One Trip Around the Sun Read Online Free PDF Page B

This day has just gone from bad to worse. As if going to the gym wasn’t a shitty enough way to spend a Sunday morning—minus all the parts that included Brady Fisher—we have company.
    I hear uncontrollable loud laughter. It’s the kind of laughter that is only heard when a certain person is in this house. My sister, Kara, and my dad are sitting at the dining table. They’re laughing hysterically.
    Tonight is Kyle’s going-away party, and I knew she was coming to town. I just hoped that it would be later—much later. Both their heads turn to Kyle and me. Kara dabs the corners of her eyes and stands excitedly. She hugs Kyle, and then she approaches me.
    “Hi, Reese.” She hugs me like I’m a feral cat that’s going to rip her eyes out.
    The prissy little bitch is probably afraid that my fat ass is contagious and that she might catch a molecule of cellulite in her toned little body before she leaves.
    “How are you, honey?” she asks.
    “Great. You?” I drop my gym bag and bend down to untie my shoes.
    “Good. I’m really good. Actually, I have something to tell you and Kyle. Can you come and sit at the table?” She waits for me to finish and then walks to the table with me.
    Kyle and I exchange looks and sit next to each other, across from Kara and Dad.
    “Where’s Adam?” I’d rather see her husband any day.
    “He’s out of town for work. He’ll be back this weekend.” She smiles and looks at our father.
    I nod my head and wait for her to continue.
    She places her hands on the table in front of her and interlocks her perfectly manicured fingers. She looks at me and then at Kyle. “Adam and I are going to have a baby!”
    She’s smiling from ear to ear, and so am I. I’m picturing her as big as a house.
    “That’s awesome, sis. Congrats!” Kyle jumps up and runs over to hug her. He talks in a baby voice, patting her belly, as he introduces himself.
    Kara looks at me. “You’re going to be an aunt, Reese. What do you think of that?”
    “I’m excited. We haven’t had a baby in the family in so long. Congrats, Kara. I bet Adam’s excited.”
    “He is so excited, Reese! He wanted me to wait to tell you guys, but I just couldn’t.”
    “Where’s Mom? Does she know?” I look around the kitchen for any sign of her.
    “Yeah, I told her and Dad a little while ago. She went to the store to get a cake. You know how she is. She has to have a cake to celebrate everything. She’s going to make me fat before the baby does.”
    Yay, Mom.
    “So, what do you want—a boy or a girl?” I ask.
    “I want a girl, so I can dress her up! Of course, Adam wants a boy.”
    Of course, she wants a girl—a perfect girl just like her.
    “Well, I’m so happy for you. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be right back down.” I run up the stairs with no intention of coming back down.

    My parents invited our family and friends over for a cookout to see Kyle off before he leaves for the Army. There’s tons of food, and I’m so hungry that I could eat the ass end of a chocolate buffalo, but I refuse to eat in front of these people. Instead, I’m irritated and a little grouchy. Kyle’s friends have been in and out all afternoon. A group of people is standing in a big circle out on the patio. I recognize most of them. His best friend since forever, Alex, is standing to his right, and Brady is to his left.
    “Come here, Reese.”
    I’m gathering empty soda cans when Kyle grabs my arm.
    “Everyone, memorize this face.” He puts his arm around my neck and pulls me close, grabbing and squeezing my face. “If anyone fucks with one little hair on this girl’s head while I’m gone, you’d all better handle it.”
    “You know it, brother!” Alex says.
    “We got this, Kyle! Hell yeah!”
    I’m not even sure who’s agreeing with him because I’m trying to squirm away from Kyle as he and his friends have a testosterone-fueled rant.
    “How’s it going?” Brady asks as I break free.
    “Awkward.” I