The Only Exception Read Online Free PDF Page A

The ride is smooth, so I do a couple of snaps, just to make sure it doesn’t go completely to waste and to blow off some steam. I meet McKayla on the beach, talking to an older boy that looks similar to Sawyer, but with hair that’s darker than his brother’s.
    “Nice going, Sawyer,” the boy yells in Sawyer’s direction, with a thicker version of his accent and not as deep of a voice. “My clueless brother clocked you in the face?”
    “Yeah, pretty much,” I call back, throwing my board down in the sand and running one hand over my salty, drenched, braided hair.
    “I’m Daniel,” he introduces, extending his hand to me. I take it and shake it.
    “Andrea,” I reply. Sawyer has caught up and drops his board next to mine.
    “Do you guys have a ride?” Daniel inquires. McKayla shakes her head. I, meanwhile, have a headache the size of Texas and just watching her shake her head makes mine hurt. My jaw doesn’t feel to good, either. This kid has some leg strength, man. I’d expect nothing less from a surfer, but I’d be lying if I said I guessed anything even close to getting kicked in the face by a fellow surfer to happen anytime soon. “I’ve got my car with me if you want one.”
    “We were going to walk down to Tara’s at lunchtime, but obviously, that’s not happening,” McKayla fills them in. “Annie? What do you want to do?”
    “I don’t care,” I reply, just trying to get away from this idiot as soon as possible.
    “I’ve had plenty of black eyes in my life,” Daniel says. “Head’s probably pounding right about now, right?” I nod slightly. “Yeah, we’ll get you home. Sawyer, get the boards. Mac, do you want to get her situated?”
    “I’m fine,” I lie, not wanting to seem wimpy. “I’ll be okay.” Sawyer picks up both his and my board and straps them to the back of Daniel’s navy blue, open top Jeep, pausing to open my door for me. I slide in and lean my head back against the headrest, hoping for relief that doesn’t come. The other three climb in and Daniel talks directions with McKayla. I try to alleviate some of the pressure and ease the pain in my head, but it doesn’t help much. Fantastic. Simply fantastic.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Four
     
     
     
     
    The ride is only five minutes, but still painful, since my head feels like it’s being whacked with a baseball bat every time we drive over a little bump. Upon arrival, I again decline help as I climb out of the car. I push open the front door and kick off my rubber slippers. “Grammy! We’re back!” I call, almost wincing at the shot of pain through my head.
    “Hi sweetheart, I though you and McKayla wer-“ Grammy cuts off her own sentence as she emerges from the kitchen and lays eyes on me. “Annie, what happened to your eye?”
    “Nice to know it looks good already,” I grumble. “This genius decided to drop in on my wave and kicked me in the eye when he cut me off.”
    “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Maverick,” Sawyer apologizes. “I really didn’t mean to. I just got too close, didn’t see her and I couldn’t stop.”
    “Oh, no worries,” she assures him. “Annie, it really doesn’t look that bad. It’ll heal up in a few days.” No worries, my eye. Literally. You want to tell me I have no worries, take a look at my face. “We’ll just get some ice for that. You go lay down on the couch, Annie. McKayla, could you go back and get one or two pillows off her bed?” McKayla nods and disappears down the hall. “Sawyer, Daniel, make yourselves at home,” Grammy invites. “You can put on a movie if you like. Help yourself to anything that’s not covered in tin foil in the fridge.”
    “Thanks. I’ll go get her board,” Daniel says, exiting the entry hall. An awkward silence fills the room, feeling louder than any sort of noise.
    “Want to watch something?” Sawyer asks a moment later. I shrug and point at the DVD cabinet.
    “Help yourself,” I reply. He strides across the room,