Free The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore Page B

Ash. Where’s your boyfriend?”
    “I told you. I don’t have a boyfriend.”
    “And I have great timing.”
    My heart beats faster, and I catch Mandy’s arm pulling her to me, realizing I probably look as flustered as Jordan did when he first saw me just minutes ago. I feel my face getting hot.
    “We’re not going to double with you guys. It’s too weird,” I whisper, hoping no one hears me. Especially not one person in particular.
    “God, at last!” She cries loudly. “Another sign you’re coming around.”
    “Shut up!” I hiss. “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Whatever, and for what it’s worth, I’m glad you found your hairbrush. It’s a sign you’re getting back to normal.”
    That’s what she thinks.
    Colt slides up behind us and puts his hands on both our waists. “Mmm… care to make a sandwich?”
    Mandy giggles, but I jump away and start backing up. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
    This morning has almost been too much, and I hurry to chemistry, thankful for the chance to hide behind a book and be quiet. Focus on something solid, science, numbers, and not all this crap in my head.
    By lunchtime, I still don’t feel like talking or even being at school as I stare at my salad. Mandy’s piled it high with croutons, nuts, dried cranberries, bleu cheese. She considers herself a salad artist. A loud laugh from a table near the front of the room draws my attention, and I see Charlotte and her friends holding their mouths. It’s been so long since I laughed that way. I want to laugh that way again. This misery, this thinking about it all the time is exhausting. It’s wearing me down, and I’d give anything just to let it go, to lose this pressure for good. Instantly a wave of guilt passes through me. How can I even think that ?
    Mandy’s studying my face. “It must be that wounded kitten thing you’re doing that’s so irresistible,” she says, stabbing a forkful of salad into her mouth.
    “What?”
    “I’m saying, look at us. In these uniforms, we’re practically the same person. What else could it be?”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “I know. You really don’t.” She stabs more salad. “I’m over here practically stripping trying to get Colt’s attention, and you walk up and it’s like… I don’t even know what. Static cling?”
    “It’s not on purpose.” My uniform feels like it’s suffocating me. I just want it off.
    “I know! That’s what’s so crazy about it. I’m like right here, ready to go, and it’s all wasted.” She shakes her head, stirring her greens. “I bet you don’t even know who he is.”
    I shake my head, looking up at her now. I want to know.
    “P.J. Sterling’s son.” She takes a big bite and watches me, waiting. “That’s what I thought. No idea, do you.”
    “Nuh uh.”
    “P.J. Sterling was the lead developer for practically every office park in Glennville. He has either a house or an apartment in every major city. Flies off to cool stuff like the opening of that new hotel in Japan? The tallest one in the world?”
    “I thought it was in one of those Arab countries. Dubai.”
    “My point is, he’s like an insider celebrity. Serious big deal in the engineering and development world.”
    “So why’s his son here of all places?”
    “You’ve got to start listening. I told you. He got expelled, held back. I think this is like his last stop before military school. His dad’s a State grad, and I guess he thinks Creekside’ll teach him values or something.”
    That sounded familiar. “How do you even know all this?”
    “Dad. They met at a big developers’ dinner, and he was bragging about his pride and joy Shadow Creek. Mayberry U.S.A.”
    “So you should be the one to help him find his way around?”
    “It’s practically my civic duty.”
    I shrug and take a bite of salad. “I’ll do my best to keep out of the way.”
    “No. That’ll just make you more interesting. Be easy, do whatever he wants, and