Read Online Jane Austen Girl by Inglath Cooper - Free Book Online

argument from me. You used to be somebody I wanted to hang with, but you know what? Now, you’re just a pain in the butt.”
    He wheeled then and jogged off, jumping into the old truck he’d left parked across the street. Andy watched as he popped the clutch and took off, tires squealing.
    For a minute or more, she stood completely still, afraid to think about what she’d just done.
    When the reality of it began to sink in, she sat down on the bench, staring at the half-torn flyer still clutched in her right hand.
    She stifled a scream of frustration. She was just so mad at him.
    Not that she’d ever bothered to tell him, pride keeping her silent. Instead, she’d acted as if she thought it was great that he was dating the captain of the cheerleading squad, thought it fine that he had a whole new group of friends she had absolutely nothing in common with.
    The truth? Sometimes she missed him so much, she actually ached inside. It was like having an arm or leg removed, knowing it was no longer there, and yet phantom pain throbbed in the place where the limb had once been.
    But the simple fact was that Kyle had moved on. Outgrown her. Oh, he tried to touch base with her often enough to keep from ditching their friendship altogether, but the last thing Andy wanted to be to Kyle was a noose around his neck. So maybe it was better for them both that she’d cut him loose. He didn’t have to feel obligated to her any longer.
    He could get on with his life. And she could get on with hers.
    She glanced down at the ripped flyer in her hand. Which was exactly what she intended to do. Starting now.

 
     
    I’m going to make sure my daughter knows what’s important and what’s not. No cheerleading, no beauty contests.Just the stuff that will actually make a difference in the real world.
    Bobby Jack Randall’s famous last words on the day his divorce became final

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Bobby Jack had his speech all prepared. Along with it, Andy’s favorite supper of veggie burgers sizzled on the grill out back, and crinkle cut French fries baked in the oven.
    It was seven o’clock though, and she still wasn’t home. He’d started to get worried about an hour ago. Bobby Jack hated worrying. He’d made a pact with his daughter when she’d turned thirteen and started going more places without him that she would always call if she were going to be late. He’d now tried her cell phone six or seven times, only to have her voice mail pick up.
    At seven-fifteen, just as he was considering calling everyone they knew, the front door opened, and Andy breezed in.
    He heard Flo jump off the living room sofa and trot out to greet her.
    Within a few moments, the two of them appeared in the kitchen doorway.
    “Hey,” Andy said, dropping her book bag on the kitchen counter and heading for the refrigerator where she pulled out a bottle of water and guzzled a third before saying, “I’m going up for a shower.”
    Bobby Jack stared at her for a few moments, wondering who this teenager with an attitude was and what she’d done with his daughter. “Hold on a minute,” he said to her retreating back.
    She turned, arched an eyebrow, took another sip of her water.
    “Where’ve you been?” he asked, trying to insert calm into his voice.
    “Just doing stuff,” she said, annoyance in her tone.
    “I’ve been trying to get you on the phone for over an hour. You said you’d be home at six.”
    She glanced at her watch, lifted a shoulder. “Sorry,” she said, breaking the word into two syllables.
    “What’s going on, Andy?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the kitchen doorjamb.
    “Nothing, Daddy. Look, I’m tired. And I’ve got homework.”
    “Supper’s ready.”
    She glanced at the plate of veggie burgers on the counter, then looked down at her shoes before saying, “I’m not hungry. I’ll fix a salad or something later.”
    “Is this about this morning? Are you angry because I don’t think you