Read Online Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick - Free Book Online Page B

divorce.” She let go of a long, troubled sigh. “Scott never used to have a temper. Of course, it could be that he’s growing up to be his father’s son. Well. It’s an unpleasant topic and not appropriate for dinner. Does Patch wrestle, Nora? I bet Scott could teach him a few things.”
    “He plays pool,” I said, my voice uninspired; I had no desire to talk about Patch. Not here, not now. Not when the subject of his name had caused a rock to swell in my throat. More than ever, I wished I’d brought my cell phone to the table. I wasn’t feeling half so angry, which meant Patch had probably cooled off too. Had he forgiven me enough to send a text or call? Everything was a tangled mess, but there had to be a way around it. This wasn’t as bad as it seemed. We’d find a way to work it out.
    Mrs. Parnell nodded. “Polo. Now there’s a true Maine sport.”
    “Pool as in
pool halls
,” Mom corrected, sounding a little pale.
    Mrs. Parnell cocked her head like she wasn’t sure she’d heard right. “Hotbeds of gang activity,” she finally said. “The
Law & Order
I saw? Wealthy, upper-class young men were running their neighborhood pool halls like Las Vegas casinos. Best keep a close eye on that Patch of yours, Nora. Could have a side to him he’s keeping from you. A side he’s keeping in the dark.”
    “He’s not in a gang,” I repeated for what felt like the millionth time, straining to hang on to a courteous tone.
    But as soon as I said it, I realized I had no way of knowing forcertain that Patch had
never
been in a gang. Did a group of fallen angels count as a gang? I didn’t know much about his past, particularly before he met me …
    “We’ll see,” Mrs. Parnell said, doubtful. “We’ll see.”
    An hour later, the food was gone, the dishes were washed, Mrs. Parnell had finally left to hunt down Scott, and I retreated to my room. My cell was faceup on the floor, showing that I had no new texts, no new messages, and no missed calls.
    My lip quivered, and I dug the heels of my hands into my eyes to stop the tears beginning to blur my vision. To keep from dwelling on all the awful things I’d said to Patch, I tried to work out in my mind a way to repair everything. The archangels couldn’t forbid us from talking or seeing each other—not when Patch was my guardian angel. He had to stay in my life. We’d keep doing what we’d always done. In a couple of days, after we’d shaken off our first real fight, things would go back to normal. And who cared about my future? I could work everything out later. It wasn’t like I had to have my whole life planned right this moment.
    But there was one thing that just wasn’t adding up. Patch and I had spent the past two months displaying our affection openly, with no reservations whatsoever. So why was he just now showing concern over the archangels?
    My mom poked her head inside my room. “I’m going to pickup a few toiletries for my trip tomorrow. I should be back soon. Need anything while I’m out?”
    I noticed she didn’t bring up Scott as potential boyfriend material. Apparently his uncertain past had withered her matchmaking urges. “I’m good, but thanks anyway.”
    She started to pull the door shut, then stopped. “We sort of have a problem. I let it slip to Lynn that you don’t have a car. She volunteered Scott to drive you to summer school. I told her that really wouldn’t be necessary, but I think she thought I was only saying no because I was worried we’d be putting Scott out. She said you could pay him back for his time by giving him a tour of Coldwater tomorrow.”
    “Vee gives me a ride to school.”
    “I made that clear, but she’s not taking no for an answer. It might be better if you explain things to Scott directly. Thank him for the offer, but tell him you already have a ride.”
    Just what I wanted. More interaction with Scott.
    “I’d like you to keep riding with Vee,” she added slowly. “In fact, if Scott stops by