Thea at Sixteen Read Online Free Page B

yes.”
    â€œThank you,” Thea said. “I’ll see you on Monday, then.”
    â€œThank you,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Have a nice weekend.”
    Thea hung up the phone and wondered what she’d gotten herself into. Mrs. Chambers was about to nominate her for sainthood when all she’d done was what Nicky had told her to do. She wished the idea had been hers to begin with. It felt uncomfortable getting credit for something that had been imposed on her.
    Nicky wasn’t even in the living room as she walked out, so she went back to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of milk, and cut a slice of the zucchini bread Megs had baked the day before, and carried them up to her bedroom. Evvie was lying on her bed, ignoring the dozens of half-packed boxes that surrounded them both.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Thea said as she sat down on her bed, balancing the milk and bread carefully.
    â€œSorry about what?” Evvie asked. “Boy that looks good. I’m going to miss Megs’s cooking when I go away.”
    â€œSorry that I made you and Nicky fight,” Thea replied. “Would you like some?”
    â€œThea, if I want any bread, I’m perfectly capable of getting it for myself,” Evvie said. “You don’t have to offer me sacrifices.”
    â€œI didn’t mean to,” Thea said. “It’s just that it’s a big piece and I thought you might like some. That’s all.”
    â€œOh, Thea,” Evvie said with a sigh. “I’m the one who’s sorry. You have nothing to apologize for.”
    â€œI know you think you have to protect me sometimes,” Thea said. “I guess I like it that you do. Sometimes I envy Sybil because she has all of us to protect her. You don’t have anybody. I mean, I’ll protect you, but it’s not the same as having a big sister.”
    â€œI don’t need protecting,” Evvie said. “And you don’t, either, Thea. I stepped in because Nicky drives me crazy sometimes, the way he orders all of us around. He even tries it with Claire, and Claire never does what you order her to do, so he’s crazy to approach her that way. But that’s how Nicky is sometimes. Crazy.”
    â€œI wish you wouldn’t talk that way about him,” Thea said. She took a large bite of bread, and washed it down with milk. “Nicky isn’t at all crazy. And you have to admit he loves us.”
    â€œOh, yeah,” Evvie said. “I admit that, all right.”
    â€œThen why do you sound that way?” Thea asked. “Like you know Nicky loves us but you don’t really believe it.”
    â€œBecause things aren’t as easy as you want them to be,” Evvie replied. “Thea, I love you, but the only person I’ve ever heard you say anything bad about is Claire, and Claire drives you so crazy it’s amazing you haven’t tried to murder her.”
    â€œI don’t understand,” Thea said. “What’s wrong with not saying bad things?”
    â€œNothing,” Evvie said. “But weren’t you angry at Nicky just now? He did force you into something you didn’t want to do.”
    â€œI know it seems that way,” Thea replied. “But he’s right about the family and how we all have to help out. And he’s right about you, too. You never used to talk to him the way you did today. But ever since you met Sam, you’ve had a different attitude about Nicky. Claire and Sybil have noticed it, too, and frankly, I don’t think it sets that great an example for them. Especially Claire. What is it about Sam that made you change the way you feel about Nicky?”
    â€œIt has nothing to do with Sam,” Evvie said. “At least not the way you think it does. But I’m not going into gory details now.”
    â€œI don’t know what I think,” Thea said, gulping down the rest of the bread and milk. “And I