Someday You'll Laugh Read Online Free

drive to Southern California alone and neither your dad nor I can take you.”
    “I know, but I could fly.”
    Mom’s eyes widened. “You’ve never flown before, and I’m not sure you need to start now.”
    “There’s a first time for everything.”
    Her pursed lips moved from side to side like a slow waltz. “I’ll speak with your dad, and in the meantime, you can find out how much a ticket costs.”
    In Mom language, that was a go. I gave her a quick hug. “I can pay for the ticket. I’ve got money saved.”
    I raced to my room to write Greg and tell him to set it up. I was coming.
    ****
    By Friday, all arrangements had been made. I was to fly out on Sunday afternoon and audition on Tuesday morning. I had set up a practice session with Paul for three o’clock on Friday, which was perfect timing. I needed to practice before my audition and accompanying myself had never worked well. I had chosen two songs — both of them from high school choir the previous year.
    When I arrived to practice, Paul was waiting at the entrance of the rehearsal room. He leaned against the door frame and watched me approach. His eyes roamed up and down my outfit. At first, I worried I’d spilled a blob of food goo down my shirt, but then my cheeks grew warm as realization dawned. He was admiring me. No matter. Soon I wouldn’t be around, and he’d never see me flush hot again. I’d be tucked safely away in California with Greg.
    “Hey, Greg’s girlfriend, how’s it going?” His voice was smooth, yet I could sense an underlying excitement.
    “The name is Brenda.”
    “Okay then, Greg’s Girlfriend Brenda . How’s it going?”
    He was teasing me now, and I was surprised to find I wanted to join him.
    “Maybe I should be calling you So-and-so’s Boyfriend Paul? Seems only fair.”
    He took a step forward and his blue eyes were playful. “Nope. Nobody’s boyfriend.” He ushered me into the rehearsal room with a gallant sweep of his hand.
    “You were fishing, I assume?” he asked, sitting on the bench and scooting himself up to the piano.
    “Fishing?”
    He twisted around, looked at me over his shoulder, and winked. “Trying to find out if I have a girlfriend.”
    I stepped back. “Hardly! Whoa, you’re conceited.” But of course, he was right — I had been fishing. I did want to know if he was attached — a senseless move because I’d be leaving soon, probably for good.
    I shook my head in what I hoped looked like disgust. “I don’t even like to fish. I need you to help me with these two songs.”
    Paul looked at the music. “These aren’t songs from your lesson.”
    “I know. I’m trying out for an ensemble in California, and these are my audition pieces.”
    Paul shifted on the bench and stared at me. “An ensemble in California? That’s quite a commute isn’t it?”
    I smiled, but for some reason my heart didn’t join in. “If I make it, I’ll be moving.”
    He nodded with slow deliberation. “Moving, huh? Well, that is news.”
    “Greg attends there, so it makes sense.”
    “But it didn’t make sense earlier when you enrolled here and not there?”
    “Getting into this ensemble means a sizable scholarship.”
    Paul’s eyes narrowed. “Ah, I see. It’s the money.”
    The way he said it, I felt like I needed to defend myself. “It’s not the money. I want to be with my boyfriend. As I said, it makes perfect sense.”
    As the words came out of my mouth, I knew I was lying. It was the money. Being with Greg was part of it, but I hadn’t made any big effort to follow him south before the scholarship came along.
    We glared at each other in silence. Then Paul scooted over on the bench to make room for me. “Sit here. You’ll be able to see the music better.”
    I sat down, and his closeness made my heart quiver. Our faces were only inches apart. He gazed at me with such intimacy I involuntarily scooted backward and nearly fell off the bench.
    “Maybe I shouldn’t sit since I’ll be