Page 6 (2/2)

I wanted to go lie down next to him I wanted to feel his arms wrapped around me and discover what his lips taste like I wanted to tell him I had been secretly in love with hi I could do I hit him in the head with Guido, my sockthe bottom of his T-shirt to ride up and reveal a sliver of bare sto out

"Charlie, what are you doing in elʼs rooht"

Well, if he felt that way about it

No, Scout Bad Think of so?"

Charlie was Jaseʼs best friend and paternal cousin He lived with the rest of the Hagan clan near the Army Base, but spent asto breakthree hundred miles away

"Pack, shmack Iʼll do it later I wanted to see how your first day of school went" I plopped down on the bed Althoughso close to Charlie, I knew that he thought nothing of it To him I was just like a sister Or, at least, a cousin

"School sucks Iʼ a truck stop waitress I think Iʼll change et a really bad perm Flo the truck stop waitress with a bad pere of life" Charlie reached over and put a consoling ar his words overheart "Was it Goat Girl? Do you need me to kick her ass for you?

I irls, but Iʼll make an exception" Goat Girl hat Charlie and I called Ashley Johnson It was because when you actually took the tioat with her little ru two classes plus lunch with her doesnʼt add up to happy, happy fun"

"Then what is the proble open and in irl: pink skirt, pink top, pink sandals, and a pink bow keeping her bouncy, blond curls pulled back froel yelled at the top of her lungs "Heʼs in bed with Scout!" My parents adore my six year old sister, positive that she is the most perfect child to have ever been born Jase and I ether?" Angel asked, shooting Charlie andlook

"Because itʼs the most co to feel guilty

"Why is his arm around you?"

"Because my first day of school sucked"

"You shouldnʼt say ʻsuckedʼ Itʼs a bad word"

"Iʼonna tell Mom"

"Go ahead See if I care" These little talks with one on for hours, but Jase calass ofthe snack over to Angel "Hereʼs your reward