How My Summer Went Up in Flames Read Online Free PDF Page B

me through the glass. He wags his tail wildly and gives me his I-need-some-lovin’ face.
    “Eddie, can you let Pony out? I want to say good-bye one more time.”
    He grumbles but does it anyway. He’d never admit it, but I know he’s going to miss me. The fact that he’s even awake right now speaks volumes.
    As soon as Eddie opens the door, Pony bolts toward me. I think he’s going to jump up on me for one last kiss, but he runs right by and goes to meet Spencer and Logan, twirling his tail like a baton. I should have known. He loves to greet new people, and it’s not like he understands he won’t be seeing me for a while. I try not to be jealous when Logan crouches down to pet him and Pony practically sits in his lap.
    “Come ’ere, boy,” I say. He obeys, and when I bend down to give him a squeeze, my chest tightens. “Make sure Eddie remembers to take you on long walks.” I turn toward Eddie. “He likes to visit his pal, Suzie. She lives on Cook Road.”
    I give Dad a kiss on the cheek and he puts his arm around my shoulders for a sideways squeeze. He hands Matty my phone, the sight of which makes my heart double pump as I remember my texting dream. It was a dream, wasn’t it?
    Mom puts her empty mug down on the steps and envelops me in a big, squishy embrace. No matter how old I am, I never get tired of Mom’s hugs, especially ones that leave my shirt with the lingering scent of her Estée Lauder moisturizer.
    “Be good. Have fun,” she says. I know without looking that she has tears in her eyes. My throat constricts.
    “I will, Mom.” I want it to be the truth. If not for myself, then at least for her and Dad.
    “I love you.”
    “I love you too, Mom.”
    “Call us later today,” Dad says.
    Matty carries my bags to the car and Eddie follows. While Matty loads my stuff in the trunk, Eddie opens the door for me. Before I get in, he gives me a lightning-fast hug and whispers in my ear, “Be safe. Try not to kiss anyone.”
    I decide to do him a solid. “FYI. Your phone has a GPS,” I whisper back. “Don’t tell the parents I told you.”
    Eddie nods slowly as the information seeps in, and then he’s gone. Logan and Spencer are already in the front seat. I’m about to sit down when I notice that Matty and I will be traveling with an acoustic guitar between us.
    “Can’t we put this in the trunk?” I ask.
    “Logan says it takes up too much room,” Spencer explains.
    “So what? We can’t crowd the luggage, but it’s okay to crowd humans?” I ask.
    My backpack is bulging with all my important stuff (e.g., credit card for emergencies, makeup, round brush, CosmoGirl , romance novel, Cheez-Its, and tunes) and I was hoping for more space back here.
    “Just shut the door,” mumbles Matty.
    “Matty, can I see my phone for a sec?”
    “We’re still in the driveway.”
    “I know. Real quick. Please?” I need to put my fears to rest.
    “Here.” He slips it to me like it’s some illicit substance.
    Quickly, I page to my text messages and make sure there are none from last night. Phew. Nothing to Joey about the Fourth of July or anything else. I toss the phone back to Matty.
    I wave to my family and the boys wave to their moms. As we pull out of the driveway, I’m surprised by how choked up I get. I’ve never been away from home before. I mean, sure, I’ve slept over at friends’ houses and at my grandparents’, and I’ve gone down the shore to Lilliana’s family beach house, but never this far and with people I just met. My eyes fill with tears. Who gets homesick beforethey even leave their block? I don’t have much time to dwell on this, because as soon as we turn the corner and my house is out of sight, Logan starts laying down ground rules.
    “Just so you know, you’re not getting any special treatment. We’re going to say and do what we want, no apologies for guy behavior,” Logan says.
    “Fine,” I tell Logan as I dig through my bag for a tissue to wipe dried grass