Free Montana Skies (You, Me and the Kids) (Harlequin Superromance, No 1395) by Kay Stockham

the windows to see him when he drove up unless she wanted him getting out of the police car and coming in after her. Why couldn’t he drive a normal car when he wasn’t working?
    â€œHi.”
    No answer. Caroline tilted her head and that’s when she noticed the girl’s boot moving steadily back and forth. She stretched out a hand, hesitating a second before tapping her on the shoulder.
    The girl jumped and turned her head, yanking the tiny earphones from her ears. “What?”
    Caroline swallowed. “Hi…um, can I sit with you?”
    The girl stared at her a long time and then shrugged.
    Caroline stepped around the chair and dropped her book bag on the floor beside the block table. “I wanted to call you, but I didn’t—I didn’t have your number,” she said, knowing the excuse was lame. “I’m Caroline.”
    The girl’s black lips turned down in a frown. “Skylar.”
    â€œI know. It’s such a cool name. I hate mine.”
    â€œChange it.”
    She stared at her, wondering if she’d ever have the nerve. “You have be eighteen to do that. Besides, it’s a family name. My dad’s mom’s. She died when my mom was pregnant with me.”
    Skylar blinked at her. “Don’t change it then. Just get a name book and see if there’re any nicknames for yours.”
    â€œOh.” She hadn’t thought of that. Her time at the library had been spent poring over teen magazines on everything from hair and makeup to articles about sex and what guys liked. Tomorrow she planned on grabbing a couple more adult ones and trying to find a nice place in the back to read them before Mrs. Keenan showed up for the evening shift and watched over all the kids like the book police. “Yeah, maybe. Anyway, I—I wanted to say thank you. For today.”
    No response again.
    She squirmed in the chair. “I’m sorry you got into trouble. Mandy is my friend but—”
    Skylar snorted. “Nobody who says stuff like that is your friend. You need to stand up for yourself and tell her to quit putting you down.”
    Caroline pulled at her shirt to straighten it. “I know. She used to be my friend, though, and I guess I feel bad because I don’t want to be mean to her even though she is to me. Stupid, huh?”
    â€œIt is if you want to get slammed every day.”
    Caroline stiffened. “You didn’t have to take up for me.”
    â€œYou like getting pushed around?”
    â€œNo, but…I’m sorry you got into trouble, okay?”
    â€œI’m used to it.”
    She looked like she was. Caroline remembered Skylar’s face when the principal had given her another week of detention right there in front of everyone. She hadn’t even blinked, but if Mr. Kline had said that to her, she knew she’d have bawled. Mandy really would’ve made fun then.
    Caroline shifted in the uncomfortable chair and wished Skylar would smile or something. She should’ve gone outside to wait even though her dad told her not to because it wasn’t safe. It wasn’t like she was a kid who had to watch out for perverts or anything. Besides, who’d want her? She was ugly. Her mouth too big, her legs too short, her body too skinny and covered with ugly freckles. And how could she ever forget about the hair? She knew that somehow she was related to Carrot Top.
    â€œI used to eat lunch with Mandy,” she murmured, trying to make conversation, “but now I eat by myself. Maybe we could, I don’t know, sit together tomorrow? If you want.”
    The girl stared at her, her black-lined eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Whatever.”
    Caroline smiled, then felt stupid. She was such a geek. Biting her lip, she looked down, hesitant. “My dad won’t be here for a little bit. Want to help me find a name book?”

CHAPTER FIVE
    J ONAS HAD JUST sat down at one of the counter stools in