Between Us and the Moon Read Online Free Page B

she says.
    Mom slaps Dad a second time; he jumps in his seat.
    “What’s happening?” he asks.
    “Tucker and Bean broke up,” Scarlett says. With a crane of her neck, she tries to meet Dad’s eyes in the rearview mirror. I rub the hem of the Pi Nary T-shirt again. Didn’t I ask her not to say anything? Whenever she is the littlest bit offended, she turns on me.
    “What did Bean break?” Dad asks.
    Mom shakes her head, “Forget it, Gerard.”
    “Who’s broke?” Dad asks. His long hair sticks out so far on his head it comes out on both sides of the headrest. It’s like he put his finger in an electrical socket.
    “Tucker and Bean,” Mom says. “They broke up. I have to call Carly.”
    “No, you don’t!” I say. “You don’t need to tell Carly everything.”
    “She’s my best friend, Bean. She might already know.”
    I want to bang my head against the window.
    Mom’s cell phone pad makes little annoying tones as she hits the keys.
    “While you two are discussing my break up, maybe you could casually mention the party. That way Tucker doesn’t have to come if he doesn’t want to,” I offer. “You know, give her an out.”
    I wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for Scarlett opening her big mouth.
    “I invited Carly and Bill to the Cape for Scarlett’s going-away party months ago. They already got Tucker a tux.”
    “Oh yes,” I say with a groan and sit back in my seat. “I know. I was there.”
    “It’s not like I asked for the party,” Scarlett says.
    My sixteenth birthday is a week away and I’m not getting a big party. I wouldn’t want one, especially without Gran; she and Nancy don’t exactly get along.
    “I have an idea for you, Mom,” I say, turning my head tomy sister. “Why don’t we let Scarlett make the call to Carly and Tucker? She’s apparently an expert on my love life.”
    Scarlett rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t flatter yourself, Bean.”
    I clench my jaw.
    “Can we not talk like that to one another, please?” Mom says. The beeping on her cell phone keypad continues.
    “Actually,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, “I didn’t get a chance to break up with him first, but it was my idea.”
    The shame of the lie burns and I try to hide my face by turning away to the window. I know my cheeks must be red. I don’t like to manipulate the truth. Science is the search for absolute truth, but this is different. I’ve had enough criticism over the last two days.
    Scarlett nudges me with the tips of her cold feet. I don’t look at her. She nudges me again.
    “You are the worst liar,” Scarlett whispers. “I saw your face last night.”
    I lean my head back and keep my eyes away from my sister. The massive Bourne Bridge looms ahead. I can’t wait to get out onto the beach and track my comet. Tucker thinks he has a shot at the Waterman Scholarship too. Hell no. I’ll win the scholarship and get my tuition paid in full at Summerhill for junior and most of senior year. Summerhill Academy, the place where guilt was born. Because Aunt Nancy has had to pay for it since eighth grade when I transferred from public school. I scoot down in my seat. I hate admitting it, but this shirt is from eighth grade.
    “I don’t know, Mom,” Scarlett says, responding to somethingI didn’t hear. “Why do I have to know everything? I have my own life to worry about.”
    I press the button for the window and it slides down. The rushing of the wind drowns out the chatter about my breakup.
    I slide my cell phone out from my back pocket. No calls from Tucker.
    It’s weird not texting him from the car or hearing the ding of his messages. The wind whips my hair around my cheeks.
    I can’t help wondering if Tucker misses me. Maybe if Mom does tell Carly that Tucker doesn’t have to come, he’ll come anyway, just to see me. I roll my eyes at myself. It’s best not to wish for something that won’t happen.
    Why didn’t I see it? I blink a few times, my vision going all