Read Online When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle - Free Book Online Page B

the yearbook straight up in her hands. She looks like a dead bug, the kind you find belly up on our back porch over the summer.
    “Eh,” Olivia says. “He has a nice body, I guess.”
    “Surfing.” Charlie flips over and raises her eyebrows. I know that look. She’s trying to tell me that Rob has the same body too.
    I launch myself into my closet, blushing. “Where did you put the white one?” I call.
    “On the bed,” Charlie says. “Chill.”
    “You sound like your boyfriend,” Olivia says, folding a magazine and hitting her over the head. “Chill, dude.”
    Charlie rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” She tosses me the dress, and I slip it on. It’s a halter dress, something Charlie bought me for my birthday last year after I complained about never having any sundresses. It was an ironic gift, given that my birthday is on January first. A white dress in the middle of winter. So Charlie.
    Just the fact that Charlie and Olivia are always up to celebrating my birthday is a big deal. I mean, I was born on January first, which is basically, like, National Hangover Day. It’s the official stop date of the holiday season, and everyone’s usually burnt outand exhausted. Not that I mind. I’ve never been a huge fan of birthdays anyway, but still, something about it is always kind of disappointing.
    “What do you think?” I sway my arms by my sides for effect, and the dress rocks slowly, like waves lapping at the shore. Swoosh, swoosh .
    “Hot,” Olivia says. Charlie gives me a thumbs-up.
    “My face looks bloated.” I puff out my cheeks in the mirror and run some blush over them, adding mascara to my lashes. I look at Olivia and Charlie perched on the bed, effortlessly attractive, and then back at the mirror. He called you beautiful, I remind myself. You. No one else.
    “Take two Tylenol and some orange juice,” Olivia says.
    Charlie gives her a look like she’s just suggested I wear argyle. There are few things in this world Charlie hates worse than plaid. One of them is definitely argyle.
    “What?” Olivia says. “It works.”
    I find two Tylenol and swallow them with some water from the bathroom sink. That will have to do.
    “You really look great,” Charlie says. “Scout’s honor.”
    “Agreed,” Olivia says. She turns on her side and surveys me. “I’m just so proud.”
    A car honks. Charlie and I exchange a glance, and then we’re all at the window, looking down at Rob’s silver Volvo. I see the dooropen, and I spin myself around from the window before I can watch him get out. My insides feel like a racetrack: cars zipping hundreds of miles per hour all around my stomach and chest.
    “He’s here!” Olivia shrills.
    Charlie motions me closer and puts on the serious face she uses in history class. “I’m really happy for you,” she says. “This is totally a big deal, and Rob’s the best, and I want you to have a really good time.”
    “Kodak moment.” Olivia smiles and makes like she’s snapping a camera.
    “We’re adorable,” I deadpan, giving Charlie a hug. I hold on for a minute longer than I intend to. I guess I am sort of nervous.
    “Okay, clingy.” Charlie pulls back and holds me at arm’s length. “Knock ’em dead.”
    “You’ll be great,” Olivia says. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
    “Except do,” Charlie says. “It’s way more fun.”
    I take the pillow from my desk chair and hurl it at her. “Good-bye, hooligans.”
    “Ciao,” they say together. I can hear Charlie call jinx, and then Olivia starts whining.
    I run down the stairs and then pause at the doorway, trying to catch my breath. It’s just Rob , I remind myself. Just a date. Just Rob.
    I open the door still attempting to settle my heartbeat. He’s almost at my doorstep and stops when he sees me. Then hesmiles, and it’s like his face lights up my entire driveway. I just stand there, looking at him like an idiot.
    “You look beautiful,” he says, which makes my heart leap up and out