No One Needs to Know Read Online Free PDF Page B

sure you’ve got me figured out—I have no plans of rising above the working class. Really more of the factory worker type. It’s a shame I didn’t live in 1790, like my character. I think I could really master a loom.” She takes another swig of her drink. “But I bet that doesn’t compute with you. You’re probably thinking, what—Harvard Law? NYU Medicine? First female president, guaranteed to inspire world peace?”
    I stare at her for a long moment, completely unamused. I’m not smart enough for any Ivy League. My parents used to harp on me constantly, that I wasn’t living up to my potential, that I needed to spend more time on homework if I had any hope of meeting their expectations.
    I suppose that’s one upside of their absence. They travel so much—mostly for work, sometimes for fun—that I don’t have to hear their nagging. I guess they gave up on me and are pinning all their hopes on Liam, who achieves A’s as naturally as he throws the football.
    “ Why are you in my kitchen again?”
    “Waiting for your brother. He wanted to take a shower,” she says, taking the last big gulp of her drink. When she sets the glass down, the ice rattling in the empty cup, her deep red lipstick glistens. Her cheeks already look pink, the alcohol setting in. “Apparently he was skateboarding. After football practice. Maybe he’s into sports or something?”
    “Oh.” I narrow my eyes. That’s why Liam blew me off? To go freaking skateboarding with his buddies? Isn’t football enough for him? “And you’re telling me he didn’t use his famous line about showering together to conserve water?” I ask. “I guess he’s not too interested in you.”
    She grins, not the reaction I’d expected. It’s a real, genuine smile, and it transforms her features from hard and unapproachable to complete girl-next-door. It’s almost like the moment the curtain is peeled back in The Wizard of Oz and you realize you were never really meant to see the Wizard at all, that seeing him ruins the carefully crafted image he created.
    “He tried. I declined.”
    I blink. “Hmm … you might be smarter than the last three.”
    She laughs, not even partially offended by my insinuation that his girlfriends are a dime a dozen.
    I shouldn’t be so rude, but I can’t believe he picked Zoey over me. I mean, he always does this—gets a girl and gets infatuated for a few weeks—but she’s not really his type.
    “So, if you’re so smart, why are you after Liam?” I ask, waiting for the next round of entertainment. At least this conversation is better than watching Rusty play pool in the other room. “Because he’s not going to commit, you know.”
    She shrugs. “It’s not like I’m looking to be some guy’s Happily Ever After. I’m cool with Happy For Now.”
    Funny. All I’ve ever want is Happy, period. Now, Ever After, In Between. Something.
    “Do you go out with a lot of ‘happy for now’ sort of guys?” I ask.
    “Back off,” she says, irritation suddenly lacing her tone. “Weren’t you trying to convince me earlier today that people didn’t see me that way anymore?”
    I purse my lips, swallowing, hating that she’s right. The first chance I had, I threw her reputation in her face.
    I raise my hands in a surrender pose. “Sorry.”
    “You’re just like all the others, you know. So happy to laugh and make snide remarks.”
    I just stare.
    “Oh, whatever, don’t act wounded. With all of your amazing accomplishments, last year’s yearbook probably had to be extended by a dozen pages. President of FBLA, captain of the gymnastics team, leader of the debate team … ” Her voice trails off.
    Everything she said is true, yet the way she’s saying it—like I’ve done it all just to show off, that I didn’t have to give up every free moment to achieve those things—aggravates me. “Ah, so you’ve got me pegged, huh?”
    “Hey, just like I said, it’s pretty obvious you like being on top of the totem