Four Letters in Reverse (FLIR #1) Read Free Page A

God, this is not a Jade and Reed situation. He’s just a boy. That is all.”
    That I may or may not have a teensy weeny crush on.
    “You keep telling yourself that.”
    “So where are we going?” I asked, trying to change the subject. “The mall? My friends are there. The movies?”
    “Gag me, AB. Just gag me.” She narrowed her eyes. “Did you just say mall? Have I not taught you anything these past months? The mall is evil . They exist merely to make you mad that you can’t find anything then take away all your money.”
    I shrugged. “I like the mall.”
    “You’re just like Kimber,” she huffed, referring to our cousin. “Next, you’ll tell me you still like the color pink.”
    I did still like the color pink but I said nothing. She didn’t have to know that. “So the movies then?” I asked hopefully.
    She eyed me suspiciously but remained silent about the matter, and slowly nodded.
    “Sure thing.”
    To my delight, we ended up going to the drive-in and I was so stoked about that. The weather was thankfully amazing, despite the heaps of melting snow, and I was definitely looking forward to summer.
    We stood in line at the concession stand together and ordered a humongous bag of popcorn, large drinks, and nachos with cheese. Just cheese, salsa was eww.
    I was glad Jade agreed.
    We got comfortable in the car and I turned to find Jade staring off into space. She did that a lot, stare off into La La Land. I had asked Mom about that once and she had mentioned something about baby brains.
    “Jade?”
    “Huh?” She turned to me, one brow raised. “What’s up?”
    “You know how I like when you tell me stories about you and Reed?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, do you mind telling me another one before the movie starts?”
    She studied me. “It sounds like you’re looking for something in particular.”
    I scrunched up my face then finally blurted, “How do you know that Reed likes you?”
    This was the first time I had seen Jade look dumbfounded. She glanced down at herself. “We are seriously not about to have the birds and the bees convo right now, are we? Don’t they teach you that shit in school?”
    I blushed. “Jade!” I slapped my palm against my forehead in embarrassment.
    She shrugged. “What? I’m inept at this.”
    “Yes, they teach us that tish at school.”
    “ Tish? I’m not following.
    “You know,” I said with a shrug. “I’m trying to swear without actually swearing. Tish.”
    “You mean shit,” she said bluntly.
    I winced. “I think I have a better way of saying it.”
    “Tish,” Jade repeated like she was trying foreign food for the very first time. “I’ll have to work on that.”
    “And I’m not talking about the physical,” I said, trying to get our conversation back on track before the whole shit/tish discussion. “I’m talking about the emotional. How did you know he liked you?”
    “Wow,” Jade said. “You sure like to ask me deep questions, don’t you?”
    “You’re my sister. You’re supposed to provide me with all the answers to the world. I’m at a very impressionable time in my life right now, and I need guidance.”
    “Do I have to?”
    “Yes,” I answered firmly.
    “Gah.” She stuck her tongue at me and I returned the favor.
    Then her face got serious as she looked reflective. “I love Reed, always have and always will. There’s something about having that person in your life that knows everything about you without you having to explain anything. It’s this comfort, that despite of all the,” she paused, staring at me hard, “ tish going on, you know in the end that everything will be okay. Reed has seen the worst of me and he still loves me, and vice versa. And when he looks at me I instantly turn to mush. It’s the way he looks at me,” she sighed, smiling softly to herself. “Like … like—”
    “Like you’re an alien?”
    She eyed me like I had two heads. “Well, I never thought of it quite like that, but sure. Whatever