by L. M. Reed
Chapter 29
Dear Diary,
Finally, a trip to the zoo!
CeeCee
I pretended to be asleep for the first part of the trip from Austin to Dallas. Mom didn’t mind, she had her own private worries.
I could tell she didn’t want to talk to me about what had happened with her ‘friends’ the day before, simply asking me if Mark had explained. I nodded and she seemed satisfied. I felt for her, but there was nothing I could do to make things any better except be there when she needed me.
Maybe I was growing up. Mom and Mark would be relieved.
Thinking about Mark brought a smile to my lips. He had taken me at my word and with a vengeance. From the time church let out to the time Mom and I got into the car to leave for home, he hadn’t left me alone for a second claiming a brother’s privilege. The twins were disappointed not to have me to themselves, but Daniel smiled at me knowingly, not fooled for a second.
As the four of us squeezed into Mom’s car after lunch to drive back to the apartment, Daniel whispered in my ear, “Big brother won’t always be around to run interference,” he glanced pointedly at Mark and Nick, “either of them.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I was sure it wasn’t good and was bound to end up ticking Nick off…royally.
Sighing quietly, I wished that I could transfer my affection to Daniel. I might have stood a chance with him. Not that Daniel wasn’t attractive, he was every bit as good looking as Nick, but we were closer in age, and he was much less complicated.
After we’d dropped Mark and Nick off at their apartment, I settled down to get some shut-eye. I needed a nap—I had promised Nick I would take one in the car on the way home—so I gave up trying to figure anything out, and concentrated on the only thing that ever helped me get to sleep.
As I was drifting off, I was back in the arms I loved, swaying to the music…