Summer Reading is Killing Me (Phee Jefferson Book 2) Read Online Free

owner had installed
central air. I adored all things from the early part of the twentieth century,
but I am a huge fan of cool air on a muggy summer day.  
    I pulled my cell phone from my front pants pocket
and dialed Clint’s number. His message played and the sound of his deep, husky
voice sent a little thrill through my body. I left a message. “Hey you. You
must still be in class. Had some excitement here today and wanted you to hear
it from me first. Call me when you get a chance. Love you.”  I hung up and
set the phone on my coffee table.
    I heaved a sigh and decided I better jump in the
shower before heading to the movies with Grant. The cool water washed away the
day’s exhaustion and book grunge. Wrapped in a towel, I picked through my
closet and pulled out a navy sundress splashed with white daisies. I put on a
pair of espadrilles and the small white gold heart necklace studded with blue
sapphires that Clint had given me for Valentine’s Day. I left my long, red
curls loose around my shoulders and added a swipe of mascara and a touch of
peach lip gloss. Eyeing myself in the mirror, I decided the outfit said movies
with a friend and not date. After last year, I didn’t want misunderstandings
between Grant and me.
    The doorbell rang, and I grabbed my purse and
headed to the door. I stepped outside and Grant gave me a hurt look. “You won’t
invite me inside?” 
    Suppressing a nervous titter I said, “I’m ready,
and I haven’t been out to a movie in a long time. Let’s just go.” An awkward
moment lay between us. The last time I watched a movie with him was right
before his mother whacked me in the head with a shovel then tried to poison me.
“What are we going to see?” I gave him a bright smile to hide my discomfort.
    “We only have two choices. One is an action film
that involved race cars and fiery explosions. You would hate it, so we’re
watching  African Queen.”  Grant
opened the passenger door of his sports car, and I slid into the soft
buttery leather seats.
    “I love Katherine Hepburn. I haven’t watched that
movie in years. Perfect choice.” This time the smile I offered him was genuine.
He eased the car onto the road and ten minutes later we were pulling up to the
theater.
    “Listen, Phee , this
isn’t the time or the place, but I’m sorry for what my mother did to you and to
the people here in Miller’s Cove. I needed to apologize and have you forgive me
before I leave. A law firm in Burlington offered me a position, and I accepted
it.” He pushed a hand through his blond curls. 
    “I don’t know what to say. I understand it’s hard
to live here after everything that happened, but you just bought a house and
started at the firm a year ago. Are you sure?”
    “I’ve thought about it, and it would be best for
everyone. The law firm has suffered because of me. To be truthful, they’ve been
decent about the whole situation. I haven’t put in enough billable hours because
of all the time spent getting my mom institutionalized. Everyone looks at me
and wonders if I’m like her. Next thing you know, they’ll accuse me of killing
the girl in the park.” I tried to protest, but he put his hand up to stop me. “ Phee , say what you want, but the taint of what my mother
did will always follow me. Heck! I couldn’t get a date with anyone here in town
if I paid them.” 
    “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you have to leave and
sorry I haven’t been a friend to you through all of this.” Grabbing his hand, I
asked, “Forgive me?”
    “Nothing to forgive. It’s time for me to move on.”
He squeezed my hand and sat up straight. “Enough of the gloom and doom twins
act. Let’s go have Jujubes, slushies and one last
movie together before I leave.”
    My eyes welled up, and I turned away. I had been a
crappy friend to Grant. I had been through a lot in the past year, but friends
and family surrounded me through all of it. Whenever I seemed upset or afraid,
someone told