Read Meg at Sixteen for Free Online

from the party guests.
    â€œThis is terrible,” Meg said, when they’d reached a safe distance. They could hear the sounds of the party, but they knew they couldn’t be seen. “Aunt Grace will be so angry.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Nick said. “I needed to be alone with you.”
    â€œI know,” Meg said, and then she laughed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like that. “I’m not sorry. The hell with Aunt Grace.” She waited for the gods of gratitude to strike her down, but the only thing that happened was the band kept playing, and people still danced. The gods have the night off, she thought. I have never been so happy in my life.
    â€œI know you don’t know me,” Nick said.
    â€œYou don’t know me either,” Meg said.
    â€œI know who you are,” he replied. “In some ways I know how you got here. Robert and Isabelle told me a few details. Margaret Winslow of the Beacon Hill Winslows. Your parents died in an accident a few years ago. You go to school with Isabelle. You do well academically; you’re fairly popular. You live with your aunt, Grace Winslow. People treat Grace Winslow with respect. They do not steal her niece from under her nose.”
    â€œIt’s such a terrifying nose,” Meg said. “I remember even when I was little, Aunt Grace’s nose scared me.”
    â€œI don’t want you to be frightened ever again,” Nick said. “I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”
    â€œWhat can I do for you?” Meg asked. “I want to do something too.”
    â€œYou can love me,” Nick said.
    Meg laughed. “That’s too easy,” she said. “I do that already.”
    Then Nick smiled, and Meg realized all those wonderful flirty words were true, that everything they’d both been saying, they meant. She looked then, really hard, at Nick, tried to see who it was she felt so instantly connected to, tried to understand what it was about him that made her feel more eager to live than she’d ever dreamed. But all she could see was he loved her, and for the moment, that was all she needed to see.
    â€œWhat’s your middle name?” she asked. She wanted to know his complete name. He required a full identity, this man she loved.
    â€œGeorge,” he said. “I hate it.”
    â€œI hate my dress,” she replied.
    â€œWe can burn it,” he said. “We can turn it into ashes.”
    â€œWe’ll do the same with your name,” she said. “We’ll print it on a piece of paper and tear it into a hundred pieces and put it on the fire, and let it burn. And then you won’t be George anymore.”
    He kissed her then, and Meg was so surprised that she shifted awkwardly, and he thought she was resisting. “I’m sorry, Daisy,” he said.
    â€œOh don’t be,” she said. “Don’t ever be sorry again.” She yearned to kiss him, but before she had the chance, Clark came storming over to them.
    â€œWhat the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked, and Meg was uncertain which one of them he was speaking to, until she saw him grab Nick by his jacket collar as though intending to punch him.
    Nick merely shook him off. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” he said. “I’m Nick Sebastian.”
    â€œI don’t care if you’re Santa Claus,” Clark replied. “You have some nerve dragging Meg off like that. Her aunt is furious. And I imagine Isabelle Sinclair isn’t any too pleased either.”
    Nick laughed, but there was no warmth in the sound. “Isabelle doesn’t matter. Neither do you nor Aunt Grace. Daisy is all that matters.”
    â€œWho’s Daisy?” Clark asked again.
    Meg found herself standing so tall Aunt Grace would have to look up to her. “I am,” she said.
    â€œWhat’s gotten into you?” Clark