Asking for Trouble: 1 (London Confidential) Read Online Free PDF Page B

said, coming over to her.
    “Oh, pshaw.” She waved me away. “Your music wasn’t that loud. Still, no amp from now on.”
    “I mean I’m sorry she didn’t say anything about the book club.”
    “Yes,” Mom said softly. “Me too.”
    I went back to my room and checked my phone again. No message from Jack. No missed calls. I wished he’d call or text.
    I’d decided what I was going to do.

Chapter 13

    All through dinner I kept looking at the clock. I mean, didn’t he say he’d call today? Maybe he’d found someone else. Great. I’d been turned down for not only the writing job but the delivery job too.
    After dinner Dad went to work on the computer while Mom washed the dishes by hand. I was halfway up the stairs when the doorbell rang. Louanne’s hand reached out and grabbed the dog by the collar. “Stay, Giggle!” she commanded. And he did.
    “I’ll get it,” I said. I opened the door. “Jack!” I was hoping to hide the shock in my voice and on my face.
    “Hullo, Savvy.” His face was flushed and his eyes brighter than usual. “Sorry I’m a bit late. Autumn rugby, you know.”
    “Oh, no problem. I’d just expected you to call, not visit, that’s all.”
    He held out a piece of paper. “I had planned to ring you up, but you wrote down your address, not your phone number.”
    I felt my neck go hot. I’d been so distracted this morning. “I’m sorry!” I said, but I didn’t invite him in, though I knew it would have been polite to do so. First, I was worried that Louanne couldn’t keep her grip on the dog’s collar. Second, I didn’t want him to say anything about delivering , rather than writing for , the paper.
    “I—I’ve decided to deliver the papers,” I said, holding my head high. I supposed it wouldn’t be the end of the world to be known as Paper Delivery Girl. Maybe ten feet from the end of the world, but not exactly the end of the world.
    He smiled that smile just for me, and for that moment everything seemed okay and worthwhile.
    “I’m so glad—I was hoping you’d say that. I brought this, just in case.” He handed over a laminated map. “It shows all the drop-offs for the Wexburg Academy Times . If you start between seven and half seven you should get them all out before first bell.”
    I took the list and map from his hand.
    “And here’s this, too.” Jack handed over a large, yellowed linen bag. It had a few ink stains inside and out. “You didn’t seem to want to use the wagon. You can put the papers in here.”
    I looked at the bag. It had a distinct odor, perhaps like cheese that had been left in the back of the refrigerator for a few months. I knew I didn’t want to smell like that all day after carrying the bag. “Thank you,” I said, clenching it up into a little ball so I could sneak it into the house.
    “No, thank you ,” Jack said. “I’m so glad you’re willing to help—to do whatever we need. It’s that kind of attitude that really makes a team brilliant. Be sure to sit with us at lunch tomorrow . . . okay?” He flashed that smile, and the grotty delivery bag was momentarily forgotten.
    “I will.”
    He grinned and turned to leave. After he’d made it down our front steps and a few feet away, I heard Louanne yell, “Giggle! Come!”
    This time Giggle didn’t obey. Instead, he bolted down the hall, past me, and out the front door, teeth bared. Thankfully, he stopped at the foot of our stairs.
    “Come here , boy,” I shouted into the dark. “Now!”
    Giggle turned and silently ran into the house, obeying me for the first time ever. However, I was horrified to see Jack stop walking and then turn and look at me.
    “Were you talking to me ?” he asked.
    Apparently Jack hadn’t seen the dog in the dark.
    “Oh no,” I said quickly. “I was talking to my sister’s dog.”
    He looked around for evidence of the dog, which, of course, had disappeared. “Oh. All right then. See you tomorrow.” He turned and continued down the