If You Still Want Me Read Online Free PDF

the rest of him never quite grew
into.
    With a laugh at his cardboard placard as he
stands outside his sedan like it's a limo, I hug his tall, lanky
height. He chuckles back with his geeky little snort, then takes my
bag. I stick my nose in the air, playing along. "Why thank you,
good sir."
    "Sorry, ma'am, but my uniform is at the
cleaners," he says all stiff while opening the passenger door for
me.
    Joseph has always been the
joker. I think it might come naturally as a defense mechanism since
he's the youngest. Ruth, Elijah's middle child, is the sweet one,
while Tabitha is the mother hen. I've already mentioned my
particular role. Baa .
    After he closes my door for me and hops into the
driver's seat, we share a smile. Black sheep I may be, but Joseph's
knack for mischief had forged a strong bond between us in our
little patch-worked family. "Thought you'd be back to school?"
    "No, ma'am," he shakes his head as he pulls out
into traffic at the busy terminal. "Got me another week before I
head back to Ruston."
    "Stop callin' me ma'am. I'm thirty, not
sixty."
    "Yes, ma'am," he replies, and I sock him good on
the arm. "Ow! I see that fist of yours still works just fine, even
in your elder years."
    The laughter dies slowly as he concentrates on
getting into the correct lane on the highway. Once we're on the
road, the silence becomes uncomfortable, but he ends it before I
can open my mouth. "We missed you at Christmas. Pops was a bit
heartbroken."
    "I know. I'm sorry."
    "Was a nice Christmas. Wait till you see Tabi -
she's gonna push that baby out any second. The church service was
good. We laid a wreath down at momma's stone, and one for Ruth and
Tabi's momma in spirit, too. Pops wished you were there. We all
did."
    I let out a slow, tight
breath. This is the real reason I
wanted to catch a cab. "Joseph-"
    "I know, I know," he sighs softly with a smile.
"I'm only trying to get you ready for the guilt trip that's about
to be set upon you by Saint Tabitha."
    "On the warpath again, is she?"
    "All her hormones have her barkin' out orders
while the rest of us try to keep our heads down. Poor Jerry. Damn
fool didn't have a bit of understanding what he was in for,
marrying Queen Tabi."
    "Of course not," I laugh. "Daddy had her all
dolled up like a sweet, peaceful Sunday choir girl. Now she's the
rooster of her roost and Jerry loves her for it."
    "He does. Speakin' of Pops dolling his
baby-girls up..."
    Uh-oh . "Please, for the
love of God, don't tell me there's a boy waitin' at Daddy's house
for supper?"
    Joseph goes deathly silent. He doesn't even
breathe for a good twenty seconds, then it all bursts out in a
boisterous laugh. I curse, tempted to jump out of the car as we
exit the interstate.
    "Who is it?" I don't want to know, but I better
prepare myself for yet another one of Daddy's attempts to set me
up.
    "Samson, one of the deacons. Older man, round
'bout forty."
    "Forty?!"
    "Well, you didn't like the younger men Pops
tried last time, so he says he thinks you want someone older."
    "Forty?!" I repeat, stuck on that as Joseph
laughs at my expense. "Am I supposed to be his Delilah?"
    That makes Joseph laugh so hard he nearly misses
a stoplight. As I simmer next to him in broody irritation, he
slowly swallows in a calming gulp of air. "Sorry, Tori. You know I
only laugh because I know that poor man don't have no chance with
you. Pops don't mean no harm, either."
    "I know. I just wish I could
have one visit with him without him
playing matchmaker."
    "Well, then you should tell him 'bout Saul and
put his mind at ease."
    "He knows about Saul," I huff. Joseph glances
over at me with one eyebrow raised, just like Brandon does, and I
catch myself squirming in my seat.
    "He don't know everything, so he thinks that boy
is playing you wrong. It's why Pops keeps trying to find you
someone else. You should be honest with Pops. You're his princess,
you know. He'll accept it for what it is."
    But I don't really know
what it is anymore, so I