If Only Read Free Page A

as far as I’m concerned, everything always gets done, but
I’m not as rigid as mom and Elena, so I don’t quite reach their standard. I am
more like dad. He always gets things done, too. I put three denim hot pants in
with the tees. Mom’s way ahead of me. Maybe this is useful, after all, at her
speed it’ll be done in no time, and I’ll have only done about a third of it. Nice going.
    “Where’s your sunscreen?”
she asks, while inspecting my toiletries on the floor. “Just because you tan easily it doesn’t mean you don’t need to protect your
skin.”
    I glance over at my pine
dresser. “There.” I point out. “You’ll notice I bought the best brand, I am
taking my skin care seriously.”
    She laughs to herself,
sounding lightly humored. “Whatever will you do without Nick?” she teases.
    “Miss him like crazy.”
That’s the only disadvantage to my vacation, but we all agreed it would be
girls only. I sigh at the thought of two weeks without my man. I already miss
him.
    Mom shakes her head, a soft,
affectionate smile shaping her lips. “It’ll be good for you to have some time
away from each other. It’s only been five months, and you think he’s the love
of your life already.”
    “That’s because he is. I
don’t need to be with him for longer to know that. And, before you say it, I
don’t need to be older to know it, either.” I put a pile of shorts and skirts
in with the other items, trying not to be offended by her words. I fail. “Would
you rather I sleep around then?”
    She stabs me with hard eye
contact. I know she doesn’t think that, I really shouldn’t have said it. Mom
always encouraged Elena and me to save ourselves for someone we love . I
did; Nick.
    “You met Dad when you were
eighteen, too, and you’re still together twenty-three years later.”
    “Yes, I did, but I didn’t
get serious about your dad so quickly, Callie.”
    “That’s probably because you
lived in Ireland. You couldn’t get too serious when most of the time you wrote
each other.”
    “Yes, but we got to know
each other well and at the same time had our separate lives and our own
experiences. It was a good year before I came here to live with my aunt, and
then we dated for six months before he proposed to me. Settling down and
marriage isn’t so urgent these days.”
    “Whoa, Mother, slow down,
we’re not moving that fast. We don’t even talk about that stuff, and I
wouldn’t do it now, anyway.” She sighs again and focuses on packing the clothes
she just folded. “I thought you liked Nick?”
    “Of course I do, but I want
you to enjoy yourself, not be falling in love when you’ve got so much to look
forward to. Nick’s five years older than you, he’s experienced more than you
have.”
    So it’s the age difference
that’s the problem. Makes more sense, because she knew my dad was the one
before she even knew his name. And she was my age. I get it now. “I’m not
rushing anything, honestly. At least he’s not like Ryan, he cheated on me with
his ex-girlfriend just because I wouldn’t–” I stop right there on that topic. I
may not have loved the douche, but I still felt betrayed. He still broke my
trust and hurt me, the fucking ass.
    “Yes, I know, sweetheart,
don’t get upset.” She rubs my thigh gently. “All I’m saying is your trip with
the girls is a good opportunity for you to do other things, with other people.
You’re both so wrapped up in each other. I just want you to make the most of
being young.”
    “I know and I will. I am.
I’m not gonna rush anything, and I have a bunch of fun stuff planned over the
summer, they don’t all include Nick. He’s also got motocross commitments, so
he’ll be away a lot during the coming months. I promise I’ll spend time with my
other friends, okay? I’m still with Su almost as often as I was before, that’s
never going to change.”
    She smiles and continues
with the task at hand.
    By the time we’ve finished,
everything I