Wild Swans Read Online Free PDF

They’ve been there ever since.
    I can’t imagine how lonely life would be without them.
    â€œI’m just saying, the Professor can be a little intense.” Alex stands and stretches, cracking his neck in the way that always makes me cringe. “Hey, when’s the last time you went for a swim?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s been raining all week. Tuesday?”
    â€œNo wonder you’re in a mood.” He grabs a slim collection of Langston Hughes poetry from my nightstand and fans himself with it. I may or may not have been looking up Connor’s tattoos. “Your gills are gonna grow shut.”
    â€œMy gills?” I laugh despite myself.
    â€œProfessor always says you’re part fish. Come on. What’s that saying? Nothing salt water can’t cure? Besides, we stay up here much longer, I’m gonna melt.”
    I check my phone. “They’ll be here in an hour.”
    â€œStill time for a swim. Come on. Race me ’cross the channel and back?” Alex winks. “I’ll let you win.”
    I jump up. “The hell you will.”
    He’s already on the steps. “That a yes?”
    â€œWhen was the last time you beat me?” I rummage through my dresser for my swimsuit.
    He pokes his nose between the slats in the railing. “Last week at Scrabble. And week before that, I beat you and Ma and the Professor at croquet.”
    â€œScrabble was only ’cause you cheated and looked up Z words on your phone,” I remind him. “That doesn’t count. And I meant swimming.”
    â€œIt’s been a while. I feel like today’s the day though. Seeing how you’re all sad and shit. Might make you slow.” He grins at me. I’ve never been able to back down from a challenge, especially one issued with Alex’s cocky smile. That’s how I sprained my ankle jumping off the sunroom roof into a snowdrift when we were ten.
    Mostly it turns out okay though.
    â€œGet out of here so I can change.” I grab a pillow and throw it at him. It misses because I have terrible aim, and he laughs and clatters down the stairs. That boy knows me too damn well.
    Right now I’m grateful for it.
    I change into my swimsuit: a red one-piece with skinny straps and high-cut legs. It’s retro cute but sturdy. Claire and Abby keep telling me I ought to buy a bikini. Claire’s got a black one that makes just about every boy in town drool, and Abby’s got one with a pink-and-green bandeau top that’s so barely there I get nervous for her every time she jumps off the dock. And she’s got a lot less up top than I do. Anyway, I keep telling them there is no point in having a swimsuit that I can’t actually swim in.
    I’m not fat. But it’s hard to remember that when I stand next to my friends. Claire’s tall like me, but she’s got that classic hourglass figure—big boobs, tiny waist, curvy hips. And Abby’s five foot nothing and petite, the kind of girl that boys scoop up and toss in the pool. I’m—solid. With strong shoulders and thighs from swimming.
    My phone chimes with a text. Speaking of Abby…
    bonfire tonight. can you come?
    maybe , I text back.
    you deserve a party! summer of fun, remember?!
    Right. i’ll try
    lmk how it goes with your mom
    I glance in the mirror, straightening my freckled, muscled shoulders.
    Erica and my sisters are coming whether I like it or not. No matter what happens this afternoon, it’s not going to magically make up for fifteen years without them in my life. There’s no point in staying up here being all sulky and sad, wasting good sunshine.
    â€¢ • •
    It’s pure gorgeous out: a true-blue sky with white cotton-ball clouds and the sun sparkling on the water like diamonds. Why didn’t Grandmother paint the Bay like this ?
    As soon I’m in the water, I push all thoughts of mothers and sisters and family curses out of