Read Lies I Told for Free Online Page A

really parrots here, Mom?” I asked, still scanning the trees.
    â€œThere are. I thought I told you.”
    I turned to her. “You didn’t.”
    She twisted the cap on a bottle of vitamins and shook a couple into her hand. “The Realtor said it started sometime in the 1980s. A bunch of people had them as pets, and they got out or were let go or something. Now they’re naturalized.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    She thought about it. “They’ve been here so long they’ve gotten used to it. It’s like they belong here now.”
    I turned my eyes back to the window, hit with an unexpected pang of loss.
    My mother’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “You okay, Gracie?”
    I looked away from the window. “I’m just tired, I guess.”
    She reached out and smoothed my hair. “It’s tough getting used to a new place.” She surveyed me with knowing eyes. “Maybe we can do takeout tonight, watch a movie on the sofa if you don’t have too much homework.”
    I smiled. Girls’ movie nights were my favorite. “That’d be nice.”
    I said good-bye and went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. Luckily, the style in Playa Hermosa wasn’t that different from Phoenix. The girls were slightly less tan, and they wore less makeup, but with some minor additions most of my old clothes would work. I wondered if Selena would be up for a shopping trip to pick up a few things and then remembered that it wasn’t Selena I needed as a friend.
    It was Rachel Mercer.
    I chose something simple to wear, slipped the Chandler ID into my pocket, and twisted my hair into waves before meeting Parker downstairs. He was quiet as we made our way outside, but at least he’d ditched the angry edge from last night. I relaxed a little. When he brooded and sulked, I was alone all over again. Then I remembered why we had to stick together. Why I accepted the risks and sacrifices and self-loathing that came with what we did. Because the only people I had in the whole world did it, and I couldn’t be partof their lives if I didn’t do it, too.
    We pulled up next to the BMW in the school parking lot. This time when I got out of the car, I flashed Rachel a smile, forcing an expression of serenity on my face as I walked past the group. I saw Logan in my peripheral vision, felt his eyes on me. It took effort to avoid looking at him, but I kept walking, letting Parker get ahead of me with his long-legged stride.
    I was crossing the quad at the center of campus when a voice called out behind me.
    â€œGrace! Wait up!”
    I turned to see Selena and Nina standing near a bank of lockers in the outdoor hallway. Selena said something to the long-haired blonde and then hurried toward me, curls escaping from the loose bun at the back of her head.
    I smiled, genuinely happy to see her. “Hey!”
    â€œHey! How was your day yesterday?”
    She fell into step, and we headed for the buildings at the back of the quad.
    â€œIt was good. Everyone seems really nice,” I said. “What do you have first period?”
    â€œGovernment. How about you?”
    I made a face. “Precalc.”
    â€œUgh. I barely passed Integrated Algebra. Math isn’t my thing.”
    I stopped in front of the building where my class was held.
    â€œThis is me,” I said. “But I’m glad we ran into each other.”
    â€œMe too. I was thinking; would you want to hang out at my house sometime? We could swim if it’s not too cold, watch movies . . . whatever.”
    I smiled. “I’d love to. And actually, I might need a shopping partner. Someone to help me pick out a few things so I’m not hopelessly out of fashion in Playa Hermosa.” I batted my eyelashes dramatically.
    She laughed. “I think you’re doing pretty well, but I won’t turn down an excuse to go shopping.”
    â€œGreat! I’ll text