Read Online Watercolor by Leigh Talbert Moore - Free Book Online Page B

shoulder with his. “Your dad knows more about cars than I do.”
    I bumped him back. “I bet even a four hundred thousand dollar Lexus won’t run with a bad fuel line.”
    His brow relaxed, and he kissed my head. “You’re sweet,” he breathed. “Angel.”
    Blake had the car fixed in less than an hour and then took off. Julian stuck around a few extra minutes to thank Dad and kiss my nose before taking the T-bird back to his house in Dolphin Shores.
    It was late, but I had time to run upstairs and finish copying Summer’s notes after dinner. Mom stuck her head in and said goodnight before going to bed. “Hey, hon,” she said. “How’s it going with Julian?”
    I dropped my pen. “Great!” I jumped up smiling. “He’s taking me to the dance next Friday if that’s okay.”
    “Just like last fall.”
    I laughed. “I guess Julian’s my date to every dance this year.”
    “You met Jack at the dance last fall, didn’t you?” she asked.
    “Sort-of.” I couldn’t figure out where she was headed. “I actually met him at his house the night I went to study with Lucy. But he was in my English class, so I’d been seeing him before the dance.”
    “It seems like it wasn’t so long ago,” she said, looking down. “Have you had enough time to get over that?”
    My brow creased, and I thought about the picture Lucy had given me for Christmas. It was of Jack and me at that first dance, and it used to be under my pillow. But I’d stuffed it in my drawer a while back. I hadn’t looked at it in forever. Seeing Jack’s face still stung a little, but I was determined it didn’t.
    “I think so,” I said, trying for humor. “Jack only sneaks into my brain when I’m not prepared.”
    Mom came over and sat beside me on the bed. “Sweetie. You need to give yourself time to recover before starting something new.”
    “Well,” I exhaled. “I sort-of suggested we take it slow before Christmas. But now, I don’t know. It feels like school’s ending, and… I don’t want to waste time.”
    Her eyes were concerned. “But do you still have feelings for Jack?"
    I shook my head. “I don’t,” I said. “Trust me, Mom, I really like Julian. Really . And, well, Jack broke up with me. I’ve got to let him go.”
    She didn’t look convinced, and I couldn’t figure out what else to say. “It’s just so easy being with Julian,” I tried. “And he makes me feel good. I mean, we know each other so well, and the way we talk, it’s like… I don’t know.”
    She patted my leg. “Just keep a handle on your feelings.”
    “That’s what I’ve been trying to do.” I said.
    She kissed my head and went to the door. “Don’t stay up too late.”
     
    I finished copying Summer’s notes and changed into my nightshirt, but my dumb conversation with Mom… Before I climbed into bed, I stopped at my desk and slid the top drawer open. The picture of Jack and me together greeted me like an unwelcome intruder. It was the first time I’d looked at it since moving it from my nightstand to my desk, farther away from me, on its way to my closet. His perfect smile and bright blue eyes still made my stomach hurt. I remembered his kiss, the feel of his hands, me sliding his blond hair back with my finger…
    Like an idiot, I wondered what he was doing, and if what Lucy said about him not dating anyone was true. My stupid eyes actually got warm.
    “Ugh!” I growled, slamming the drawer shut. Even if what Lucy said was true, I didn’t care. We broke up, and he didn’t say we were waiting for each other. We weren’t waiting for each other. I wasn’t waiting.
    I was pissed now. That old memory left me feeling heavy, and I was about to crawl under the covers hoping I wouldn’t cry when I heard the faintest tapping sound on my window. I froze, glancing at my clock—11:35.
    I heard it again and tiptoed over to the window, easing back the sheer curtain not knowing what to expect. Julian! I reached up to unfasten the lock and