Read Online He Belongs With Me by Sarah Darlington - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Darlington
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any place longer than a couple months. I understand how you might feel, but trust me...we'll be gone soon. Your life will go back to normal and it will be like you never met us. I promise.”
When he said they’d be gone soon, that was the understatement of the century. And my life had gone back to normal, almost like I had never met him. Almost...but not quite.
Dad came back outside with an enormous amount of ice cream. There was something about ice cream and secrets. I guess I couldn’t be trusted to hold in anything with a spoon in my hand because, as we ate, the story of how Robby pretended to be a stranger at last night’s gala came pouring out. It felt good talking things over with Dad and getting it off my chest, but as the plates were cleared and dishes were brought inside, I realized that my stomach still felt strange. And oddly enough, it had nothing to do with Robby.
I hadn't heard from Leo all day. He hadn't been at his house and Clara had mysteriously gone missing too. But one thing had been located—the golf cart.
I saw it parked at Leo's when I went by earlier.
What was going on with Leo and Clara? And why was it making me feel like I had a ton of rocks in my stomach instead of ice cream?
CHAPTER 8
CLARA
After the salon, Steph and I rode the subway to her little apartment in Brooklyn. The place was messy, cramped, and had one bathroom for six girls. And even though the apartment sucked, I couldn't have been more proud of her. Three years ago she never would have been brave enough to spend a summer in the big city, live with tons of roommates, land a big-time internship, and work a second job at a bar. She was an inspiration to me.
While she got ready for work, I changed into one of my new outfits—jeans, a loose-fitted white tank top, and a studded leather jacket I'd found at a second-hand store. I didn't wear a bra because I didn't have one with me. My boobs were pretty non-existent and I liked to wear cami-style tops and loose-fitted stuff anyway.
Once we were all set to go, Steph and I walked the two short blocks to the Alligator Lounge. The place sat intertwined among the buildings. Approaching the entrance, I thought we were about to enter the biggest dive bar on the planet. The inside wasn’t much better. The red-wood paneling clashed tragically with the tropical and Romanesque decorations but somehow I found myself digging the corny but casual vibe.
I wished Steph didn't have to work, but in a place like this I'd be fine on my own. A long bar stretched the length of the room and I claimed a stool toward the back, picking a spot that I thought Steph would pass by frequently while she worked. The place gave away free pizzas when you purchased a beer so I ordered a beer, tried the pizza, and decided I'd need to pace myself if I wanted to make it through Steph's eight-hour shift.
The first hour passed super-fast and Steph hung with me every free chance she got. I had just moved on to beer numero dos when my cell phone rang. Leo's name lit up the screen, completely surprising me since we’d always had each other’s numbers but never used them before. My heart rate quickened for some strange reason and I stared at my phone as it rang, wondering if I should answer or not. At the last second I decided to pick up. “Hello?”
“Hey Clara, it's Leo. What's up?” His voice sounded funny on the other side—tired, maybe.
“Not much.”
“I just wanted to call to make sure you were okay. You're okay, right?”
“I'm fine.” I don't know why I was being so short with him, but I was.
“Well, if you need anything, call or text me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
We both hung up after that. And then I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I called him right back. “Leo,” I said, getting right to the point before I could change my mind. “I'm in Brooklyn at this place called the Alligator Lounge. Steph works here and I'm just hanging out while she works. I know you said you were going to be
When he said they’d be gone soon, that was the understatement of the century. And my life had gone back to normal, almost like I had never met him. Almost...but not quite.
Dad came back outside with an enormous amount of ice cream. There was something about ice cream and secrets. I guess I couldn’t be trusted to hold in anything with a spoon in my hand because, as we ate, the story of how Robby pretended to be a stranger at last night’s gala came pouring out. It felt good talking things over with Dad and getting it off my chest, but as the plates were cleared and dishes were brought inside, I realized that my stomach still felt strange. And oddly enough, it had nothing to do with Robby.
I hadn't heard from Leo all day. He hadn't been at his house and Clara had mysteriously gone missing too. But one thing had been located—the golf cart.
I saw it parked at Leo's when I went by earlier.
What was going on with Leo and Clara? And why was it making me feel like I had a ton of rocks in my stomach instead of ice cream?
CHAPTER 8
CLARA
After the salon, Steph and I rode the subway to her little apartment in Brooklyn. The place was messy, cramped, and had one bathroom for six girls. And even though the apartment sucked, I couldn't have been more proud of her. Three years ago she never would have been brave enough to spend a summer in the big city, live with tons of roommates, land a big-time internship, and work a second job at a bar. She was an inspiration to me.
While she got ready for work, I changed into one of my new outfits—jeans, a loose-fitted white tank top, and a studded leather jacket I'd found at a second-hand store. I didn't wear a bra because I didn't have one with me. My boobs were pretty non-existent and I liked to wear cami-style tops and loose-fitted stuff anyway.
Once we were all set to go, Steph and I walked the two short blocks to the Alligator Lounge. The place sat intertwined among the buildings. Approaching the entrance, I thought we were about to enter the biggest dive bar on the planet. The inside wasn’t much better. The red-wood paneling clashed tragically with the tropical and Romanesque decorations but somehow I found myself digging the corny but casual vibe.
I wished Steph didn't have to work, but in a place like this I'd be fine on my own. A long bar stretched the length of the room and I claimed a stool toward the back, picking a spot that I thought Steph would pass by frequently while she worked. The place gave away free pizzas when you purchased a beer so I ordered a beer, tried the pizza, and decided I'd need to pace myself if I wanted to make it through Steph's eight-hour shift.
The first hour passed super-fast and Steph hung with me every free chance she got. I had just moved on to beer numero dos when my cell phone rang. Leo's name lit up the screen, completely surprising me since we’d always had each other’s numbers but never used them before. My heart rate quickened for some strange reason and I stared at my phone as it rang, wondering if I should answer or not. At the last second I decided to pick up. “Hello?”
“Hey Clara, it's Leo. What's up?” His voice sounded funny on the other side—tired, maybe.
“Not much.”
“I just wanted to call to make sure you were okay. You're okay, right?”
“I'm fine.” I don't know why I was being so short with him, but I was.
“Well, if you need anything, call or text me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
We both hung up after that. And then I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I called him right back. “Leo,” I said, getting right to the point before I could change my mind. “I'm in Brooklyn at this place called the Alligator Lounge. Steph works here and I'm just hanging out while she works. I know you said you were going to be
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