Unspoken (The Woodlands) Read Online Free PDF Page A

cans of soup into bowls Ellie and I’d picked up at a garage sale. Our apartment was filled with secondhand goods. Ellie was a scholarship student and while my tuition, books, and this apartment were paid for by my father, neither of our families could afford to furnish the apartment in anything but castoffs and hand-me-downs.
    “You say that like you haven’t known me since I played with Barbies.” Ellie’s voice was muffled since she was currently speaking into the counter, but I could still make out her lame protest.
    I shoved the bowl and plate into her head. “Will I like him?”
    Ellie had pretty good taste in guys. Most of the ones she’d dated since freshman year had been nice, but she’d never stuck with one longer than a semester. I doubted this latest one would last past finals. Ellie’s attention span was too short.
    “Yes, he’s adorable. I wanted to shove him into my pocket and bring him home,” Ellie lamented.
    “Good thing you didn’t. Our lease only allows for two occupants.”
    Before Ellie could continue, our apartment door opened and our neighbor waltzed in, looking amazing, as always. Sasha had lightly bronzed skin and high cheekbones, a gift from her Native American grandmother, and they gave her face an elegant and almost regal look. I’m pretty sure the straight male guys on campus held a wake the day it got around that Sasha liked girls.
    Sasha and I had bonded immediately over a late-night talk shortly after Ellie and I’d moved in. She’d asked me why she never saw me around campus, and after some prodding, I shared my story with her.
    “It’s either the Garden or house parties. Seems like most guys here still think that saying you’re a lesbian is just a flirtatious challenge,” she’d agreed.
    There was no judgment or pity from Sasha, only understanding.
    “I’ll take what you’re having,” Sasha announced. I handed her the second bowl of soup and dug in the cabinet for another can. “How’s your mom?”
    “Okay. Roger and I pretended we didn’t hate each other for the three days we spent together, but other than that it was good.” I made a face. Roger was my mother’s lover and, unfortunately, my father, but I’ve never called him Dad and he hasn’t ever invited it. Clay’s father was a friend of Roger’s and knew all about my family’s dirty business. “I can’t wait until I’m out of here and my mom can live with me and not depend on Roger.”
    “Is she thinking about leaving him finally?” Ellie asked.
    I thought back to the note Clay had left for me. “No, but she really doesn’t have any options, given that she doesn’t work and Roger completely supports her. When I’m done with college, she’ll be able to live with me.” Not wanting to discuss it further, I turned to Sasha. “How was your break?”
    “Good. Had to take a vacation from Victoria. She is so needy. You two are lucky not to be lesbians.” Sasha pointed at us one at a time with her spoon to punctuate her point.
    “Eh, men are just as hormonal.” Ellie sniffed. She’d had her own share of relationship drama. Tim hadn’t taken their breakup well, and Ellie had had to turn off her phone for two weeks after she’d stopped attending tutoring sessions with me.
    “She texted me about ten times on New Year’s Eve, wanting to know if I was going to kiss someone,” Sasha complained.
    “Did you?”
    “Yes, but that’s not the point.”
    I quirked a brow at her. Sasha just shrugged. “It was New Year’s Eve, and it was just a little tongue and lip action. Nothing below the belt.”
    “Why are you with her if she’s too hormonal for you?” Ellie asked.
    “Have you seen Victoria?”
    We all fell silent. Victoria looked like she was a fembot from an Austin Powers movie, complete with the glorious afro, killer rack, retro seventies dresses, and high kneesocks. Sasha and Victoria were a striking couple, a sight that probably caused a few car accidents along College