Free So Over It by Stephanie Morrill Page B

hadn’t even cared enough to see what the deal was with Abbie and if she was okay. How insulting.
    “Oh, and . . .” Lisa’s tone turned serious. “I’m pretty sure Connor and Jodi are official now.”
    All thoughts of Eli evaporated. “Why do you say that?” “Madison and I were at Starbucks yesterday, and they were there too.”
    My heart rate returned to normal. “Coffee at Starbucks doesn’t equal dating.”
    “I was definitely picking up a vibe.”
    “What kind of vibe?”
    “Like a dating vibe.”
    I rolled my eyes at my reflection. “Were they, like, holding hands or anything?”
    “No, but you know how they are. They’re practically Puritans.”
    I thought of Connor’s mouth warm against mine. There’d been passion, but an understanding that it belonged to us and we’d stay in control.
    “They’re not Puritans.” I snapped shut my mirror. “They just believe in self-restraint.”
    “Whatever. Tell me about Hawaii. I have to vacation vicariously.”
    “Hawaii’s . . . great.”
    “Well, that’s convincing.”
    “No, it is. It’s beautiful. And there’s this guy who—”
    Abbie entered our room, bringing Owen and a ripe-smelling diaper.
    “A guy who what?” Lisa asked. “Did you meet a guy, Skylar Lynn Hoyt? No surprise. What’s he like? Is he a native? Because they’re so hot.”
    “I’ll call you back later,” I said and hung up.
    “Bet you’ll be glad when we leave and you can have a private conversation,” Abbie said as she stretched Owen out on the floor. “I’m so ready to get away from here. I don’t know how I’m going to put up with Grammy until Thursday. How will you do it all summer? Or more?”
    Before I could answer, Abbie turned her head. “You hear that?” She scooted closer to the vent. “It’s Mom and Grammy.”
    “Abbie, maybe we shouldn’t—”
    “They’re talking about you.”
    I crouched beside Abbie just in time to hear Mom say, “Skylar wanting to stay here has nothing to do with me and Paul.”
    “You’re lying to yourself,” Grammy said. “The only time children want to leave home is when there’s something wrong.”
    “She’s eighteen. She starts college this fall. It’s a perfectly normal time for a child to leave the house.”
    “What about Abbie? She wants to stay.”
    Abbie gaped at me. “I so do not .”
    “Shh,” I said.
    “No, Mom. Abbie used to want to come here, back when Paul and I were having problems. But she’s fine now, and she’s happy in Kansas.”
    “Until next time Paul hurts you,” Grammy said, her voice soft. Or maybe it just seemed that way because it filtered through the vent. “He always seems to hurt you.”
    “That’s life. That’s marriage. I’ve hurt him too. Haven’t you and Dad hurt each other?”
    “Never like this. Never where we had to get counseling.” “There’s nothing wrong with us getting counseling,” Mom said. “At least we’re willing to work things out. Not just bury our problems and hope they disappear.”
    “I don’t know what you’re implying, Teri, but I don’t like it.”
    “Then I think you do know what I’m implying.” The unmistakable sound of a chair sliding against the linoleum. “Skylar staying is her business and me going home is mine. Don’t try making either of them yours.”
    A few seconds later, the front door slammed.
    We stared at the vent until Owen fussed and Abbie had to tend to him.

    “No Justin today?”
    I turned and found Papa seated on the patio bench, hands occupied with an electronic poker game.
    “He’s working.” I took a seat next to Papa. Mom, Dad, Abbie, and I were headed down to the beach, but it looked like I was the only one ready.
    “Seems like a nice guy, Justin.”
    “Yeah, he does.”
    “’Course, that Connor fellow sounds nice too.”
    When I looked at him with wide eyes, Papa smiled. “That sister of yours likes to talk.”
    “Great,” I muttered and burrowed my back into the bench cushion.
    We sat in our