Free Lie to Me (an OddRocket title) by Suzanne Brahm

stormed out of the restaurant. You didn't break anything. You didn't threaten anyone."
    "Have you?"
    He hesitated. "I've been known to ‘manufacture’ drama, or so I've been told. I'm not proud of it. I've made mistakes. Everyone has."
    "What kind of mistakes?"
    "The kind I don't like thinking about."
    "Sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to pry."
    "No, it's okay," he said. "The truth is, sometimes I've been known to drink too much." He held his hands to his cheeks in mock surprise. "I know… a shocker. Guy goes to college and spends more time drinking beer than studying."
    "But you still drink."
    "Give the girl a prize," he said. "I do, sometimes. I've got it under control. I just have to not drink too much."
    "Oh," I said. My heart raced. I felt like I'd pried, but I wanted to know RD's secrets. Somehow, knowing he didn't feel good about everything in his life made him seem even more compelling. He had this aura of control, but he had chinks in his armor just like everyone else and, RD trusted me with the truth. That was more than I could say about anyone else in my life.
    "We can't stay long, you know.” He scooted away from me, leaning his back against the door. "I know you don't want to go home right now, but eventually I'm going to have to take you there."
    "I know," I sighed and leaned back in my seat. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."
    "Yeah, I had this Sudoku puzzle I was going to work tonight all by myself and now it's just going to have to wait another day."
    I laughed.
    "You are making me believe my jokes are actually funny. You better be careful, my ego might get out of control here."
    "They seem funny to me."
    "Yeah, but you've had a seriously bad day, am I right?"
    "True."
    "The whole situation kind of freaked you out. The fight with your mom?"
    "Well, yeah," I said. I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned around so I could see him better. He hadn't shaved; soft stubble covered his chin and cheeks.
    "I don't know what's going on. Something's wrong with her and she's keeping secrets and it doesn't make sense. Mom doesn't yell at us, she doesn't take medicine and she never has headaches and she's been so weird lately, buying Coco Puffs and Addie's never ever in trouble and that is so not fair."
    "Breathe," he said. I saw his hand move as if he was going to reach for me, but he didn't. He stayed locked in place, leaning against the car door.
    "And what if there is something horrible going on and what if it can't be fixed?" A wave of tears surprised me and I clamped my hand over my mouth as if I could hold them back. "I didn't know I was going to cry," I said, trying to steady my breathing.
    "It's okay. You're all right," RD said. Suddenly, rain hit the window even harder than before, water covering the glass in sheets. I felt like we were in a car wash or sinking slowly below the sea. "We may drown, of course."
    I laughed and cried at the same time, wiping my eyes. "You're right, we could just die here in a flood."
    "I would haunt this park," he said. "I'd haunt every volleyball game or maybe the swing set over there."
    "Drowning would not be my preferred way to go," I said.
    “I don’t know, I’ve heard it’s kind of peaceful.” RD looked out into the rain. He scrunched up his face as if he was thinking of something unpleasant. "I don't know what is going to happen with your mom, Cassie, or what’s coming. Whatever your mom is dealing with, she'll tell you. She'll tell you when she's ready and you are going to be able to handle it.” He leaned toward me a little bit.
    "I can't handle my lying best friend and my ex-boyfriend had me running from the restaurant sobbing. I'm not exactly the poster child for coping."
    "Um, yesterday I watched you ritualistically throw a ring into the waves with the strength of a warrior."
    "That was embarrassing," I said, cringing.
    "No, it was smart. You knew you had to rid yourself of the past. Sometimes you just need a fresh start. Then today, you went sailing with me. You