Read Online The Summer of Jake by Rachel Bailey - Free Book Online

to see her as my little sister’s best friend again. Meeting on neutral ground when I was fully clothed seemed the best way to do it. Plus I wanted a chance to talk about things other than myself so I could get everything back to the way it should be.
    “Come on, Annalise,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I feel bad about what you said before. You were right, and I obviously upset you. Let me make it up to you.”
    “Okay. I’ll agree if I can choose the restaurant and we make it part of our work.” She didn’t quite meet my eyes as she agreed, but then that was part of the reason for suggesting it in the first place. Hopefully after tonight, things would be back to how they’d been a couple of days ago.
    I nodded. “Deal.”
    “You can drop me off at home and pick me up again at seven,” she said, her voice business-like. “I’ll make the reservations.”
    “What’s the dress code for this restaurant?” I tried to sound teasing, but even to my own ears it came across as hesitant.
    “Wear the burgundy shirt. I think I liked that one on you best.”
    She looked at me as if she expected a suggestive remark in reply, but I’d already gotten the message loud and clear, so all I said in reply was, “Then I’ll wear it.”
    Although, I wondered as I walked away if she’d been pleased that I’d held back, or if that had been a flash of disappointment in her eyes…
    …
    Annalise
    I’d been so full of excitement the morning of my sixteenth birthday, only able to be still long enough to say a silent prayer of thanks that it’d fallen on a Saturday.
    There were plans for dinner with my parents that night, but I was going over to Kelly’s for lunch.
    Choosing the perfect clothes, hairstyle, and makeup took several hours. My mother had taught me to always look my best, but any trip to Kelly’s held the possibility of bumping into Jake and therefore called for special attention to my appearance.
    My father dropped me off, and Kelly met me at the door with a hug. “Happy birthday, Lisey! Wait till you see what Mum’s done.”
    We walked, arms linked, into the kitchen-dining room, chatting and laughing. Kelly’s mother, resplendent in a red and black gypsy ensemble, rushed from behind the counter to envelop Kelly and me in a tight group hug.
    “Happy birthday, sweetie.” She pulled back to smile into my eyes.
    I hugged her again. “Thanks, Eden.” Eden had invited me to call her by her first name when we’d met. That intimacy, however, was nothing compared to the love Eden inspired through her actions.
    I had no doubt my own mother loved me—even if she was a little…disapproving—but Eden made a point of showing me I was special at every opportunity. And she obviously felt that a sixteenth birthday was one such opportunity.
    Being a star singer on Sydney’s pub circuit, with a flair and image that had earned her the tag of Australia’s answer to Stevie Nicks, Eden knew how to put on a bash.
    Violet and lavender streamers and balloons hung from every possible point; a hand-painted poster draped a window, and party food covered the dining room table. For a moment I was too shocked to speak. Then I looked back at the twin smiles of expectation waiting at the doorway. Kelly had the same height and build as her mother, and they gripped each other’s waists, eager for my reaction.
    “Kelly, Eden, this is great! Thanks so much.”
    Kelly released her mother and rushed to grab my arm. “Mum’s made a cake and iced a sixteen on the top and everything.” She seemed as excited as if it was her own birthday. “And we got you such a cool present, but you can’t open it till we’ve eaten and you cut your cake.”
    Eden flicked her long blond hair behind her shoulder in a casual move I’d seen her perform on stage. She was the coolest mother in the galaxy. “Why don’t you girls put some music on while I finish with the food?”
    “Okay,” Kelly answered, pulling me into the lounge room to