Free Forbidden Sister by V.C. Andrews Page A

grandfather was a general, maybe I should get a haircut before meeting your father.” He looked serious.
    “No,” I said emphatically. He had beautiful hair that had been cut in a layered style. Papa would criticize the way his hair fell over his eyes, but he wouldn’t say anything to him. He’d mumble about it to me, I was sure.
    Evan laughed. “I was just joking, but I do want to make a good impression.”
    “Just salute,” I said.
    “Really?”
    “No.” It was my turn to tease him.
    He realized it and laughed. “I’m glad you have a sense of humor, too,” he said. “Most of the girls at this school take themselves too seriously.”
    “Oh?”
    Out of the corners of my eyes, I could see the way the other students were looking our way and talking about us. Chastity was with some of the girls we usually hung with, but she looked as if she was sulking.
    “I haven’t dated too many from here,” he continued.
    I didn’t want to ask him any more about his love life. I recalled Mama once telling me in French that when a woman is with a man she likes, she shouldn’t talk about other women or ask about old girlfriends.
    “Even a flicker of a memory about another girl he liked is static on your radio,” she said. “Keep him tuned in to you.”
    She had been reading one of her favorite French romance writers, and when I asked her about the story, she told me that. I wondered if she had ever discussed such things with Roxy. If she had, did Roxy appreciate the advice or resent it? Was Roxy arrogant about men? Was this part of why she didn’t respect Mama enough, because Mama had fallen in love too soon for her liking? It was so hard to understand it all by only being able to read between the lines and guess and assume.
    Evan couldn’t walk me home after school. He said he had things to do at home, things he had promised his father he would do. He didn’t go into any detail, but I had the impression that it had to do with the mess his room was in.
    “I don’t want to get grounded tonight,” he added, and then, without any warning, he kissed me good-bye and told me in French that he would see me later.
    I watched him walk off.
    Apparently, I wasn’t the only one. Moments later, Chastity was at my side. “Don’t think just because he kissed you that he really likes you,” she warned.
    “Why are you so down on him? Whenever we talked about him before, you were complimentary. I think you even said he was dreamy or something.”
    “I’m not saying he’s not good-looking.”
    “And popular,” I reminded her.
    “And popular. But how come he’s so interested in you all of a sudden?”
    “Maybe he is taking advantage of me,” I said.
    “You think so?” Her eyes lit up with hope.
    “Yes, to learn French and do better in class.”
    “What?” She shook her head. She couldn’t see the small smile on my lips. “He’s not interested in your French. I heard some of the girls in his class talking about him today. He has a reputation for dating a girl for only one thing. If he can’t get it, he drops her fast.” I knew she was either lying or exaggerating. Her eyes were moving like pinballs, looking at everything but me.
    “Well, you’re the one who’s always telling me we should be as sexually liberated as the boys are.”
    For a few moments, her mouth opened and closed without making a sound. “You mean, you would . . . you would do it with him, maybe on the first date?”
    “I don’t know. Weren’t you the one who said that you read it’s usually impossible to plan these things? Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know,” I said.
    She was stunned enough to be quiet for the rest of the way until she had to cut off to go home. “I’m really worried about you,” she said.
    I patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll call you tomorrow to tell you how it went. I’ll tell you everything in detail,” I promised, actually offered as a peace token. She seemed happy enough about