Gas or Ass Read Online Free PDF Page B

away, confronting a closed door across the hall.
    “And this is the room Caine gave up for you.” She gripped my shoulder. “Cross my heart and hope to die, we’ll redecorate, first thing.” She turned the knob and I held my breath. I couldn’t see a thing except the front porch light shining through a pair of long windows until Mom slid her hand over the wall and located the switch. The overhead fixture came on. I stared in horror.
    Heavy boots tromped down the ramp out front, then steps sounded in the foyer, but I didn’t care who heard when I rounded on Mom. “You’d better love him within an inch of your damn life. I never want to hear one single bad thing that he’s done, do you hear me? If he makes you cry, you better grit your teeth and smile if it kills you.”
    Behind me, Dale cleared his throat. “Everything okay, girls?”
    “Just fine,” I said brightly. Rage burned in my breast. “And I need that credit card when you get a chance.”

Chapter Four

    “O h, my God, look at the time! Shelby! Get up, honey. You’ve missed the bus.” A shriek and a giggle followed Mom’s call. I rolled onto my back with a grimace. Newlyweds.
    A week later, Mom’s car was still at the dealership. She refused to even try to drive the other cars here. Being the only senior on the bus seemed less humiliating than asking Colt or Caine for a ride to school. Dale left for work far too early to ask him. I supposed today, someone would drive me.
    The shower ran full blast in the bathroom across the hall, so no point in jumping out of bed. Nice, guys. Be sure to use up all the hot water. Again. My stepbrothers hadn’t gotten the hang of making allowances for me. Neither would I, in their shoes, so I didn’t bother complaining. I’d spent most of the last week hiding in my room, daring my mother to drag me out and force me to be polite. Or daring Colt to come in and get me. I wasn’t sure which.
    So far, neither had taken up my silent challenge.
    Dale’s laughter rumbled through the wall. “Already late. Power must’ve blinked. Few more minutes ain’t gonna hurt. C’mere, gorgeous.”
    “Dale! Now?” A sharp slap followed Mom’s breathless admonition.
    “Hell, yeah. Right now.”
    I studied the popcorn ceiling, wishing the walls were thicker. I was sure these had more insulation or whatever than anywhere we’d lived, it was just so quiet out here in the boondocks. Five months. Just five months and I’ll be off to college. I can do anything for five months.
    I was still hurt that she’d gotten married without having me as her maid of honor, but I guessed a quickie at the Cabarrus County courthouse didn’t require attendants or witnesses.
    Okay, so it hadn’t happened on my ideal timetable, but she’d met someone. Now I could go away to school and not worry about her.
    But first, I had to get ready for another day at a high school where no one spoke to me. I’d been the new girl often enough to know it sucked. But being the new girl as a senior? This late in the year? Major suckage. The kids here made no effort to talk to me, like it was written on my face that I’d be gone after graduation and never look back.
    I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The girlish, white French provincial furniture I’d grown up with looked out of place in this room. I was grateful for the larger closet—again, the largest I’d ever had by far—but Caine’s idea of interior design was black-and-white checkerboard wallpaper border at hip level, separating the glossy red paint at the top of the walls from the flat black at the bottom. Square black speakers stared from the corners near the ceiling. He’d taken the stereo, of course.
    Every day after school, Mom talked about painting the room until I snapped, “Why bother? As soon as college starts, he can have it back.” I didn’t want to think too hard about how many girls Caine might’ve lured in after midnight through the big windows that nearly touched the floor and opened onto