You Knew Me When by Emily Liebert Read Free Book Online Page B

Laney’s house looked a lot like ours, only lived-in. Carol walked me into the kitchen, where there were big bowls overflowing with fresh fruit and glass containers filled with cereal and crackers and cookies, even one tall one with uncooked spaghetti. Most of the food in my old house was either canned or from the deli department.
    â€œCan I get you something to drink, Kitty? A snack?” She didn’t even wait for me to answer before putting a bowl of the biggest red grapes I’d ever seen in front of me and pouring me a glass of lemonade.
    â€œThank you.” I picked a grape off the stem. My dad and I were so busy getting everything together for the move we’d barely eaten anything all day, unless you count the bag of corn nuts we shared on the car ride over.
    â€œI’ll just be a minute. Laney’s next door at Luella Hancock’s house for a swim.”
    â€œOh, you don’t have to get her. I could just come back later when she’s done, or tomorrow.”
    â€œNo, no. Laney has been dying to meet you. I literally had to shove her out the door to keep her from staring out the window all day! Don’t go anywhere.”
    â€œOkay.” I smiled. It was impossible not to. Laney’s mom was so
happy
. I don’t remember my mom being like that—at least not most of the time. There were some great days. Days where she’d wake me up and say, “No school today!” and we’d go shopping and have strawberry milk shakes at the Bennington Diner. But then the next day, she’d be all snippy again. Still, Carol made me miss my mom a little. There’s just something about moms that dads don’t have, no matter how hard they try. I can’t explain it.
    I sat for a little while, eating the grapes as slowly as I could until I heard voices coming from the back of the house. A second later, Laney spun into the kitchen like a tornado, soaking wet in a red-and-white polka-dot bikini. At first glance, I knew she was everything I expected her to be, but had hoped she wasn’t: blond, blue-eyed, skinny, and perfectly tanned from head to toe. She even had a sparkle in her eyes—the same one my mom got when she talked about her days as an actress in New York City.
    â€œKitty!” Laney threw herself at me, wrapping her wet arms around my sweaty back. “I can’t believe you’re finally here! This is so exciting! It felt like
ages
. I almost jumped out of my skin! What should we do? Do you have a bathing suit? Do you want to go to Luella’s pool? Are you hungry? Do you need help unpacking? Did you get my note?”
    She spoke without taking a breath, dripping a puddle onto the kitchen floor. I must have sat with my mouth hanging open, because she just kept going. I didn’t know what to make of it. What to make of her. It was like she’d known me forever and we hadn’t seen each other for the longest time, even though we’d never met before. I watched her carefully, wondering why anyone who looked like her or acted like her—the little bit I’d seen—would be interested in someone like me, sitting like a lump in poop-colored boys’ clothing.
    â€œLaney, relax.” Her mom handed her a fluffy white towel and wiped up the pool of water that had formed under her feet with a bunch of paper towels. “Kitty just got here. Maybe she’s not ready to rush over for a swim.”
    â€œI think all my bathing suits are packed.” I nodded.
    â€œOh.” Laney twisted up her perfect face. What I wouldn’t give to look like her, twisted face and all. “Well, Luella invited us both for tea and biscuits tomorrow. Wanna go?”
    â€œSure. I just have to ask my dad.”
    â€œOkay.” Laney looked a little disappointed. “Do you want to stay for dinner?”
    â€œLaney, she just got here. I’m sure her father wants her home tonight.”
    â€œProbably.” I nodded again. It