Dragonfly Read Online Free PDF Page B

isn’t said about the Kysers.”
    “Why would she do that?” I asked. “I mean, they’re rich and she was a mom.”
    Maybe I could understand wanting to get away from Bill Kyser if he were as mean behind the scenes as out front, but I couldn’t believe Jack and Lucy’s mom would kill herself. She had small children, after all.
    “Why does anybody do anything?” Tamara looked at me, and I knew what was coming. “Mental illness.”
    Tamara’s big thing was mental illness ever since she’d started taking psychology courses at the community college. It was her explanation for everything these days.
    “You think she was crazy.”
    “We don’t like to use that term,” she said. “But she might’ve had a hormone imbalance after having the twins, or maybe she was having an affair and got busted.”
    “Tamara!”
    “Oh, I don’t know anything for sure.” Her dark eyes were twinkling as she laughed and finished ironing my last lock of hair. She spun me around so I was facing the mirror. “How’s that?”
    “Can we keep it this way forever?” I ran my hand down the side of my smooth, freshly highlighted coif. Tamara was very good at her job, and she didn’t charge me full price since I was a minor, she said.
    “Sorry, babe, those curls are coming back next wash. But hang in there. The fashion pendulum always swings back.”
    “Bye, Tam.”
    * * *
    Once home, I ran straight to my room and pulled on my sundress from last spring. It still worked for fall being midnight blue with thin straps and flaring out nicely from my waist to my knees. I touched up my face, applied some red lipstick, and slipped on tan pumps, jogging back down the stairs just as Julian was walking in the door.
    He looked great in jeans and a navy oxford that made his eyes glow. His dark hair was shiny and smooth with one lock hanging just past his eyes, and I watched him give my mom a quick hug.
    “Y’all don’t stay out late,” she said. “We’re headed to Navarre tomorrow, and I want to get on the road before noon.”
    “You got it. Back by dawn,” Julian said, teasing her. Then he saw me coming down and his eyebrows rose. I couldn’t suppress a smile. “Nice,” he said.
    “Oh, stop.” I answered, trying not to blush. “Let’s go.”
    I took his arm as we walked out to his classic, light-blue Thunderbird. It was a convertible, of course, but he had the top up tonight. I mentally thanked the hair gods.
    “I love your car,” I said. “Very Thunder Road . Did you build it?”
    “With Blake and Scotty,” he held my door. “You ready to have some fun, fun, fun?”
    “You bet. So, I take it welding is good for more than just making art?”
    “Having friends in auto mechanics is also good.” He closed my door and ran around to get in and start the engine. We rode for a few seconds listening to the radio. I looked out the window and couldn’t help wondering if Jack would be at the dance.
    “Hey, I heard your runner is headed to the National Athletic Center,” I said. “That true?”
    “Yep,” he smiled at me. “And with your feature, my portfolio will be golden.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know if I’m important enough to help much. But once they see what you’re doing in welding class, Savannah will be begging for you.”
    “Thanks.” Julian gave me a meaningful smile, and conflict twisted in my middle.
    I had the most idiotic luck of all time. The absolute most unexpected thing was happening—Julian LaSalle might actually want something more. And all I could think about was the other person I was hoping to see tonight. Why did this happen to me?
    We made our way through the gym, and I waved to Rachel and Brad. The DJ played a slow song, and Julian led me onto the floor then pulled me close.
    “I’ve been wanting to put the squeeze on you all night,” he said, leaning his face to mine. We were practically nose to nose, with our bodies pressed together.
    His hands massaged my waist, and my stomach