Jailbird Read Online Free PDF Page A

calling, “Not it.”
    “Not it,” Charlie surprised me by tossing his
napkin on the table and standing. The amusement in his eyes told me
I hadn’t hidden my surprise well.
    “Not it!” The girls cried at the same
instant.
    “Uh-oh,” I pursed my lips and shrugged. “Now
how are we going to decide?”
    “Thumb war,” Cara sighed as if it were
inevitable.
    “Alright,” Charlie extended his hand. “Let’s
do this.”
    After a few accusations of cheating and much
giggling, the first round of thumb wars was over and I found myself
face to face with Charlie, our hands locked and ready for battle. I
tried not to think about the incredible warmth spreading from his
touch.
    “One, two, three, four; I declare a thumb
war,” we dutifully recited and the battle began. The girls’ cheers
were soon joined by Anjelita’s and Manny’s. It started slowly at
first, then next thing I knew I was jumping and dodging my entire
body trying to stay in the war. He was as bad as I, twisting and
maneuvering to get the edge on me.
    “Stand still you little cheat,” he
laughed.
    “You stand still, big cheat.”
    My thumb was actually getting tired. It was
ridiculous. It was fun. I was determined to win.
    “Neena,” Manny called my name. I looked up
and realized I’d been duped the second I felt Charlie’s thumb clamp
down on mine.
    “That’s low, Torres. Real low,” I shook my
head disapprovingly.
    “Don’t worry, Neena. He’ll pay for that one,”
Anjelita assured me.
    “Thanks, man,” Charlie half-saluted him then
smiled wickedly at me. “Neena’s it.”
    “Fine. If you can look yourself in the mirror
after this… fine,” I reached out and touched his arm before darting
off. “Tag, you’re it.”
    “No fair!” He called after me before turning
on the two girls, who squealed with delight before tearing through
the yard.
    I ran and played until my lungs screamed in
protest and I collapsed in the lawn to watch the clouds roll by
while I waited for my breath to even. Charlie dropped to his knees
beside me, grinning like a man who’d just learned how.
    “You’re insane. You know that, don’t you?” he
laid back, crossing his arms behind his head.
    “Yes, but life is more amusing that way,” I
smiled a little and closed my eyes. The sun on my face felt
delicious. I took a deep breath. Someone had cut their grass
recently, the sweet heavy scent hung in the air. “You know, I
thought I’d be bored to tears today. This has been fun.”
    “Why did you think you’d be bored?”
    “The whole day of rest thing.”
    “So, you don’t normally take a day off?”
    “Not normally, no.” I took another deep
breath. It all felt so good. Even the sweat on my brow felt good.
The almost palpable tug from the man next to me felt really
good.
    It would be so easy to curl up at his side. I
bet I’d fit perfectly. I peeked over at him out of the corner of my
eye. He’d taken his Sunday shirt off; his white t-shirt clung to
him now. He had muscles that weren’t all that noticeable in the
button-up. In a white t-shirt, they begged to be traced with my
fingertip. Or my tongue. Either would do.
    My breathing had evened out. That thought
made it pick back up again. I turned my head before he saw the
direction my brain was headed. Oh dear Lord, please let him not
know the direction my thoughts had headed.
    A field of yellow stretched before me. In an
instant, my mind switched gears.
    “Hey Charlie,” I began slowly.
    “Hmmm?” he practically oozed contentment.
    “Is that your field?”
    “You mean the dandelion garden?” he laughed a
little ruefully. “Yeah, it’s mine.”
    “Do you have any plans for it?”
    “Eventually I’d like to rotate the horses to
it. I just haven’t had the time to do much with it lately.”
    “If I sow some grass seed for you, can I have
the dandelions?”
    “You want the dandelions?” He propped himself
up on one arm to stare down at me.
    “Yes, please,” I turned and met his