those details.”
    Okay, so I haven’t heard any actual details. Only Frank’s reference to Brody’s “indiscretions.” Is that polite talk for ex-convict ? “Can you really be an ex-convict at nineteen? Convict, yeah, but ex…must not have been much of a crime if you’re already in and out of the slammer.”
    “God, you’re such a brat.” He sighs. “Your stupidity is bad enough to ruin my playing chances.”
    “You didn’t have to come up to me and Lenny in the bar. That was your screwup.”
    He shakes his head, jaw tensing. “Word of advice—if you want to stick around here, don’t give Johnson a reason to cut your dad.”
    I yank out of his grip and take a step back down the driveway. “Why the hell do you care what happens to me or my dad?”
    Brody’s expression clouds over, but he doesn’t answer.
    I grin, knowing I’ve found a crack in his exterior. “Oh. Right. Because my dad and Frank seem to be the only ones who think you can pitch.”
    Brody laughs awkwardly and looks away. “I can pitch.”
    “Guess we’ll see, huh?” I turn around and take off in a jog, hoping he doesn’t follow me. When I complete the half-mile journey home and walk through the front door, Dad is sitting in the living room watching TV. No surprise there.
    “Hey, Ann,” he says, smiling over his shoulder at me. “Did you have fun tonight?”
    Good. Johnson hasn’t called him to tattle. Yet . I borrow Lenny’s fake smile. “Uh, yeah…it was fun.”
    Dad frowns. He knows me too well to be fooled by fake smiles. “You okay?”
    I sigh and flop down on the love seat beside him. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just exhausting. Meeting new people, learning a new city…”
    Concern fills his face. “Good exhausting or bad exhausting?”
    I give him a much more genuine and hopefully reassuring smile. “I’m feeling a little of both.”
    “Me too, honey. Me too.” He sets the remote in my lap and pulls himself off the couch, hobbling a little on his way to the kitchen. “You find a show. I’ll make us a snack.”
    Okay, I officially solemnly swear never to lie to my dad again. Well, at least not the big lies.
    I sink further into the cushions, trying to relax, but it’s hard to do after the evenings’ events. Could I really cause Johnson to fire my dad? Is this major league family image really that important? And while I’m solemnly swearing, I need to vow not to have any more inappropriate thoughts about Jason Brody, the pitcher from the wrong side of tracks. If only I hadn’t seen him wet and wearing just a towel. That’s not an easy image to erase from memory.
    From now on, I’m going to avoid Jason Brody. He’s Dad’s project, not mine. Maybe I should swear on a Bible or something? It feels like a rule intended to be broken.

Chapter 5
    Annie Lucas: I’ve witnessed a miracle! Where is the Pope? Where are the Cardinal dudes that come and verify it? Yesterday it was 32 degrees and currently the outside temperature is 71 degrees.