Someone Else Read Online Free PDF Page A

the words stung. “I miss my boyfriend, all right? So sue me.”
    Her face suddenly softened. “Michael was supposed to come home this weekend, wasn’t he? What happened?”
    “He had to study.”
    I didn’t want to get into what I really thought—that maybe he was having far too much fun at Avery to leave it behind even for a weekend. That perhaps I missed him just a little more than he missed me. When he told me he couldn’t make it home, he acted like it was no big deal. So I did too. Instead of expressing my disappointment, I hid it from him…and everyone else. Until now, at Starbucks with Robin. I was getting tired of keeping everything in to show how “fine” I felt.
    “I’m sure he wants to come home.” She tipped her cup, downing the last few drops. “He’s probably really busy, right? College isn’t like high school.”
    “That’s for sure,” I muttered.
    She studied me as I sat there, absently crumbling pieces of brownie between my fingers. “Know what you need?” I looked up at her warily. “Fun,” she said with a single nod. “You are going to that party if I have to tie you up and drag you there myself. Let’s get out of here.”
    I clamped my jaws together. How could I talk to someone who seemed to disregard almost everything I said? Who only heard what she wanted to hear? Especially when a good listener was what I needed the most right now?
    “I’m not going,” I said. “But if you want to go, I’ll drop you off.”
    She sighed as if she’d run out of patience with me. I knew the feeling.
    “Tay,” Robin said outside as we climbed into my car. “You’re never going to get through this year if you don’t get out and have some fun once in a while. You think Michael’s staying in every night?”
    I ignored that and started the engine. She was watching me, about to say something else, when her cell phone rang. Looking away, she reached into her purse and brought out her phone. “Hey, girl,” she chirped. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward Redwood Hills as she chattered away. “Yeah, I’m on my way now…I know…Totally…Okay, see ya soon.”
    “What street?” I asked after she’d hung up her phone and returned it to her purse.
    “Meadow Lane. Turn left at the stop sign, then keep going straight.” She turned to me again. “Are you sure you don’t want to come? A few drinks might do you some good. You can crash at Izzie’s, no problem. I always do. Her parents don’t care.”
    “I’m sure.” I swerved onto Meadow Lane. Michael’s house was only a few streets away. Just being in his neighborhood made my chest ache. “What number?”
    “One-oh-eight. There it is, the brick one with the red doors.”
    I glanced out the window at the party house, which was a typical mini-mansion. Even from a few yards away, I could hear laughter and voices coming from the inside. Dark shadows floated across the well-lit windows, and cars spilled from the double driveway onto the street.
    “Last chance,” Robin said, pausing with her hand on the door handle.
    I shook my head, and she leaned over to give me a quick hug before climbing out of the car. “Have fun,” I said.
    “You too.” She winked at me, shut the door, and glided toward the house, her Catwoman boots clicking along the pavement. The second she was out of sight, I gunned it out of there and headed for home.
    Natalie—my sister and stepbrother’s regular babysitter—was there when I arrived. I paid her with the money Dad kept on the hutch in the dining room—the full amount, even though she’d only been here for a couple of hours. After she left, I corralled the kids and sent them upstairs to brush their teeth. They balked, as usual, but as keyed up as I was I knew I could outlast them this time. My energy level at the moment easily exceeded that of two eleven-year-olds.
    When all was quiet in their rooms, I changed into my pajamas, washed my face, and made my way into my father’s study. I