Things I Can't Forget Read Online Free PDF Page A

across the pavilion. He laughs at something Parker just said and scratches his cheek before folding a slice in half and taking a huge bite. He and I keep glancing at each other so much I guess it finally gets to Andrea.
    She stands up and says, “We should play another introduction game. To get to know the new hires better.”
    “Who’s up for a game of Never Have I Ever?” Carlie asks.
    Ian says, “Yeah! I’ll get the pennies.”
    “Let’s move it over here,” Matt says, coming to sit beside me on the bench. I’m sandwiched between him and Bumblebee Brad.
    Everyone squeezes around my picnic table except for Megan and Eric, who’s going on and on about how his girlfriend dumped him.
    “I’m sorry,” Megan says, not sounding sorry at all.
    “Two years gone. That’s all,” Eric replies. He wipes his mouth with a napkin and taps his big brown combat boot on the concrete floor.
    Matt leans over to my ear. “Megan wants Eric bad. And Eric wants Megan’s job bad. And Megan is trying to protect her job while trying to win Eric’s love.”
    I cringe.
    “Exactly the response I was looking for,” Matt says with a laugh. “Last summer I about put my name up for the director position just so I wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore.”
    I shake my head at him, smiling. “Why didn’t you?”
    “Because that would require me to be responsible. Now, are we ready to play?”
    Everyone has a pile of pennies in front of them. The rules are this:
    Someone says something they have never done. For instance, I have never gone deep sea fishing. If a player has gone deep sea fishing, he or she has to throw a penny in a bucket in the center of the table. The pennies don’t really mean anything except to show who’s done what. It’s like a game of Truth or Dare with cash but without the dare. I would rather have the dare than deal with truth after truth after truth.
    Carlie goes first. She taps a penny on the picnic table. “Never have I ever gone skydiving.”
    Ian is the only person who throws a penny in the bucket.
    “That’s hot,” Carlie says to him. “You must be fearless.”
    “Totally fearless,” Ian growls, and I get the sense that if no one else was here, they’d totally sweep the bucket of pennies to the floor and start going at it on the picnic table.
    Matt whispers in my ear again. “They hook up every summer. She gets away with anything ’cause her mom is vice president of the regional conference.”
    Ian says, “Never have I ever worn ladies’ underwear.”
    All the girls throw a penny in the bucket, and Will pretends like he’s about to, then he changes his mind. Parker smacks his arm playfully.
    Will goes next. “Never have I ever scored a B in a class.”
    Everyone throws a penny in except for me and Parker.
    “You’re a braniac, eh?” Matt says quietly to me. I like the way his breath feels warm on my ear. Our shoulders touch.
    “I’m going to bed, y’all,” Megan says, leaving the pavilion. “Don’t stay up too late.”
    Eric then announces he’s going to ensure the camp’s main gate is locked so that intruders can’t get in.
    “Now we can play for real,” Andrea whispers, twirling her blond hair.
    “That guy is such a douche,” I hear Ian muttering to Brad, who nods.
    “Never have I ever gone skinny dipping,” Andrea says.
    “No one believes that,” Brad says, as Ian and Carlie throw pennies into the bucket. Yay, Matt doesn’t toss a penny! Will drops a penny in the bucket, then shrugs sheepishly at a gaping Parker. She rolls her eyes and throws a penny in too.
    “Never have I ever been in love,” Brad says.
    Andrea and Ian throw pennies into the bucket. Parker’s face grows pink and Will lowers his chin. They aren’t in love yet? Matt raps his penny on the table for a second, then tosses his in.
    I clutch my penny, wishing I could say I’ve been in love. I glance sideways at Matt, to find he’s looking out of the pavilion into the woods. Who has he been in