Read Online Canary by Rachele Alpine - Free Book Online

the alcohol flows, and you either throw up, pass out, have sex, or get arrested. None of these options appealed to me, but I agreed out of curiosity.
    There was also the little fact that Jack would be there.
    Who was I kidding? Jack being at the party was the reason I agreed.
    The next day, when Ali and I were sitting in my kitchen making plans, Brett walked in and stood with the refrigerator door wide open. He pretended to search for something, but I wasn’t stupid. He was listening to the two of us. After Ali left, he tried to get me to change my mind.
    â€œWhy would you want to go to a party with people like that? Why don’t you hang out with your old friends anymore?”
    I shrugged. I tried not to think about my old friends, about how easy it was to forget people I’d gone to school with for nine years. Friends I had
declared besties forever. The people who ditched me when Mom got sick.
    â€œThese are my friends now.”
    Brett frowned. “I’d be careful calling some of those people friends.”
    â€œYou’d find out they’re not so bad if you gave them a chance.”
    â€œJust make sure you keep things in control when you’re at the party. Don’t assume they’re watching out for you.”
    â€œGeez, you act like something horrible is going to happen.”
    â€œI know what can happen, and I don’t want it to happen to you.”
    I kicked at the floor tiles and told myself to drop it. Brett was acting like this because he cared about me. Without Mom, he was the one who watched over me and worried. Dad was so busy with his basketball that I could probably hitchhike across the country before he realized I was gone. I wouldn’t admit it to Brett, but I didn’t mind him playing the big brother routine.
    â€œPromise me you’ll watch out for yourself until you know you can trust these people.”
    â€œI  can  trust them,” I said, but I wondered why I felt so sure. I really hadn’t known Ali or Jenna long.
    â€œIf you’re going to drink—”
    â€œReally, Brett? A lecture about drinking.”
    He raised a hand. “Hear me out. I’m not going to tell you not to drink. I’m not stupid. Just make sure you keep an eye on your drink and eat something before you go to the party. You won’t know what hit you if you start to drink without anything in your stomach.”
    I gave him a thumbs-up. “Food and guarding my drink. Got it. Anything else, or are you satisfied with my safety?”
    â€œYeah, the most important thing—”
    â€œOf course there’s one more thing.”
    â€œCall me if you need anything.”
    â€œOkay, Dad.”
    â€œSeriously, Kate. Call or send me a text if you don’t feel comfortable. I’ll come get you.”
    I gave him a half smile. This was the type of conversation you were supposed to have with your parents. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
    â€œJust in case,” Brett said and grabbed his car keys off the kitchen table.
    â€œOkay, just in case,” I promised but knew I could take care of myself.

Chapter 13
    Despite Brett’s warnings and my nerves, there was no way I’d miss Joe’s party. If Jack was going to be there, I’d make sure he found me. I was excited about what might happen. Especially if that something involved running my hands through Jack’s hair.
    I was also scared out of my mind.
    The plan was to meet up with Jenna there. She’d been complaining for days that her grandma’s birthday party was seriously cramping her style, forcing her to arrive at Joe’s late. She claimed we’d all be guzzling beers and having the time of our lives while she had to wait for her grandma to find enough air in her lungs to blow out all her candles.
    â€œTonight is going to be amazing,” Ali said from the front passenger seat.
    Her brother, Jeff, drove like a maniac and kept