Free The Day That Saved Us by Mindy Hayes Page A

my boy toy?” I ask. “He has a perfectly acceptable name.”
    “Which is?”
    “Tyler,” Brodee answers for me. He says his name like a swear word.
    “Tyler sounds like a tool.”
    “You don’t even know him,” I retort.
    “He is.” Brodee smirks at me.
    I shove him again, but this time I’m being less playful. “He is not!”
    “He’s going to USC too, and he’s smitten with our Peyton-Parker,” Harper pipes up.
    I want to bury my head with my tail feathers in the air. What does that? An ostrich?
    “Well, let’s meet him. If I have to play nice with him at USC, I might as well get to know him now.”
    “He’s probably working tomorrow,” I say, relieved. It’s not that I’m embarrassed of Tyler. I just don’t want whatever we are to be made into a big deal. Skylar has a knack for making things awkward on purpose. He does everything he can to make some people uncomfortable simply to see how they’ll react. It’s a test, really. If they can take it or dish it back, they pass. Something tells me Tyler won’t pass. I’m not ready for them to meet yet.
    “You won’t know unless you text him,” Harper says, and I want to slap my hand over her mouth and shush her. Can’t she tell I don’t want to invite him?
    “I can tell you all you need to know about him, Sky.” Brodee starts holding up his fingers one by one. “Gym rat. Wears tank tops, and not ironically. Football player—”
    “All right. Enough said.” Skylar stops him with one hand and looks squarely at me. “What do you like about this guy, P? Is he good to you?”
    While I appreciate Skylar’s interest in real answers, I disregard him and narrow my eyes at Brodee. “You say all of those things like they’re cons. What’s wrong with working out or playing football? Not all football players are dumb jocks.”
    “But I can tell you where he falls.” Brodee chuckles, glancing at Skylar who shares a look. If their eyes could high five, they would. Then Brodee continues, “Tyler’s a total kook, talks like he knows what he’s doing on the water, but that’s all he is. Talk. He’s your classic rich kid. Son of a dentist.”
    Do I hear a hint of jealousy? While I know he’s just teasing me, it pushes me over the edge. I’m not sure why I feel like I need to defend Tyler so fiercely, but it’s really ticking me off that Brodee is tearing into him. Tyler’s never done anything to him.
    “Tyler’s dad is no different than yours,” I cut Brodee off. “Hounding him about schoolwork, riding his butt, making choices for him, except his dad actually makes him work for his school tuition. It’s not just handed to him on a gold platter.”
    That shuts him up and not in a good way. Hurt flashes across Brodee’s eyes. I wish I’d never said anything. Why did I throw that in his face?
    “Tell us how you really feel, Peyton.” Skylar laughs awkwardly.
    The whole vibe shifts. Harper tries to laugh, but it falls flat. I’ve had enough of the rooftop talk. I move to get up from my recliner.
    “I’m sorry, Pete,” Brodee says genuinely. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    I sigh. “I’m fine. It’s fine.” And it is. I just want to drop it. I don’t want to talk about Tyler anymore. “I’m sorry, too. I’m gonna go to bed.”
    Brodee snatches my hand as I pass him. His thumb softly rubs the top of my hand. My thoughts jumble. I can’t remember why I was so upset. “You know I was just playing, right? I didn’t mean it, Pete,” he whispers.
    “I know.” I nod and pull my hand away. Brodee’s tender touch confuses me more. “G’night, guys.”

 
     
     
     
     
    WHEN WE GET up in the morning, all is forgotten. Or at least everyone pretends that I didn’t have a little freak out moment. I slept horribly, though. Harper came to bed about twenty minutes after I did. I pretended to be asleep, but I couldn’t have been less tired. A creeping ache filled my chest, but I couldn’t place it. Until I did, and then I