The Way Back Read Online Free PDF

will.”
    â€œLove you, Colby.”
    â€œBut not in that way.”
    â€œNo, not in that way. Sorry.”
    â€œLove you too, Milo.” Colby laughed. “Totally in that way.”
    When Colby opened the door, Jordan’s face was twisted in anger. But all Colby wanted was a hug, and Jordan was the first person she saw. She flung herself at Jordan and wrapped her arms around her. Jordan stood stiff as a board for a few moments, and then she relaxed and hugged Colby back. Then the two of them went into the little room and shut the door, and Colby told Jordan everything.

home again
    While it was true that Jordan wasn’t particularly the sweetest person in the world, she was ace at being a friend. When Colby finally decided to keep the baby, Jordan didn’t try to talk her out of it. She just listened while Colby went on and on about how she couldn’t abort something that she and Milo had made together, even if it was totally screwed up and she might be a shitty mom. Jordan just patted her back and handed her tissues and told her that she’d be an amazing mama.
    Jordan took care of Colby for the rest of the time they were at Meadow Farm. The other girls joked about how Colby was Jordan’s “prison wife,” and their counselors were always going on about how “relations” between girls in rehab were not okay. But it wasn’t like that. Jordan was more like a very protective older brother. Nothing more. She looked out for Colby. She even managed to arrange for them to leave at the same time, so they could share the van ride back.
    When the van pulled up in front of Gram’s house, Jordan got out too.
    â€œI got to meet this Gigi chick,” she said as she hauled her duffel bag out of the trunk.
    Rehab had been good for getting Jordan clean, but she’d put on weight and was even heavier now. Her clothes were too snug, so she was wearing old sweat-pants for the ride home. Colby was going to take her to Value Village the next day.
    Gigi flung open the front door and ran down the stairs.
    â€œYou’re home!” She grabbed Colby and spun her around. “I missed you!”
    â€œI missed you too.” Colby hugged Gigi tight for a long time. “Hey, I want you to meet Jordan.”
    Gigi and Jordan had talked on the phone a few times when Gigi had called Colby (after she gave up on her no-contact stubbornness), but now Gigi frowned at her.
    â€œHey.”
    â€œHey.”
    â€œSo, where do you live?”
    â€œMy mom lives in Burnaby.” Jordan pulled out a cigarette and rolled it between her fingertips. “Not sure that I’m going to go back there though.”
    â€œYou can’t stay here.”
    â€œI know.” Jordan retreated to the end of the yard and lit her cigarette. “I just wanted to meet you, that’s all.” Then she turned to the street so that the smoke wouldn’t go in Colby’s direction.
    Gigi folded her arms and took a step back. She looked Colby up and down.
    â€œYou don’t even really look pregnant.”
    â€œI totally do.” Colby lifted her shirt. She was four months pregnant now. She had a belly, small and low-slung, just a swelling under her belly button.
    â€œYou just look fatter.” Gigi said it loudly, for Jordan’s benefit.
    Jordan pretended not to hear, but Colby noticed her shoulders tense.
    â€œThanks, Gigi. That’s a lovely thing to say.”
    â€œWhat am I supposed to say?”
    â€œYou look great?”
    â€œYou do, actually. All healthy and shit.”
    â€œI love you, Gigi.” Colby hugged Gigi again.
    â€œI love you too.” Gigi kissed her on the cheek. “And your bastard baby.”
    Colby lifted her shirt again and put Gigi’s hand on her belly. “I’m starting to feel it kick. Just sometimes. Or maybe it’s gas. I don’t know. Jordan looked it up. I’m supposed to start feeling flutters around