Read Online Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown - Free Book Online Page A

“After I charge it, okay?”
    â€œYou got it. But I’m not letting you forget, because we’re going to selfie, selfie, selfie till the sun comes up, because . . .” Jessica, Betsy, and Mary Carlson appear and join us. Gemma links our arms and somehow by luck or fate or maybe a higher plan, I’m linked to Mary Carlson. “We have no shame,” she finishes.
    We break apart. Mary Carlson smiles at me and I’m so dead. Dana is nowhere near for me to create a shield of impenetrability, and I have the feels. Bad. And having the feels for a straight girl is the surest thing for heartbreak besides an actual heartbreak. I hope I’m not turning red and blotchy like I sometimes do when I’m flirt nervous.
    She whispers, like the two of us are alone in this group of five plus B.T.B., “Is it okay if Barnum rides with you? I don’t want you getting lost.”
    â€œYou don’t?”
    She laughs. “Barnum does know the way home.”
    â€œOh, I, sorry.” I shake my head. I seriously need to get past this, because even though I’m kind of short next to Mary Carlson, she makes me feel like one of B.T.B.’s elephants, clunky as hell. “Yeah, that’d be great.”
    A group of guys approaches us as we walk to the student parking lot. One of them, in a football jersey, slides seamlessly into Betsy’s side and squeezes her against him. The guy from the drink machine, Chaz, matches his pace to Mary Carlson’s. The third grabs Jessica’s hand. And here I am, blessed with solitude, and Gemma.
    Chaz asks, “Y’all coming to Rob’s house after the game?” His question is directed to Mary Carlson, and I want to punish my stupid butterflies. This attraction is a certain road to ruin.
    Asia Miller, tenth grade, English class, taught me all too well. Dana pushed and pushed and pushed because she knew how stupid I was about this girl, and one afternoon I was hanging after school watching soccer practice because Dad was late. I convinced myself no girl with calves like that could be into boys. So I started chatting her up.Nothing overt. Only talking about school and stuff. Then one night we started texting, a few nights later she used a wink emoji at the end of practically every text, and then a few nights after that she added in a couple of starry hearts. So the next day in English I popped a paper note over her shoulder asking her to go get a coffee. I signed it with a heart and arrow and a Love, Jo. I will never forget the sinister ripple of her dark hair as she twisted back in her chair, her face contorted in an expression of disgust. “I don’t like you, like that .” It wasn’t long after that I came out, because I figured, fuck it, I’d rather people hate me up front than ever feel so awkward again.
    Mary Carlson interrupts my thoughts. “What do you think, Joanna? Dance party at my house or hanging out with big, beefy football players?” The way she says it makes the first sound far more appealing.
    Betsy squeaks in outrage. “Mary Carlson, you know we’re going to this party.” At that, she pauses and lifts up to kiss the boy who attached himself to her.
    â€œYeah,” Gemma says. “You want me to be single forever? And Joanna here, we need to indoctrinate her properly. We can dance party in the morning.”
    Jessica swings the boy’s hand she’s holding and looks at him coyly. “Or dirty dance tonight.” He grins back at her.
    Mary Carlson keeps her eyes on mine until I nod myagreement. Then she turns to Chaz. “Sure, we’ll come.” She slows down so they’re walking with me. “And this is Joanna.”
    â€œHey.” He grins at me. Fuck. It’s like looking into the face of a model, and not a gay one. I’m no competition for this brute. Hell, I’d want him to father my children. Kidding.
    B.T.B., who had stopped to talk to Mr. Ned,