Read Online Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt - Free Book Online Page B

faster by myself.” He looks at me. “No offense, but girls take way too long in the store. And it’s already dark.”
    â€œFirst of all, that’s extremely sexist. And second of all, I don’t take a long time in the store.” It’s a lie. I take a very long time in the store. But how could Penn possibly know this?
    He raises his eyebrows, like he’s considering it. Then, a second later, he shakes his head. “You stay here.” And then he’s out of the car and on his way into the store.
    As soon as he’s gone, I pull out my phone and call Anna.
    She picks up on the first ring.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asks immediately.
    â€œNothing,” I say. “Why would something be wrong?”
    â€œBecause you never call me. You always text.”
    â€œOh. Well, I have limited time.” I flip the passenger-side visor down. But there’s no mirror on the other side. What?Why? How can a car not have a mirror on the visor? How am I supposed to make sure I don’t have dirty puddle water splashed on my face or in my hair or something?
    â€œWhat do you mean you have limited time? Are you at work? I thought your mom got over that whole not-using-your-phone-during-work-hours thing?”
    â€œShe did.” I reach over to Penn’s side of the car and flip down his visor. There’s a mirror on that one. Which is ironic, since I’m the one who needs the mirror, and Penn doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who spends any time whatsoever checking himself out. Which kind of doesn’t make sense, since he’s so good-looking. I always figured anyone that hot would enjoy looking at himself all the time. Does Penn not know how cute he is? I have another flash of him walking down the hall at school, always with a different girl. So he must.
    â€œHello?” Anna calls. “What are you doing? What’s all the commotion?”
    â€œI’m in Penn Mattingly’s car.” I whisper it. I don’t know why. Penn is in the store, and there’s no one in the parking lot. And even if there were, who cares if someone overhears?
    â€œYou’re where?” Anna yells, like she’s trying to make up for the fact that I’m whispering. “I can’t hear a word you’re saying. Speak up.”
    â€œI’m in Penn Mattingly’s car,” I say, louder this time. The words sound foreign and kind of exciting. I’m in a boy’s car. A boy I hardly know. It sounds almost dangerous.
    â€œPenn Mattingly’s car!” Anna sounds excited.
    â€œShh!” I’m trying to grab at the visor and angle it so I can see my reflection. But I’m having trouble, so I have to sling one foot over the gearshift. I pull the mirror toward me, and am grateful to see that I don’t have anything on my face. But my eye makeup is a little smudged, and so I reach up and wipe it away.
    â€œWhy do I have to shhh?” Anna asks defensively. Then I hear her say to someone in the background, “Harper’s on a date with Penn Mattingly!” She’s probably talking to Nico. Nico is Anna’s best friend besides me. Well, if you can count a boy who you’re secretly in love with as your second best friend, which Anna thinks you can.
    â€œIt’s not a date.” Trying to fix my makeup with my finger isn’t working. In fact, I’m just making it worse. I go to reach for my purse, but somehow my legs sort of splay apart, and I end up knocking my purse over onto the passenger-side floor. “Shit!”
    â€œWhat happened?” Anna asks.
    â€œI knocked my purse over.”
    â€œIn his car? How’d you knock your purse over in his car?” Suddenly she’s suspicious, like she thinks I’m up to no good.
    â€œI was trying to look at myself in the mirror.”
    â€œShe was trying to look at herself in the mirror,” Anna reports to Nico.
    â€œDon’t tell him