Read Words Get In the Way for Free Online Page B

surmised with a wry smile.
    Josh shrugged his shoulders, exhaled slowly, and sputtered, “Why change?” The two former classmates shook hands, and Josh pulled a bottle of Coors from a nearby cooler, twisted off the top, and handed it to Linden. While they were talking, two girls came around the corner of the garage, giggling and sipping a concoction that smelled strongly of tequila. They were both tan, barefoot, and wearing very short cutoffs and bikini tops.
    “Hey, Josh,” the slender redhead scolded, “I thought you were goin’ to share ...” She stopped and smiled politely when she saw that there was someone in the garage with her brother and then she realized who it was. “Oh, my God! Linden! You came!” She hugged him with such unabashed enthusiasm that she accidently spilled her drink. “I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed. Linden just smiled; he couldn’t believe how grown-up Katie had become.
    “C’mon,” she said as she slipped her hand into Linden’s and pulled him toward the door. “Come say hi to my parents.” Katie’s friend, however, opted to hang out in the shadows with Josh, claiming she just loved Billy Joel and wanted to listen to “I’ve Loved These Days,” which was playing on the radio.
    “She really just loves Josh,” Katie confided in a whisper, “ and getting high!”
    Mr. Connor was flipping burgers when they came around the corner of the house. “Well, well, here’s the mastah wahl buildah!” he exclaimed happily. “Hope yah brought your ap-pahtite!”
    Mrs. Connor gave Linden a warm hug and then proceeded to heap macaroni salad, potato salad, Jell-O salad, two deviled eggs, and baked beans on a plate for him so that, by the time Mr. Connor offered him a cheeseburger, there was no room for it. Linden made a gallant effort, though, and tucked his beer bottle against his chest so he could balance the full plate in one hand and take the cheeseburger in the other. He smiled helplessly at Katie, and she immediately saw his dilemma. Laughing, she took the beer from under his arm, put it on the table, and pulled out a chair for him. Then she went to ask Jon if he would make a fresh margarita for her. Linden watched her go and saw Jon eyeing her suspiciously. From Katie’s gestures he could tell she was having trouble convincing him that she had really spilled her drink. Jon looked at Linden, held up Katie’s cup, and pointed at it with raised eyebrows. Linden wasn’t sure if he was asking for confirmation that she was telling the truth or asking him if he wanted one too, so he just shook his head and pointed to his beer. Jon nodded and retreated into the house while Katie came back over to the table, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know why he doesn’t believe me!”
    “Have you eaten?” Linden asked, swallowing a deviled egg in one gulp.
    “I’ve been picking,” she replied.
    “Well, if you’re gonna drink that evil stuff, you should eat.”
    She eyed him. “What, do I have three big brothers now?”
    Linden smiled. “You always have.”
    Katie grinned mischievously. “But I’ve always wanted so much more!”
    “Hmmm,” he replied, studying her eyes. “How much have you had?”
    “Not enough,” she said, laughing and reaching to take the replenished cup her brother was holding out.
    Jon pulled up another chair and motioned to a pretty brunette who was standing by the pool. She walked over and Jon introduced her. “Linden, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Julie.”
    Linden stood to shake hands. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said. He paused thoughtfully and then teased, “I don’t know if I should say congratulations or good luck!” Julie laughed good-naturedly and sat down in the chair next to Jon, and he slid his cup to her.
    He turned back to Linden. “So, what was your time this morning?”
    “Under 17,” Linden said with a slow smile.
    “I thought you weren’t showing off.”
    “I wasn’t,” Linden replied, bringing his beer to his