Promise Me Something Read Online Free Page B

least it wasn’t pizza.
    I startled when I heard Lucy call from the front door, “Reyna! It’s for you!” I stood and walked out of my room, confused. Did she want me to pay the delivery guy?
    But as I rounded the corner and looked down the hallway, my heart leapt. Abby, not the delivery guy, stood in the doorway with Tupperware in her hands. Her long cinnamon-brown hair was pulled into a ponytail with little wisps flying around her face. Outside, Mrs. Stewart waited in their minivan, the engine still running.
    “Abby!” I called, rushing to the door. “What are you doing here?”
    “I can’t stay,” she said. “But I brought your favorite.” She indicated the Tupperware.
    “Chocolate toffee bark?” I took the container from her and peered inside. Sure enough, it was filled with slabs of caramelized dark chocolate. Leaning in to squeeze her around the shoulders, I said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
    “They’re just leftovers,” said Abby. But she was grinning, and I had a feeling she’d baked them just for me. I missed her so much right then. I wanted to drag her to my room and never let her leave. We’d talk for hours just like we used to, analyzing our old teachers and naming our future children. Then we’d watch American Idol with Dad. He would stick up for all the terrible singers while Abby and I booed them. Lucy would leave, and everything would be back to normal.
    But at that moment, the delivery guy pulled into our driveway and honked. Mrs. Stewart was in his way. “I better go,” said Abby, leaning in to hug me again. There were strands of golden retriever hair stuck to her fleece jacket from her dog, Gizmo. The familiarity of it made my throat squeeze up.
    “Can’t you stay for dinner?” I asked. “We’re having Chinese food.”
    Abby turned to face the driveway. From the front seat of her car, Mrs. Stewart held up her wrist and tapped the face of her watch.
    “She can wait five minutes. Let’s go to your room,” Abby said, grabbing my wrist. “I have something to show you.”
    I followed as she tugged me down the hall. She was already taking out her phone and scrolling through the photo library by the time we got to my room. “You’re not going to believe this,” she said, holding out her phone so I could see the screen. “Look what Leah got this morning when she was supposed to be in science with me and Madison.”
    I stared at a photo of someone’s ankle with seven pink stars drawn in the shape of the Big Dipper. Then it hit me. “Is that a tattoo ?”
    Abby nodded.
    “Oh my God.” I felt my mouth drop open. “How—where did she—”
    “Micah,” said Abby. That was all the explanation I needed. Micah was Leah’s older brother, and he had six tattoos of his own. He probably knew just where to take her that didn’t require parental permission.
    “Wow,” I said. “How is Madison taking it?”
    “Oh, you know Madison.” Abby cracked a smile. “She practically threw a tantrum.”
    I tried not to laugh. After all, it wasn’t funny. Madison and Leah were planning to get matching tattoos when they turned eighteen. For Leah to get one first was unheard of.
    “Anyway, I have to go,” said Abby. “I just wanted to show you the photo.”
    “Her mom and dad must be pissed too,” I said. I didn’t want Abby to leave. I wracked my brain for something else to talk about—some reason she should stay.
    “Not as much as Madison.” Abby smiled. “But anyway, don’t tell them I showed you the picture. Leah wants to show you herself.”
    Mrs. Stewart honked in the driveway.
    “Gotta go.” Abby leaned in to give me another hug. Then, before I could think of another excuse to delay the inevitable, she was gone.

    On Wednesday, Olive was in a good mood.
    “Rarrrrrr,” she said as I sat down next to her in home-room before the first period bell. “I hear you’re making a Power-Point presentation about my conquest of northeast Asia. Rarrrrrr.”
    I laughed.