Because I Love You Read Online Free Page B

decided it did not want turkey. As soon as the scent of lunch meat hit my nose, my gut punched the reject button. Jumping out of my chair, I dropped the sandwich on the table and ran for the nearest trashcan, my hand clasped over my mouth. I reached the rubbish just in time to avoid vomit shooting between my fingers.
    As my body emptied its contents, I squeezed my eyelids closed. The gazes of my schoolmates burned into me. Someone touched my arm.
    “Hey, you okay?” Carter asked.
    Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I turned and pushed him away. First, the answer to that question was an obvious “no.” But, second, I didn’t want him asking if I was fine. I didn’t want him anywhere near me. This was his fault. He was the one who told me he loved me. He was the one who kissed me. And he was the one who sobered up the next morning and told me we should just be friends, for Heather’s sake.
    Heather grabbed my arm. “I got this.”
    She led me to the bathroom before any tears fell and I made a bigger scene than I already had. Heather tucked me in a stall and instructed me to “get it all out” while she ran to her car for a toothbrush. I knelt with my arms wrapped around my waist and heaved until my throat was on fire. Grabbing a huge wad of toilet paper, I wiped my lips and flushed.
    Heather leaned against the sink when I exited the stall, twirling a toothbrush in her fingers. She stared at me, her head slightly tipped and an eyebrow raised.
    “Sorry.” I took the toothbrush and toothpaste from her hands and avoided meeting her stare in the mirror as I brushed my teeth.
    “Don’t apologize to me. I’m not the one you pushed in front of the whole school. You know he’s going to ask me what the hell that was about.”
    “You promised you wouldn’t say anything to him.”
    Heather raised her hands in exasperation. “What do you think he’s going to do, Andie? Slap a big W on your chest and paint whore across your locker? This is Carter , your best friend. I know you’re freaking out, but don’t take it out on him.”
    I rinsed my mouth and spit into the sink, my insides still in a knot. “I didn’t mean it, I swear. I just . . .” I shook my head, unable to tell her the truth. I wanted to. God, I wanted to. But the words stuck in my throat.
    Heather sighed. “Fine. I won’t spill the beans. But you know he’s going to be pissed if he finds out from someone else.”
    “I know.”
    She handed me a long strip of paper towel, and I asked, “Do you always keep a toothbrush in your car?”
    Heather looked at me like I should’ve known better. “Well, yeah. Having an older brother in college comes with its perks, if you know what I mean.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
    How was I the one who’d ended up pregnant?
    I shook my head on our way back to lunch, and only little snickers flew at me from a few of Beth’s friends—and one person asked if I’d boarded the bulimia train. Though comments like that usually bothered me, I preferred they thought I stuffed my fist down my throat to stay skinny.
    When the final period ended, I traipsed to my locker, wandering the halls to delay today’s after-school activity. I took my time cramming my homework into my backpack and fiddling around with the makeup kit I kept at school.
    “Are you going to tell me what happened at lunch?” Carter’s voice startled me.
    I forced myself to gently close my locker door. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t about you.”
    He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Then what’s going on? Did something happen at home? Heather said you were fine, but she was obviously lying.”
    I shook my head. “It’s nothing like that. Look, I have to go, but I’ll call you later.”
    I peeked over my shoulder as I hurried to leave. Carter’s hands rose in the air, and he spun around, marching down the hall to the football team’s locker room. I bit my lip and pushed open the doors leading to the parking lot.

chapter four

    “You have the