A Proper Young Lady Read Free Page B

concern in her eyes surprises me. “Are you who you want to be?”
    Me? My gut sends a quiet snicker up my throat. Hardly. The stupid bike keeps my hands rough and my nails chipped. All the money I get I spend on parts. Would I rather be a princess like Danièle ? Well, yeah. Who wouldn’t? 
    After the Welles family moved away, rumors about the two of us spread. Without Dani’s friendship and encouragement, I went from wearing flowers in my hair to swearing and having fistfights with the bullies. All the taunts of the past five years sweep over me in an emotional tsunami. I try to hide my tears, but Dani pulls me close and holds me. “It’s all right. Be whoever you want. You’re still my friend.”
    I push away and start walking again—as much to flee the memories as to get home. When Dani catches up, she grabs my hand and pulls me to a stop. “Let’s find a used motorbike. All right?” 
    “Okay. Yeah. Tommy will know where to get the best deal.” A smile creeps back across my lips. Even if the girl isn’t serious, she distracted me long enough for the emotions to fade. Okay, so she might still be my friend.
    “Tommy?”
    “Yeah. Some guy I met at a motocross event Dad took me to last year.”
    “Boyfriend?”
    “Nah. Just somebody I hang out with.”
    As we cross San Amaro Drive, a car pulls out of my driveway. The house is still too far away to do more than guess what they wanted. I pick up the pace a little.
    “What’s up?” With her longer stride, Dani has no trouble keeping up.
    “Dunno. A delivery maybe.”
    We’re still a block from my home when I recognize something in our front yard—one of those fancy real estate signs on a wooden post. Selling the house can only mean one thing—Dad’s not coming home. “No!” A wave of adrenaline pushes me into a sprint that leaves my lungs burning and my heart pounding. “I told you not to go.” 
    “Melanie!” Dani catches up a breath later and grabs my arm. “What’s wrong?”
    “Yeah. For Sale. Stupid leaflets and all.” I throw myself against the post, but it won’t budge, so I beat at the sign with my hands till Dani grabs my shoulders and yanks me backwards.
    “Stop it!” She seizes me in a tight embrace before I can take a swing at her.
    “He has to come home.” My anger shatters. I press my eyelids closed to hold back the torrent of grief. Adrenaline fades and leaves my body trembling. After my diaphragm spasms end and my heart settles down, Dani releases me.
    The girl studies my face, the way she used to when we were little, like she can read my thoughts there. Dani appears about to lecture me, but only shakes her head. “You’re bleeding.”
    Inside, I scrub my hands while Dani rifles through the drawers in the master bathroom. She returns with antibiotic ointment and some bandages.
    The girl lays a towel across my hands and places a small bag of ice on top of each one. A mother’s concern shines from her eyes. “I don’t recall you having a hissy fit before.”
    It’s called puberty. Mood swings have tormented me for so long I’ve almost gotten used to the roller coaster ride. “It’s my stupid hormone medication. Tommy calls them my bitch pills. If I’m not yelling at him, I’m crying.” 
    I try to brush my runny nose against my sleeve. Dani gives me a look like I’m some disgusting little kid, grabs a paper towel from the kitchen counter, and wipes my nose and upper lip clean. I scowl at her, but tamp down my anger. “Thanks.”
    “Perhaps you should stop taking them.”
    If you were female, you’d understand.
    Pain flashes hot across Dani’s face, like she might have read my thoughts for real this time. At least I didn’t share them out loud.
    “My periods were wicked bad—cramps, bleeding, nausea. The PMS alone drove me nuts. Tommy says I was worse before I went on the pill.” 
    Eyes full of concern scan my face again. She takes a quick peek at my knuckles. “I assume you’ll want help fixing