Under Their Skin Read Online Free

must think Eryn and I are more like you than like her and Michael,” Nick said, trying to sound casual and offhanded and not like freaked-out Eryn. “Mom said we didn’t have anything in common with Michael’s kids. They must be too smart for us.”
    Will this work? Nick wondered.
    Dad had started driving again when the light turned green, but now he hit the brake so hard that Nick’s head jerked forward, and a car behind them honked its horn.Dad yanked the steering wheel to the right, pulling over to the side of the road. The car shuddered to a stop.
    Dad spun in his seat so he was facing Nick directly.
    â€œToo smart for you? Too smart for you ?” Dad repeated, his face turning redder and redder and his hair puffing out more than ever. “Don’t you ever let me hear either one of you say anybody is too smart for the Stone twins. You hear me? You two are plenty smart. You’re the perfect mix of your mother and me, so you’re good with both your heads and your hands.”
    It’s working, Nick thought.
    â€œYeah, but you have to say you think we’re smart and talented and all, because you’re our dad,” Nick said with a shrug. “Those other kids must be geniuses or prodigies or something.”
    Dad’s face was so red he looked like a tomato. But—this was weird—rather than going on shouting at Nick, Dad glanced cautiously out the window. They had pulled over right beside the park with the giant playground where Nick and Eryn had played when they were younger. Even though it was starting to get dark, there were still some moms and dads pushing little kids on swings or waiting at the bottom of the big curvy slides for their toddlers to come down.
    The next time Dad spoke, it was in a much softer voice. Could he possibly be afraid someone would overhear him? Why?
    It’s not a crime to tell your kids they’re smart, Nick thought.
    â€œMichael’s kids . . . they’re just different,” Dad said. “That’s all. It doesn’t mean anything bad about them or bad about you.”
    â€œWow, that really clears things up,” Eryn said sarcastically from the backseat. “So are you saying it’s being different that’s bad?”
    Dad shook his head like Eryn had confused him.
    â€œNo, no, differences are fine ,” he said. “Differences aren’t a problem at all. We need all sorts of different kinds of people in the world to make things work right. Like your mom and me. If there weren’t people like me, nobody would have a house. And if there weren’t people like your mom, kids wouldn’t understand their feelings. So—”
    â€œSo it’s just kids who are different who shouldn’t have anything to do with each other?” Eryn asked. “Kids like Ava and Jackson and Nick and me?”
    Dad ran his hand through his hair. Now it wasn’t just curly and wild; it also stuck up in odd places.
    â€œThis is really more your mom’s department thanmine,” he muttered. “Look, your mom and Michael are just trying to make the transition easier for everyone. You’re smart, good kids, and Ava and Jackson are smart, good kids, but you just can’t meet. Not until . . .”
    â€œUntil what?” Eryn asked, springing forward like a cat pouncing. “You’re saying the plan is for all of us to meet someday? When? Mom said we’d never have to meet those kids.”
    Nick turned around and glared at Eryn. Was she trying to get Dad to stop talking?
    Dad looked lost.
    â€œUm . . . maybe you should save your questions for your next phone call with Mom,” he said. He winced. “Or really, until you see her next Sunday night. Because it’s better to talk about difficult topics in person.”
    â€œRight, and you’re the person we’re with this week,” Eryn argued. “That’s why we’re talking