Read Into the Deep 02 Out of the Shallows for Free Online

stifling a yawn. “I don’t know why I bothered.”
    He shot me a mock frown as he gestured to a nearby waiter. “Why, to accumulate great knowledge, of course.”
    I grinned at his faux uppity accent. “Oh, is that what I’m spending all this money on?”
    “That, and a little piece of paper that proves you’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars on an education Good Will Hunting got for a dollar fifty in late charges at his public library.”
    Rolling my eyes, I gave the waiter my coffee order and turned back to my boyfriend. “You’ve seen that movie way too many times.”
    Jake looked at me like I was nuts. “There’s no such thing.”
    “I guess not.” It was a pretty damn good movie. “How was class?”
    “Uh-uh.” Jake shook his head. “None of that. How did last night with your parents go?”
    Before I could tell him of the discussion that had left me bone weary, my phone rang. With a sigh, I pulled it out and winced at the caller ID. “You’re about to find out,” I mumbled. “My sister. I’ll be a sec.”
    Jake nodded, eyes curious, and I stood, answering my phone. “Hey, Andie,” I said quietly, moving through the small café to an empty spot in the corner.
    “Don’t you ‘Hey, Andie’ me,” my big sister snapped. “I just got off the phone with Mom and Dad. When were you going to tell me you were back with Jake?”
    “Today. I was planning on telling you today.”
    “Oh, now I feel better,” she replied. “It’s not like you haven’t been dating him for the past two months!”
    “Five weeks.”
    “Yeah, that makes it better.”
    “Andie, please—”
    “No, listen. I can’t let you make such a huge mistake. What the hell are you thinking?”
    My blood heated. “You can’t let me?”
    “Don’t get snotty. Charley, you’re not thinking clearly around this guy. Don’t you remember what he did to you? Don’t you remember how heartbroken you were?”
    Trying not to get mad in a public place, I bit my nails into my palm. “I’m not a silly child, Andie. I’m perfectly capable of making rational decisions—”
    “But—”
    “No ‘buts.’ He was seventeen and he made a mistake. I’m giving him a second chance. It would be nice if you’d support me on this.”
    “Support you?” Andie’s voice had quieted. “Supergirl, all I ever do is support you. However—and note that was not a ‘but’—I can’t support this decision. I don’t think you’re in a position to think rationally around Jake.”
    Not at all happy with her reaction, I felt queasy as well as angry. “Stop being condescending. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Your whole family doesn’t agree with this, Charley. Doesn’t that tell you something? Mom told me how last night’s conversation went down.”
    Yeah, that had not gone… well.

 

     
    Mom and Dad stared at me with completely bemused expressions.
    I shifted uncomfortably on my bed, watching the Skype screen.
    Finally, I said quietly, “Well?”
    I’d just told them about Jake and the police academy in one big rambling speech.
    “I don’t even…” Mom shook her head, dazed. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
    My dad stood abruptly so I lost sight of most of him. He disappeared off screen and I stared after him in disappointment.
    Mom looked in his direction and from the way she swallowed, I knew my dad was all kinds of mad.
    “Mom?” I whispered.
    Before she could say anything, Dad was back on screen, slamming down on his chair and glowering at me. And Jim Redford gave good glower. “Are you crazy?”
    “Jim,” Mom admonished.
    “I’m sorry I had to tell you like this,” I hurried to explain, “but I need you to know what’s going on with me. I need you to support me.”
    “Support you?” Mom narrowed her eyes. “Support you? All we ever do is support you and up until now, you’ve never given us reason to doubt your decisions. But getting—”
    “Back together with that boy is a