Free nowhere by Marysue Hobika Page B

were parked in her driveway to apologize. I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry about yesterday. Thanks for giving me a second chance. What can I do to make it up to you?” 
    “You just did by giving me a ride home. We can call it even.” She smiled. “Wait here.  I’ll be right back.” She quickly jumped down from the truck and walked toward the house.
    Without even being invited, I followed her.
    She stopped on the front porch and turned around to face me, “Wait here. And I mean it.”  She pointed her finger at my chest.
    “Where are you going?” I asked, but she didn’t respond.
    She disappeared into the house, returning a minute later. “Here’s your shirt. I washed it for you.” She held it out to me. 
    I was taken aback. This was not what I had expected. “I said you could keep it.” I pushed it back at her. 
    “You said a lot of things.” She sounded both angry and hurt. 
    Finally I understood why she had me drive her home. She wasn’t giving me a second chance; she was paying me back for standing her up. She led me here on false pretenses only to let me down. “So you are mad about yesterday.” She didn’t say anything but the angry look on her face said it all. “I really was helping my dad change a tractor tire. I called. Didn’t Emma tell you?”
    “Yeah and she also said that you’d call back.”
    “I took a shower and then crashed.” I didn’t tell her that until I ran into her today I’d decided she’d be better off without me. “Changing a tractor tire isn’t as easy as it sounds.”  I took a deep breath. Lowering my voice and changing my tone, I added, “I’m sorry I didn’t call. Can you give me another chance?” 
    “No.” She turned to disappear back into the house.
    I couldn’t let her go that easy. I had to get her to change her mind about me. I reached out and quickly pulled her against my chest. I could feel her heart beating against mine. I paused one second too long the other night and I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. I dipped my head down. I couldn’t wait to taste the sweetness of her mouth. I was inches away from touching my lips to hers when she stiffened in my arms.
    She pushed against my chest with both hands. I let her go. “It’s time for you to leave, James.” She stormed inside, slamming the door behind her. 
    I bent over and picked up my fallen shirt. I left it neatly folded on the swing. I wanted her, but I could wait. Forcing her to feel something that she wasn’t ready for was not my style. She’d come around. She wouldn’t have bothered to go to such extremes to get back at me if she didn’t care. I’d give her time to cool down and then I’d be back. 

Chapter Nine
    Mike
    I banged the kitchen cupboard doors, releasing frustration. I rummaged around in the refrigerator, searching for something to eat—I tended to eat when I was upset. Due to a lack of better options, I decided on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I slammed the ingredients down on the counter. Slapping two pieces of bread together, I made a quick sandwich. I added a handful of chips to my plate. 
    Pop-Pop strolled into the kitchen. “What’s all the ruckus? It feels like an earthquake. I know you miss California and all, but this is taking it too far.”
    “I’m making lunch,” I retorted as I plopped down at the table to eat.
    “What you got there?” he asked, eyeing my sandwich. 
    “Plain old pb and j.”
    “All that noise just to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” Pop-Pop settled into his usual place at the kitchen table, folding his hands. Silently he watched as I stuffed a handful of salty chips in my mouth and chewed. I felt guilty for eating in front of him. “Do you want me to make you one?” I mumbled with my mouth full.
    “I don’t eat peanut butter. I can’t stand the stuff. I never could understand why kids love it so much.”
    “It’s good.” I took a bite of my sandwich and acted like I was eating a