Tangled Up in You Read Online Free PDF Page A

sometimessometimes he couldnt shake the feeling that he was waiting for something.
    The mattress dipped as he sat on the edge and pulled off his boots and socks. Meg thought all he needed was to meet a nice woman to make him a good wife, but he just couldnt see himself married. Not now. Hed had a few good relationships in his life. Good right up until the moment that they werent. None had lasted more than a year or two. Partly because hed been gone so much. Mostly because he didnt want to buy a ring and walk down the aisle.
    He stood and stripped to his underwear. Meg thought he was afraid of marriage because their parents had been so bad, but that wasnt true. The truth was that he didnt remember his parents all that much. Just a few watery memories of family picnics at the lake and his parents cuddling on the sofa. His mother crying at the kitchen table and an old heavy telephone thrown through the television screen.
    No, the problem wasnt the memories of his parents fucked-up relationship. Hed just never loved one woman enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her. Which he didnt consider a problem at all.
    He pulled back the quilt and lay between the cool sheets. For the second time that night, he thought about Maddie Dupree, and he laughed into the darkness. Shed been a smart-ass, but hed never held that against a woman. If fact, he liked a woman who could stand up to a man. Who gave as good as she got and didnt need a man to take care of her. Who wasnt needy or weepy or crazy as hell. Whose moods didnt swing like a pendulum.
    Mick turned on his side and glanced at the clock on his nightstand. Hed set his alarm for ten a.m. and was ready for a full seven hours of uninterrupted shut-eye. Unfortunately, he didnt get it.
    The next morning, the ringing of the telephone brought him out of a deep sleep. He opened his eyes and squinted against the morning sun pouring across his bed. He glanced at the caller ID and reached for the cordless receiver.
    You better be spurting blood, he said and pushed the covers down his naked chest. I told you not to call before ten unless its an emergency.
    Moms at work and I need some fireworks, his nephew informed him.
    At eight-thirty in the morning? He sat up and ran his fingers through one side of his hair. Is your sitter there with you?
    Yeah. Tomorrows the Fourth of July and I dont got no fireworks.
    You just realized this? There was more to the story. With Travis, there was always more to the story. Why didnt your mom get you your fireworks? There was a long pause and Mick added, You might as well tell me the truth because Im going to ask Meg.
    She said I have a potty mouth.
    Mick stood and his feet sank into thick beige carpeting as he walked across the room toward a dresser. He was almost afraid to ask. Why?
    Wellshe made meatloaf again. She knows I hate meatloaf.
    He didnt blame the kid there. The Hennessy women were notorious for their shitty meatloaf. He opened the second dresser drawer and prompted, And?
    I said it tasted like shit. I said you thought so too.
    Mick paused in the act of pulling out a white T-shirt and glanced into his reflection above the dresser. Did you use the real s -word?
    Uh-huh, and she said I cant have fireworks, but you say the s -word all the dang time.
    That was true. He hung the shirt over one shoulder and leaned forward to look into his bloodshot eyes. We talked about words I can say and words you can say.
    I know, but it just slipped out.
    You need to watch what slips out of your mouth.
    Travis sighed. I know. I said I was sorry, even though Im not really. Just like you said I should say to girls. Even the stupid ones. Even when Im right and theyre wrong.
    That wasnt quite what hed said. You didnt tell Meg I said that, though. He pulled a pair of Levis out of the dresser and added, Right?
    Right.
    He couldnt countermand his sister, but at the same time, a boy shouldnt be punished for speaking the truth. I cant buy you fireworks if your mom says