A Measure of Love Read Online Free

his mouth shut and left with his tail between his legs.
    “Come on,” Tate said, gesturing with his hand toward the cab. “We need to move. It’ll be okay.”
    Riley hoped his brother was right because, if he was truly honest, it wasn’t the thought of seeing just their father that caused his heart to pound.

 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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    Twenty-one years ago . . .
    He’d watched for three days before she spoke to him.
    He’d just completed second grade and it was summer vacation. Each day, he’d make excuses to his parents about going to the park—which was five minutes away and was the only place he was allowed to go sans brothers but “for no longer than thirty minutes”—riding his way to her house and standing at his spot by a tree across the street from it, his bicycle between his knees, watching the fascinating blonde girl dance around her front yard.
    She had a dog and a little sister, whom she played with a lot. They looked like they got along really well, which confused Riley since he and his brothers were always wrestling and falling out. Especially he and Dex. Dex was the oldest and thought he could boss Riley, Tate, and Seb around. Seb called Dex a jerk. Last time he had, Mom had overheard and grounded him for the weekend. They’d learned that whispering or using hand gestures was a far safer way of insulting their brother.
    Today the girl had a water gun, which she aimed at trees, squirting leaves before turning on the hanging plants outside her front door. She was a good shot, too. Much better than he was. She’d pump the pistol, cock her head, close one eye, stick out her tongue, and fire, giving a huge fist pump every time her aim hit true.
    He had a water gun at home and he wondered if she’d mind him joining in. He was busy considering how he would approach her and ask, wondering why that thought made his belly feel funny, when he noticed she’d stopped shooting and was staring at him from across the street, her hand above her eyes, shielding them from the sun.
    He froze, like a rabbit caught in headlights, and began fiddling with the handlebars of his bicycle. In his periphery, he saw her start to walk in his direction, stopping at the curb, not crossing over, placing her hands on her hips.
    “Hey you!” she called, the water gun upside down at her side causing water to drip down her leg. “Hey boy!”
    He looked up, his tongue in knots, his eyes darting around her before pointing at himself in question.
    “Yeah, you. Are you lost?”
    He noticed how loud her voice was, despite her size. He shook his head.
    “Are you homeless?”
    He frowned and shook his head again.
    “Are you a weirdo?” He blinked and she smiled. “Do you live in that tree? You’re there a lot.”
    His cheeks flamed with embarrassment. It’s not like he’d tried to hide, but her noticing him made him feel a little silly.
    “Do you play water pistol?” She rested the gun on her hip. All she needed was a cowboy hat to complete the look.
    He nodded this time.
    “Can you talk?”
    He kept his mouth closed and nodded again.
    “Are you allowed to cross the street?”
    He glanced down the street knowing that he wasn’t really allowed, but it was quiet and no one was around. He nodded.
    “Well, don’t just stand there. Come and play!” She lifted the gun and fired. As powerful as the pistol seemed, the water only just skimmed the toe of his sandal, sprinkling his toes.
    He smiled wider and maneuvered his bike, pushing with his feet instead of pedaling, and made his way across to her. As he got closer, he realized how bright her eyes were, like the summer sky above them, and that her hair wasn’t just blonde but white and gold and shimmery like the pond in their backyard. He’d never seen anything quite like it. On one of her arms he saw