Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
My face soured. “That’s … you’re just jealous and mean.”
“I won't be jealous when Dad kicks you out of the house.” She wedged herself next to me on the bed.
We stared at the ceiling.
“They’re going to find out you got plastered.”
“Pfft. I’m not plastered. I’m just really, really very,” I giggled, “a lot relaxed. And I think,” I waggled my finger at the ceiling, “it will take more than one beer to get me on my knees. Ya know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” I dropped my hand to my stomach and closed my eyes. “I just thought he liked me. And he’d fight for my honor like Peter Cetera.”
Gabby snorted. “What are you talking about?”
“‘Glory of Love.’ The song. Remember? In the second Karate Kid?” I sighed. “Why can’t Kyle fight for my honor like Daniel LaRusso?” I cackled. “Daniel-san!”
We laughed.
“Grandma Bonnie said I have to stay on my side of the line or cross it and build a fence. But what if I build a fence and Kyle tosses me over it because I’m just his poor decision? Then, I’ll have to stay at the cleanest motel in Missouri and masturbate to Playgirl magazines.”
“Eve!” Gabby slapped a hand over her mouth. “Stop!” She hugged her belly and laughed. “W-what are you talking about?”
“Kyle has naked girls under his mattress. Well, not the actual girls.” I laughed. “That would be totally weird. Just the magazines. Sexy centerfolds with perfect titties.” I pinched my nipples through my shirt.
“Stop!” Gabby rolled to her side and lifted onto her elbow. “Are you serious?”
My head fell to the side, and I tried again to focus through the alcohol fog. “We looked at them together. I wasn’t jealous of their titties. I have good titties. But they have big hair, pretty makeup, and pierced ears. Screw it!” I sat up, and the room spun a little. “I’m gonna do it. I’m eighteen. I’m getting my ears pierced, and there’s nothing Mom or Dad can do to stop me.” I crawled over Gabby and fell onto the floor.
“Well, I’m going to stop you,” she said. “At least until you sober up. I guess I’ll have to stay with Josh tonight.” She swung her legs off the side of the bed. Her dirty-socked feet hovered just over my face. “And if Kyle needs anything and doesn’t want to bother Fred or Anne, I’ll be there for him too. Maybe he’ll need someone to sleep next to him in case he needs help going to the bathroom.”
“Shut up, you bimbette.” I batted my hand at her feet.
Gabby sighed. “Take me to bed, or lose me—”
“Stop it!” I scrambled to my feet, reaching for my desk chair to steady myself. “He’s not your Maverick. He’s mine. My Pete Mitchell. My Daniel LaRusso. My Johnny Castle. I’m going to talk to him.” I ran my fingers through my hair.
“Not tonight,” Gabby said. “Mom already told them you were having menstrual cycle issues.”
I winced. “She did not!”
Gabby’s nose wrinkled as she nodded.
“Gah!” I covered my face. “Why is she so mean? I’m not having my period.”
“Then you should have told her you were going to drink away your anger instead of telling her you were having cramps.”
I squinted at my alarm clock. “It’s seven. I’ll shower, eat something, take a couple ibuprofen, and be fine to tuck Josh in at eight.”
“You’re not—”
“Just go. I’ll be …” I headed toward the bathroom. “Good and fine and … just go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
U2, “WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”
Eve
I partially dried my hair, put on a pink sweat suit, and grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to eat on my way to Kyle’s. Just as I opened the door, my parents and Gabby were opening the screen door.
“Oh. Are you sure you’re feeling better?” Mom asked.
I didn’t make eye contact with her. I just nodded, squeezing past them.
Gabby cleared her throat, and I shot her a scowl.
“Anne said you don’t need to spend the night. Once Josh is asleep, you can come home.”
“Yeah, I’ll see,” I said.
“There’s no place for you to sleep except for the sofa,” she added as I walked toward the fence.
When I arrived, Josh was in his jammies, running around the kitchen as Clifford chased him.
“Eve!” Josh ran to me with Clifford right behind him.
“Oof!” I grunted. He nearly knocked me over, hugging my waist. I picked him up and avoided eye contact with Anne and Fred. “Ready to read a book?” I asked, kissing his pink cheek.
“Thanks for doing this,” Fred said. “He’s taken quite the liking to you.”
“Yeah, well, I spend a lot of time with Mr. Munchkin.” I quickly headed toward the stairs.
“Shh!” Josh held his little finger to his lips when I set him down. “Daddy’s sleeping.”
I couldn’t safely carry him up the stairs. I needed to hold the handrail just for good measure. Giving him a smile, I nodded before following his lead.