Free Conviction by Amanda Lance Page A

night, and the other I talked to Dad on. Every word I gave her was guarded, and I vowed to keep it that way, not only for my sake, but for Charlie’s as well. And though I had gotten pretty good at keeping myself distant, it was getting harder to conceal certain details of my life from Dad, who frequently wanted to know about my non-existent social life and friends.
    One of the ways I did this was through Harpsten, who I was beginning to consider calling Adam. We now e-mailed on a regular basis, and I gave him tid-bits about my life that I figured would end up getting back to Dad one way or another. This way Dad would feel like he wasn’t intruding, and I wouldn’t be giving away anything incriminating; all of us would be satisfied.
    Elise offered me some of the remaining blueberries before they went in the fruit salad, but I declined, skimming through the new e-mail and typing out a quick reply.
     
    Harpsten,
    I’m sorry to hear you’ve come down with the flu. I’ll admit I never appreciated being homeschooled so much until my first semester at WPU. I was sick for two weeks straight. Maybe being deprived of those public school germs all those years had my immune system down. Ha Ha. Last time I checked, rest, fluids, and antibiotics are the way to enlightenment. But if you are still feeling under the weather, here’s a list of some books that might make you feel better.
    The Monk—Matthew Gregory Lewis
    Naked Lunch—William S. Burroughs
    The Great Gatsby—Fitzgerald
    Frankenstein—Mary Shelley
    I’m rereading Gatsby myself for the millionth time and I’ve even got Melinda reading it. Now she’s trying to get everyone and everything into 20’s vintage. Even if I had a time-machine though, I think I’d make a lousy flapper. Have to run, big anatomy exam to study for tomorrow.
    Feel better soon,
    Addie
     
    I closed my laptop just as Charlie walked in, silent except for the holster he secured around his chest.
    “Hey, you.”
    “Hey.”
    I reached up for him and Elise pretended not to see while Charlie and I stole a kiss. Still, I pulled away quickly, somewhat aware of where we were, and very excited about the one activity I had coerced him into.
    “I’m excited for this.” I hopped off the stool and stacked my books, trying to slide them out of the way.
    He leaned into the island and stole one of Tyler’s blueberries, popping it into his mouth before he could swoop it back. “That makes one of us.”
    I pulled him by the wrist, ignoring Elise’s giggle. “Let’s go, you.”
    I buttoned my jacket all the way to the top and took the lead outside. Though he hesitated for a second, I could feel him following me as I walked out past the garage and towards the wooded area of the property. I hummed quietly to myself, satisfied, though I was only halfway complete with my mission. 
    “Girls shouldn’t be doing this.” His steps followed mine perfectly. I loved the rhythm they made in the soft winter dirt, but when he said that I turned abruptly and feigned punching him.
    “Girls can do whatever they want,” I reminded him.
    “I know that.” I felt his eyes roll behind me. “I just don’t want you doing it.”
    “Well, too bad,” I mocked. “If you don’t show me, I’ll just get one of the guys—”
    “The fellas are not that stupid.”
    We stopped, looked at each other, and laughed.
    “I mean it,” he said, his voice all gravel and stone. “People hurt themselves with these things all the time.”
    “I mean it, too. Besides, you of all people know that when I want to learn something, I’ll figure it out one way or the other.”
    He stopped me and pulled me close, staring at me in the way that told me he was considering the situation, measuring his alternatives against how we both knew I would get what I wanted.
    “‘lright,” he sighed. “But for the record, I don’t like it.”
    I leaned up and kissed him. “For the record, me learning to shoot a gun might just save your life some