Free Truth Undressed (Exposed Series, #3) by Hazel Kelly Page A

wasn’t half bad.
    But I was fine just watching them. I didn’t really want to get
catatonic. What I wanted was for Kevin to show up, but he’d already promised a
friend of his that he’d go downtown. But I knew the truth. He was over this
scene. And even though I sort of wanted to be, I wasn’t.
    I wanted to squeeze every last memory from these high school
parties because time was running out, and it wouldn’t be long before we’d all
have to start taking life more seriously.
    I encouraged Danielle to slide into the ‘breakfast nook’ which
is what I imagine Mrs. Ford called it when it was being used legally. Then I
grabbed two cups of keg beer and returned to her side. She hadn’t been in a
very good mood lately, and I wanted to be understanding without encouraging her
to dwell.
    “Have you considered doing your sulking during the week? Maybe
even during school hours like I do? So you could muster up some cheer by
Saturday night?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Maybe I’d be cheery if I got into my dream
school like all these ass clowns.” She waved her cup in the direction of the
butcher block.
    I agreed with the ass clowns thing, and she was probably right. I
mean, everyone she was referring to was a varsity athlete. “You don’t want to
go to school with them anyway.”
    “It’s just embarrassing. That’s all.”
    “What is?”
    “Community college. Not being able to afford to go somewhere
cool and far away like everyone else.”
    “It’s not.”
    “Really? Cause I haven’t heard anyone bragging about it lately.”
    “It’s not a death sentence. At least you got into the other
schools. Didn’t you tell me you could transfer in two years after you save some
money?”
    She nodded.
    “So it’s not the end of the world.”
    She leaned back and acted like she was going to take a big swig
of beer, but instead she just took a few tiny sips. I watched her throat move
as she did it.
    “It’s going to be fine.”
    She nodded like she wanted to believe me. “Yeah.”
    I rubbed my hand on her back while I chugged half my beer.
    “So where’s Kevin tonight?”
    “I don’t know. Downtown or something. He said he’d come if he
could, but I’m not holding my breath.”
    “Are you guys-”
    “Are we what?”
    “Ya know?” she asked. “Bumping uglies?”
    I felt my eyes and mouth open wide but nothing came out.
    She laughed. “Sorry. I just couldn’t resist.”
    “That is a hideous expression.”
    “My Mom used it the other day when she was bitching about my
step sister.”
    “You’re joking. That’s right up there with ‘necking’.”
    “I know. She accused her of bumping uglies with anyone with a
letter jacket ?”
    “A letter jacket?”
    “I know. The woman is out of touch.”
    “You should tell her that talking like that ages her terribly.”
I looked up and saw Ian Eskimo kissing the scrawny blond girl.
    “I tried once before. Like two years ago. But then she started
trying to use- in her words- all the hip lingo. I swear to god by the
second time she said hella I thought my Dad was going to strangle her.”
    “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
    “Lately she seems really old, though. I mean, she was like forty
five when she had me.”
    “Really?”
    Danielle nodded. “Anyway, are you and Kevin bumping uglies or
what?”
    “I can’t hear you when you use that foul language.”
    She elbowed me. “Come on.”
    “Once.”
    “And?”
    “Definitely hoping it happens again,” I said. “Best day ever.”
    “That good, huh?”
    “Best I’ve ever had anyway. By a long shot.”
    “Wow.”
    “But I actually really like him, ya know. It’s not just that
he’s good at… stuff.”
    “As if that’s not blatantly obvious to me. You think I can’t
tell? His name makes you blush and everything.”
    “That’s not true.”
    “Whatever. You’ve been squirrely about him for months.”
    I sighed.
    “So do you think you’ll stay together?”
    “Well it’s not like we’re