I Still Do Read Online Free

desktop. Then they moved on to straightening the pens and pencils in a nearby mug.
    Understanding dawned. “It’s the Danielle Phillips thing, isn’t it?” he said, shaking his head. “It’s the Danielle Phillips thing all over again.”
    Emily looked up at him, surprise written on her face. “I haven’t thought of Danielle Phillips in years.”
    â€œBut this is just like that. You used to avoid unpleasant subjects, hoping they’d just go away. Remember? You knew Danielle Phillips was stealing things from your cabin, you actually found your favorite necklace under her pillow, but it took you forever to do anything about it.” Exasperated, he glared at her. “Damn it, Emily, you should know by now that some things have to be faced head-on.”
    â€œIt was my favorite necklace because you’d given it to me.”
    Just like that, three-quarters of his bad mood evaporated. He’d brought her the necklace their last summer together as a belated birthday gift. It was nothing original—a sterling silver heart strung on a matching chain—but he’d agonized over it like no gift before or since. On the back he’d had their names engraved. Will + Emily.
    He shook his head to dislodge the memory. He didn’t want to be Will + Emily. He’d been Will + for the last thirteen years. Will + Siblings. Will + Responsibilities. Will-all that was what he wanted for himself. Now single Will sounded good. Unencumbered Will sounded even better. Wild Will best of all.
    Surely Emily would understand that their quickie marriage needed to end with just the same amount of speed.
    â€œEm…”
    â€œWill Dailey!”
    At the sound of the familiar voice, he squeezed shut his eyes, doing an Emily in hopes that the unpleasantness could be avoided. But he’d had thirteen years of practice knowing that whether it was a pile of dirty laundry or an empty gas tank in the family car, most things wouldn’t go away on their own. He turned to confront his sister, Jamie, barreling down on him.
    She had a toddler’s hand clutched in hers. On her hip, the baby was chewing its little fist, and drool was running from the wet skin to collect on his sister’s shirt sleeve. “You!” Jamie said, coming toe-to-toe with him. “In a library?”
    Without a by-your-leave, she passed the infant over to him. He accepted the warm bundle—did he have a choice?—and remained stoic as Baby Polly started gumming his shoulder instead of her own fist. His nephew flung himself at Will’s knees and wrapped around his legs like a parasitic vine.
    â€œTodd,” he said, wincing. “Be careful. The only toe-holds in Uncle Will’s shins are the ones you dug into his bones the last time we were together.”
    Jamie’s hands were free to be propped on her hips. “I’m so glad I ran into you. None of us have seen you in ages and I wanted to ask you something.”
    â€œNo. I have to work.”
    She frowned, and brushed a strand of her boy-cut hair off her forehead. “When do you have to work?” she asked, a suspicious note in her voice.
    â€œAny time you need me to babysit, or help build a fence, or assist in painting your family room.”
    â€œWill…”
    That plaintive note in her voice was not going to move him. Didn’t she get it? Hadn’t she been listening? He’d made it clear to every single one of them that the minute his youngest sister was on her own he wanted to be on his own, too. He’d managed to avoid most of his siblings all summer. Ducking out of barbecues and Sunday dinners, and even one birthday party—his. He’d asked for solitude as his gift from the sibs.
    Well, solitude of a sort. More than once, he’d gone out for beers with his buddies from the station and had spent the evening contemplating the joys of taking home one of the very lovely ladies he’d spotted