Pieces Read Online Free PDF Page A

Finn breathing beside her. All of a sudden she wanted him to hold her and kiss her again. Her skin turned hot.
    “So, there’s something ....” Her mother paused, and Naomi stiffened at the change in her tone. There was hesitance and worry, the same tone she always used when they talked about anything Jesse-related.
    “Just say it, Mom.”
    “I shouldn’t tell you this. I don’t think you should know, but his father has been pestering me for over two months. He wants you to know, even though you are not allowed—and I repeat, you are not allowed, by law—to see him yet. There might be something down the road we can work out, but right now his parole clearly states he cannot see you because of the circumstances of your previous relationship.”
    It was just like her mother to sound like a law book. Naomi’s tongue was a wad of tissue paper in her mouth. The river faded away. Goosebumps popped up on her arms. “He’s out? It’s only been two years.”
    “He’s on parole. The plea bargain specifically stated good behavior allowed him the possibility of parole. If you attempt to see him or vice versa, if he breaks curfew, if he fails at his job, if he doesn’t check in, if he does anything wrong, he’s back in for longer, do you understand? I know the semester is almost over and you want to come home for the summer, so I’m telling you this now so there are no questions about what you can and cannot do when you get here.”
    “I’ve got it, Mom.” She glanced at Finn. Kissing him felt like the biggest mistake she could have ever made, no matter how good it had been. Now she was going to feel torn—exactly what she had wanted to avoid. “I’ll think of him as still in prison. This doesn’t change anything.”
    But the truth was it changed everything.

IV
    F INN DIDN'T ASK ABOUT THE PHONE CALL or Naomi’s mention of prison. When she finished, he helped her up and they walked back to the car and drove home. He parked in her driveway and kept his hands on the steering wheel.
    “Naomi, I have to apologize for kissing you,” he said in a tight voice. “That was stupid of me. You’re with someone. I’m not making things easier, and I feel like a—”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    He stared at his hands on the wheel. “You don’t have to explain anything, of course, but whatever’s going on, I hope you know I’m here for you if you need or want anything.”
    Naomi picked up her purse from the floor and grabbed the door handle. Her mind was filled with Jesse, of flying home and not being able to see him. She turned to Finn, her hope for building a harmless friendship sinking. “I don’t want to sound rude, but it’s not anything you can help with.” She thought of his kiss and how nice it had been for about ten seconds. She wanted to feel it all over again, except there was Jesse now. There was always Jesse, and she had been a fool to try to ignore him.
    “Alright.” He let go of the steering wheel, as if he wanted to reach for her. She stared at the class ring on his finger and wondered how many girls he had kissed and how many times his heart had been broken.
    “Thanks for a great night,” she said, forcing a smile. “It was nice of you to take me out.”
    He swallowed and returned his hand to the steering wheel. “Anytime.”
    She grabbed the door handle.
    “Wait!” He leaned over and touched her shoulder. The feel of his hand on her made her warm all the way through. “I want to make sure you have my number in case you need anything.”
    “Oh, right,” she replied, as if it was the most natural thing for him to say. She slipped her phone from her pocket and poised her thumb over the keypad. “What is it?”
    He gave her the number, and she shakily punched the buttons. Then she typed in F-i-n-n G-i-a-c-h-e-t-t-i.
    “There,” he said with a relieved sigh. “I can’t lose you completely, right?” She was reaching for the handle again and turned to look at him one last time.