Can You Keep a Secret? Read Online Free PDF

couldn’t.
    “Can you keep a secret?” Eddie asked. “Seriously. Can you?”
    Everyone muttered yes.
    “Okay,” Eddie said. “Here’s why we’ll be safe.”
    He removed his right hand from his jacket and pulled out a gun.

 
    9.
    We all stared at the gun in silence. Callie took several steps back until she bumped into the side of the SUV. Roxie grabbed Riley’s hand. Danny stood frozen with his mouth open.
    “Why’d you bring that?” I cried.
    Eddie shrugged. “For protection. If that wolf shows, I’m going to be ready for it.”
    That was greeted with even more silence.
    “Where’d you get it?” Riley demanded.
    “It’s my stepdad’s,” Eddie said, lowering the gun to his side. “It’s a .38 snubnose revolver.”
    “H-he gave it to you?” Callie stammered.
    Eddie shook his head. “No way. Lou doesn’t know I know where he keeps his gun collection.”
    “I don’t believe you, Eddie,” Danny said, stepping up to him, his eyes down on the revolver. “I don’t believe you brought that.” He raised his eyes to Eddie’s. “Is it loaded?”
    A thin smile crossed Eddie’s face. His eyes flashed. “Maybe.”
    Riley burst between Eddie and Danny. He made a grab for the gun. “Let me see that.”
    “No!” Callie screamed. “Put it away. Put it away or I’m leaving.” She shoved Riley aside and brought her face up close to Eddie’s. “I’m serious. Put it away, Eddie. I don’t want to be on the news where one of us accidentally gets shot.”
    “She’s right,” Roxie chimed in. “Lose the gun, Eddie. Come on. You’re going to spoil everything.”
    “Okay, okay.” Eddie raised his hands in surrender. The revolver gleamed in the pale moonlight. He tucked it back into his jacket. “Just trying to be safe, you know. No big thing.”
    I breathed a sigh of relief. I think we all did. I suddenly realized I didn’t know Eddie as well as I thought I did. I knew about his family struggling to make ends meet. I knew Eddie could be tough. I knew about his temper.
    But I was surprised he was reckless enough to take one of his stepdad’s guns and bring it into the woods for what was supposed to be a peaceful overnight adventure.
    Eddie kept his eyes on me as we gathered up all the coolers and sleeping bags and equipment. I think he was looking for a sign of disapproval, looking to see if I was upset with him. I just rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to start a whole thing with him.
    Callie and Roxie led the way into the trees. They were both talking at once, but I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. Riley followed, carrying a portable tent on each shoulder. He liked to show off.
    “Just don’t shake the beer,” he called back to Danny, who carried the case in front of his chest.
    Danny groaned. He has skinny arms and isn’t exactly a weight lifter. “Whose idea was this?” he demanded.
    “Shut up. It was yours,” Eddie told him. “Remember? You said we had to do something totally crazy before we graduate?”
    “I meant like wearing our clothes backward to school or something,” Danny muttered. He shifted the case of beer onto his shoulder. “I hate the woods. I hate nature.”
    Callie laughed. “You didn’t say that when you begged me to come with you.”
    “I didn’t beg you,” Danny insisted. “I just asked—” But when he saw the rest of us all laughing at him, he didn’t finish his sentence.
    The moon grew brighter, and the tree leaves glimmered like silver under its light. The ground was wet from the evening dew. Everything around us sparkled. It was seriously beautiful, and I began to feel happy that I’d agreed to come.
    We stopped in a small clearing of tall grass and set up the three tents in a triangle facing each other. The three boys went back to the trees to search for firewood so we could build a fire. It was a warm spring night but the air still felt tingly and cool.
    “That moon pendant on your neck is glowing,” Callie said.
    I turned. I didn’t