Where the Road Takes Me Read Online Free Page A

scowled.
    I put my hand out for him to shake. I didn’t know if that was a thing that kids his age understood, but I didn’t know what else to do. “I’m Blake,” I told him. “And what’s your name?”
    He shut his eyes tight and counted to six, missing the five. Then he opened them. A smile quickly spread across his face. “I’m Sammy.” He looked down at my hand and slapped it. Giggling, he turned to Abby. “Is he your friend?”
    She smiled, but it was sad. “I guess.”
    “I didn’t know you had friends,” Sammy told her.
    She sighed then. “You better get inside before Mary realizes you’re gone.”
    He hopped off the swing seat awkwardly, causing it to glide backwards. And then he was gone, running up the steps to the front door, just as it swung open.
    He froze.
    “Inside!” A middle-aged woman whisper-yelled. I assumed that must be Mary.
    He ran in, ducking under her arm while her eyes searched the front yard. When she saw Abby and me, a different expression replaced the scowl on her face.
    Sadness. Sympathy. “Are you okay?”
    “Yes, I’m fine,” Abby replied quietly.
    Mary studied me quickly, before speaking to Abby, “When you’re done out here, come inside and get some clothes on.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Then she, too, was gone.
    Abby self-consciously tugged her skirt lower.
    “Abby . . .” I said cautiously. “What’s going on? Why did you want to lose yourself tonight?”
    “It’s the anniversary of my mom’s death.” She glanced up at me now. “I was having a really bad day, Blake. The kind of day where all I want to do is forget.” Her voice broke. A tear fell. She went to wipe it away, but I beat her to it. I didn’t remove my hand from her cheek. Not even when her eyes widened in surprise as I leaned in closer. She searched my face, begging for an explanation.
    “Do you think that’s what she’d want?”
    She sniffed. “What?”
    “Do you think that your mom would want you to try to forget her existence? Even just for one day? I don’t really know you, but from where I’m sitting, you turned out pretty well . . . and if she had anything to do with that, then maybe you should try celebrating her life, rather than trying to forget it.”
    She let it out now—the sob that had been brewing inside her. “I’m sorry,” I said in an effort to soothe her, but my words just made her cry harder. “I’m so sorry,” I repeated.
    She pulled back. Her hair caught in the wetness of her tears. “Where did you come from?” It wasn’t a question, though. More like a thought that needed to be voiced. Then she rubbed her nose against mine.
    And then it happened.
    The kiss.
    My eyes drifted shut. I could taste the saltiness from her tears. But the moment was over way too quickly. I was still frozen when she pulled away. Her breath brushed against my lips. Then the cold morning air replaced it. “Thank you, Blake.” My eyes snapped open. She was already on the steps, walking up to the door.
    I rushed over and took her hand. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”
    She turned to me and placed one hand on my cheek, rose up on her toes, and kissed the other. “It’s just one night, Blake. ” There she went, using that tone with my name again. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
    I blinked, confused, as she ran up the steps and into her house, closing the door behind her.
    What the hell had just happened?
    I sat in my car for a good ten minutes before finally starting the engine. I’d never felt anything like that before—that anxiety at the thought of never seeing her again. I took one last look at the house. The attic light was on. She was there, one hand raised, waving good-bye.

CHAPTER FOUR
    I lifted my head and reached for the phone on the nightstand. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep, but the ringing made my head pound. I knew it was Will, because he’d put some stupid rap song as his ringtone on my phone. It drove me crazy—which was why he’d