Free The Good Girls by Teresa Mummert Page B

“It’s not a dead baby chicken.”
    “Sure, keep telling yourself that.” She grinned as she took a bite. “Peep. Peep.”
    “Cara…” My stomach rolled again, and I knew if I didn’t start thinking of something else, I was going to heave all over the table.
    “Oh…that bite was crunchy. Must have been his beak or maybe his little dirty birdy feet.”
    I felt the bile rise up my throat, and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from launching last night’s alcohol all over her, even though it would have served her right. I lurched from the table and ran for the back door, fumbling with the lock before yanking it open. I’d drunk some of my mom’s wine before, but hard liquor was something new, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to drink it again.
    The alarm blasted, causing my head to thump rhythmically. Cara was at my side, gathering my hair and holding it behind me as I heaved my stomach contents off the edge of the deck.
    “Jesus, El. I didn’t think you’d really throw up. I’m such a bitch. I’m so sorry.”
    I continued to hurl, completely embarrassed as I tried to wave her away, but she refused to move. I was thankful, since my hair would’ve been covered in my own vomit had she left. She began to hum, and I rolled my eyes as I dry heaved one last time.
    “You…are…a bitch.” I groaned as I wiped the back of my hand over my mouth.
    “Agreed.”
    The alarm cut off, and Dawn was now glaring at us, wrapped in a towel with shampoo still slicked in her hair.
    “What is going on? Did you not hear the alarm?”
    “Sorry, Dawn. El doesn’t handle eggs very well, and she didn’t want to say anything and hurt your feelings.”
    Dawn’s face softened as a voice called out over the alarm system asking if we needed assistance. She stalked off to speak into the box on the wall as Cara smiled sheepishly at me.
    “Forgive me?”
    “Never,” I growled. I headed back inside with Cara on my heels.
    “Why was the alarm set? We never use that thing,” Cara asked as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and held it out for me.
    “David just thought it would be a good idea. Ellie is new to this town, and he thought it would make her feel safer.” Her eyes flashed to me before narrowing on Cara.
    Cara’s faced hardened. I wondered if this meant that they knew we had snuck out, but neither of them had mentioned it.
    “I’m going to go brush my teeth.” I hurried up the stairs and into the bathroom. A few minutes later I heard Dawn head into her bedroom, and the sound of water rushing through pipes broke the silence as she continued her shower in the master bathroom.
    I scrubbed my tongue with my toothbrush, gagging as the door flew open and Cara stepped inside, her arms crossed over her chest.
    “Still mad at me?”
    I glanced at her and spit in the sink but didn’t respond.
    “Still?”
    My eyes narrowed as her voice rose another octave.
    “How about now?”
    I groaned, turning on the water and rinsing my mouth. “No, I’m not mad.”
    “Good, because I want to do something fun today.”
    “Oh, God. I don’t think I can handle any more of your fun.”
    “Don’t be such a chicken. Sorry. Bad choice of words.”
    I cupped water from the sink and flung it at her, causing her to scream. “You’re not a good person.”
    “You just figured that out? Get ready. As soon as Dawn leaves we’re going out.”
    “Ugh,” I groaned as I looked myself over in the mirror. This was going to be a long day. I ran a brush through my hair as Cara headed off down the hall to her room. I made my way back to my room and looked over my boxes. I didn’t have the energy to even change my clothing, but I knew I had to make myself look a little better if I was going to be in public next to Cara.
    I grabbed another pair of jean shorts and a navy-blue tank top. Pulling off my bra, I decided not to torture myself by wearing one today. I kicked my panties off and grabbed a clean pair of white