Read Online A Chance at Love by T. K. Chapin - Free Book Online Page B

matters?”
    “You’re right. He’s not.” She smiled and wiped the last of the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks. “Thanks for being such a good older brother.”
    I smiled and gave her another hug. “You’re welcome, Sissy.”
    “How was Grandma? Still nice?”
    Thinking about my conversion up at Grandma’s house, I felt a twinge of fear come over me. I knew Joanie wasn’t going to be thrilled about the change. “I’m a Christian now.”
    She nodded lightly. “Cool.”
    My eyebrows shot up. “Cool?”
    “Yeah. Honestly, it fits you.”
    “I thought you hated Grandma’s beliefs?”
    She shrugged. “I did . . .”
    “But?”
    “Well, she taught me to value myself and warned me about guys like Tony. I thought she was nuts for thinking guys were like that—but she was right. Now I’m wondering what else she might have been right about. I’m not going to be a Christian anytime soon, but she got my mind wondering.”
    “She’s a wise old woman, Joanie.”
    She nodded. “Thanks for the talk.” Standing up with a smile on her face, Joanie headed toward the door.
    “Hey. Question for you . . .” I said.
    She stopped and looked back at me.
    “I’ve been talking to this girl, and we usually talk every night . . .”
    “The one from the church or whatever?”
    I smiled and replied, “Yeah. She didn’t call last night like she usually does. Is that a problem, you think?”
    Joanie laughed. “She probably has a life outside of talking to you. I wouldn’t be too worried about it.”
    “That makes sense. What about this? She won’t hang out with me. She has some secret that she doesn’t want to share with me right now.”
    “Eek! Sounds sketch, brother. Do you think she has a boyfriend?”
    I shook my head. “I thought that same thing, but she said she didn’t have one. I think it’s something else.”
    Joanie came and sat next to me. “You know what you gotta do?”
    “What?”
    Raising her hands, she did air quotes and said, “Run into her.”
    “That seems deceptive.”
    “It is. But so is her not telling you what’s going on! There’s got to be something holding her back. It’s not normal . . . unless she’s just not into you.”
    “We like each other. I know that much.”
    Joanie nodded. “Run into her and see if you can figure it out.”
    “Okay. Thanks, Sis.”
     

     
    Later that day, I decided to go ahead and call Emily. My heart raced as I waited for her to answer.
    “Wondered when you were going to call me.”
    “Really?” I replied. “I’ve been waiting for you to call. You’re the one who usually calls me every night.”
    “I left the ball in your court, Kyle.”
    “Ahh . . . is that what you were doing?” I laughed.
    “Yep.”
    “What are your plans today?” I asked.
    “Well, this afternoon we’re practicing for a Valentine’s Day skit that will be coming up next month.”
    “Valentine’s Day skit?”
    “Yeah. The skit I wrote is basically a love story between God and humanity and a boy and a girl. It’s cute.”
    “Sounds neat. When’s the big show?”
    “It’ll be Valentine’s Day evening.” She paused for a moment. “I want you to come. I’m in it.”
    “Awesome!” I replied. “So next month I can see you?”
    She laughed. “Yep.”
    “All right,” I replied sighing.
    “That a problem?”
    “I don’t get why we have to wait . . . I like you, Emily.”
    She went silent.
    “I feel like I’m falling for you. All the time we’ve spent talking . . . I feel like I know your soul.”
    Silence again.
    “What are you thinking? What are you feeling? Can you give me something? I probably sound like an idiot right now, but I don’t care. I’m an idiot for you.”
    She sniffled and sighed. “I like you too, Kyle. And I want to meet you. I do. I just . . . can’t.”
    “But why ?” I asked, straining my words.
    I could hear her crying as she said, “I’m sorry. I can’t keep talking right now. I gotta go.”
    My chest felt like a