Read Online True Love by Lurlene McDaniel - Free Book Online Page B

shoulder and read, “ ‘LM plus JE.’ I remember. I was twelve and I saw you out here with Tommy Fischer one afternoon. I got so jealous that late at night I sneaked into your yard and carved this into the tree.”
    “And when Tommy saw it, he knew immediately who LM was and he got so scared you’d beat him up that he ran off and never came over again.” She poked Luke’s chest and teased, “That wasn’t very nice.”
    “You were so mad, you threatened to have your father throw me off his team.” Luke grinned, remembering.
    “And then you showed up on my porch holding that wad of flowers and you looked at me with those big brown eyes and I melted.”
    He grinned more broadly. “Once I discovered your weak spot, I never forgot.”
    She snuggled close again. “Lucky for you I’m not allergic to flowers.”
    She heard him sigh, heard the rumble of his heart against her ear, and thought she’d not been so content since before Christmas. “Did I tell you Uncle Steve called me?” he asked.
    “When?”
    “Last night.”
    “All the way from Los Angeles?”
    “He was checking on me and Mom. He’s a nice guy.” Luke paused. “He’s invited me out to visit him this summer.”
    “Really?” She was half glad, half sorry. “What did you tell him?”
    “I said I wasn’t sure. Of course, Mom wants me to go. You know how she feels about Waterton and getting out of this town.”
    “You should go,” Julie said halfheartedly.
    “I don’t want to leave you.”
    She was touched, but thinking about all themisery his illness had caused him, she knew she couldn’t allow him to forgo the trip on her account. “You couldn’t stay long anyway,” she said. “Dad will expect you to show up on time for fall practice.”
    “What will you do this summer?”
    “Mom’s got me a job with her friend Mrs. Watson to help down at the public library.” Julie wrinkled her nose. “She wants me to
work
.”
    “That’s a pretty good job.” Summer jobs in a town the size of Waterton weren’t plentiful, and Luke and Julie knew she was lucky to have one. Luke added, “Just think, you’ll have some money to take me out.”
    “I’ll have money to buy school clothes,” she corrected.
    “I’m wounded.”
    “Get over it.” She patted his shoulder, then sobered. “Actually, I’m kind of provoked with my mom. She committed me to the job without even asking me first. But that’s her style—jump in with both feet and make excuses if you have to back out.”
    “But you won’t mind working there, will you? I mean, it beats schlepping groceries or baby-sitting.”
    “I guess not. Anyway, if you can go visit your uncle, you should.”
    “Will you write me?”
    “Every day.”
    He rested his chin atop her head. “I’m going to start working out at the gym after school with the guys. I’ve got a lot of bodybuilding to catch up on. Uncle Steve says he belongs to a gym and I can work out whenever I want if I come. I have to be in good shape by fall.”
    “If you’re worried about losing your starting position, don’t be,” Julie said. “Dad’s counting on you to lead the team.”
    “Maybe that’s what’s got me worried.”
    “How so?”
    “He expects so much of me, Julie. I—I don’t how much this problem’s affected my game.”
    She understood his fears. Her father had a subtle way of applying pressure, of placing a mantle of expectation on his players that weighed heavily. No one ever wanted “to let Coach down.”
    Her mother often tried similar tactics on her, but she was not very subtle and usually it led to friction between them, rather than compliance.“You’ll get your game back,” Julie assured him. “My dad will see to it.”
    Luke grinned. “You’re the only person in the world who can twist your father around her little finger.”
    “Don’t you believe it. Daddy loves me, but we’re both stubborn.”
    Luke looped his arms around Julie’s waist. “You know what I