Free Stronger than You Know by Jolene Perry Page A

on the way back?”
    â€œDrive-through?” I ask. “Or …”
    â€œWhichever.”
    â€œDrive-through.”
    â€œYou got it.”
    And I’m okay in here, because this is the only situation I have to worry about dealing with. Just me, in his car. Even crazy Joy can drink out of a cup in front of Justin.
    Maybe I do have a chance at normal. Wouldn’t that be something?

ELEVEN
    An outing
    I let out a sigh as we pull up my driveway. Three extra cars are parked in front of the house. My stomach sinks. “My cousin’s home. With friends.”
    â€œRight, the mighty Trent Mooreson.” Justin puts his car in park, turns it off, but doesn’t move.
    â€œHe’s not mighty anything. He’s probably the only one here that I just don’t get.” I take another sip of hot chocolate. I’m not in a hurry to get out of the car, not with Trent and his gang inside.
    â€œYou live with your aunt and uncle, right?” Justin asks. He pulls a knee up and leans back.
    My heart’s hammering. This is how the hard to answer questions start. “Yeah.” I don’t want to lie to him again—then I’ll just have to tell him I lied again—sometime later, when I get the guts to.
    â€œAnd that’s better than home?” His eyes are on me.
    My eyes are on my cup. “Home doesn’t exist anymore.” I take another drink, which is only a temporary distraction from my thoughts.
    â€œI’m guessing that answer is code for you’re done talking about this.” His voice is still so relaxed.
    â€œYeah.” The word comes out in a breath of relief.
    â€œOkay.” He tilts his head way back and takes the last drink of his coffee, holding the cup up and tapping the bottom to make sure he gets every drop.
    â€œYou’re funny.” I’m watching him. He’s not much bigger than me—lean and only slightly taller. Much less intimidating than … almost every guy I’ve had contact with.
    â€œGlad you think so. I’m just trying to get my money’s worth of caffeine.” He chuckles again as he puts his cup into the cup holder.
    I like his talking, the way he moves. I like watching him.
    Uncle Rob’s silver SUV pulls in next to us. “There’s my uncle. I should go.” Probably best in case he starts asking questions I’m not sure how to answer.
    â€œLet me get your door, okay? Make me feel like I actually took you out, even though I just drove you home.” He jumps out and runs around the front of his car.
    â€œOkay.” I sit and wait and it seems sort of silly. But he opens my door and offers his hand to help me out.
    I can’t take it. Touch feels like a whole different level of closeness, and I just can’t.
    And I thought I was doing so well.
    His hand hanging in the air is like a reminder that I may have let him drive me home, but I’m still pathetic.
    Uncle Rob saves me. “Hey, Joy.”
    Justin reaches his hand out to shake Uncle Rob’s. “I’m Justin, a friend of Joy’s from government class.”
    I jump out before he can offer me his hand again.
    Uncle Rob looks between us a few times as I get out.
    â€œDid Trent forget you?” Uncle Rob asks.
    â€œNo.” I shake my head. “Justin offered me a ride, which turned out better anyway because Trent has a bunch of friends over.” I glance again at the extra cars in the driveway.
    â€œOkay. Well, thank you, Justin.” Uncle Rob’s eyes go back to him. “You’re Tom’s son, right?”
    â€œYeah,” Justin answers.
    I’m standing next to him now and he smiles at me again. His smile sends these happy warm tingles all through me. It’s kind of strange to have a boy like him like me. He has to like me, right? Isn’t that what feeling this excitement is all about?
    â€œI’ll see you at school tomorrow.” He waves and climbs back into his