Shadow Keeper Read Free

turned you down?”
    I shook my head. “I turned her down.”
    “Yeah, right.” He let out a chuckle. “Like you’d turn down your first chance to get laid.”
    “You’re wrong. We went to a movie, and then I took her home.” I didn’t think his eyes could get any wider, but they did.
    “Why?” he asked.
    I shrugged while thinking how to explain it without sounding like a big wuss. I felt sorry for Regina. She wanted everyone to like her, but the way she chose to become popular only made the kids laugh at her behind her back. “All she talked about was the other guys she’d been out with.”
    “So?” Carson looked dumbfounded.
    “So, I didn’t want to be the guy she talks about on her next date with someone else. And I didn’t want to take advantage of her.”
    “Take advantage?” Paul’s dark eyebrows lifted. “She’s broadcast it all over school that she’s going to sleep with every senior on the football team. That’s her choice.”
    “Maybe, but I didn’t want to be the next guy on her list to end up with a stupid nickname.” I gave Paul a deliberate stare. “Did you know she calls you Minute Man ?”
    Paul shrugged as if unconcerned with his poor sexual rating. “I wasn’t trying to please her, only myself.”
    “Yeah, but Regina can’t keep her mouth shut,” I reminded him. “What are you going to do when the gossip gets back to Sherry?”
    His face scrunched into a grimace. “She’s already heard about my nickname, but I told her it was because Regina thinks I’m patriotic since I’m always wearing tee shirts with flags on them.”
    I shook my head. “I can’t believe Sherry would fall for a lame excuse like that. She’s not stupid.”
    “I know she’s not.” He glanced down. “But I’m tired of her always being suspicious of everything I do.”
    “Don’t you think she has good reason? Besides, there are only about forty kids in our senior class. Everybody talks to everyone else. She’s bound to find out the truth.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Paul said, but from the expression on his face, it did. “I’m probably going to breakup with her anyway. Sherry wants to stay a virgin until she gets married. I need a girlfriend who will give me more.”
    Carson snickered. “You mean like Regina?”
    Paul’s head snapped up, and he glared at him. “No, you dumbass. A nice girl like Sherry, but one who wants to do more than just hold hands.”
    “Good luck with that,” Carson said. “When word gets out that you were screwing around on Sherry, no nice girl is going to want you.”
    “Here she comes now,” Paul said in a hushed voice. “Everybody shut up about Regina.”
    We all clammed up and waited for Sherry. When she reached Paul, he put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. She turned her face and his kiss brushed across her short, brown hair. He released her without saying a word.
    “Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” Carson said. “You don’t need any extra sleep. You’re pretty enough already.”
    “Thanks.” Her lips curved into a smile. “You just made my day.”
    The conversation lulled, so I jumped in. “Hey, Sherry. Why’d you oversleep? Did you stay up all weekend studying for a big test?”
    “No, Brendon.” Her smile slipped. “I had things on my mind.”
    “You can’t call him Brendon , remember?” Paul made a weird sound, like a forced laugh. “He’s Smoochy Lips now.”
    “What?” I looked at Paul, not certain I’d heard him right.
    “From the look on your face,” Sherry said, “I’m guessing Paul hasn’t told you.”
    “Told me what?”
    “Let me tell him.” Paul stepped to the center of the group. “Regina gave you the nickname of Smoochy L—”
    “Please,” Sherry uttered between gritted teeth. “I do not want to hear her name, especially from you.”
    His shoulders slumped, and he glanced away.
    Carson didn’t seem to catch the tension between Paul and Sherry. “Smoochy Lips?” He burst into his donkey laugh.