Amanda Vs The Universe Read online

  “Because,” I said, trying to keep impatience out of my voice, “I need more time to prepare than you do.”

  “You mean, you need time to figure out how to get out of it.”

  I couldn’t argue with that. “Exactly.”

  “What do you want us to do?” Molly asked.

  “Distract them so I can search their room. There’s probably some brochure or page of notes—you know how Dad is—that’ll tell me what’s going on.”

  “We can probably do that right now,” Molly said. “Your mom is about to make lunch, and we haven’t had the chance to talk to them.”

  Geoff held out a hand to Molly and helped her up. “Sure, I’m up for a little subterfuge. Just let me drop my stuff in my room.”

  “Okay,” I said.

  Five minutes later, Geoff and Molly headed down to the kitchen. I waited a full minute, then snuck down the stairs, making sure to put weight on the banister so I didn’t hit the squeaky steps so hard. My dad’s laughter came from the kitchen, and then my mother said, “Did he really?”

  Molly answered, but I couldn’t make out what she said. I needed to get a move on. My parents were known for being unpredictable. At least, we kids thought so.

  I tiptoed toward the back of the house and slipped through the half-closed door of my parents’ bedroom.

  Soft light came through opened blinds. The sage green bedspread had been pulled halfway up the bed and then folded back. My parents were big about making up beds, except when on vacation. A small pile of newspapers lay on the floor near the nightstand on the left; my mother’s scuffed-up blue slippers rested in their usual spot beside the closet door.

  I headed straight for the left side of the bed and my father’s briefcase. They rarely worked when we were in New Mexico, but my parents always brought their most pressing work in case something came up. I walked my fingers along the tabs of the file folders as I read, but nothing looked unusual. And there was no way I’d start checking out confidential files. That was a sure way to be grounded until I got married. I searched the zippered pocket on the outside of the case, but only found two gum wrappers.

  Time for my mother’s briefcase. I moved to the other side, pausing briefly to listen at the door—still no one heading my way. I unzipped the opening of the case, and a whiff of leather, paper, and peppermint rose up. These files were easier to read since my mom’s handwriting could be mistaken for a type font. Her briefcase resembled a fancy tote bag and had extra outer zippered compartments. I slid my hand into one and found a collection of pens. In the other, my fingers met slick pages. My heart rate picked up as I pulled out a brochure.

  Bold lettering across a blue sky announced the Tenth Annual Amateur Golf Tournament at a course in New Mexico. I dragged in a heavy breath. Surely they weren’t going to make us enter a golf tournament. They were the only ones in the family who played golf. No. That couldn’t be it. But it was set for next week, and we’d definitely still be here.

  I returned the brochure to its place and sighed. My parents were not making this easy. I scanned the nightstands on either side of the bed. My mother’s held a romance novel and a murder mystery. A little weird. I’d never seen her read either of those types of books. She liked to get absorbed in historical biographies. I opened the drawer to find nothing but lip balm, a flashlight, ear plugs, and a few random take-out menus.

  At my dad’s nightstand, it was more of the same. His reading glasses on top of a spy novel. An empty plastic cup. A pack of sugarless cinnamon gum. I’d just begun to open the drawer when my father’s voice came from the hall.

  “I know it can wait till after lunch, but I want to show it to you now,” he said.

  And from farther away, “Dad, you know I hate animal videos,” Geoff called.

  After half a second of hesitation, I raced to hide behind the door. My heart thumping in my ears, I pressed my back against the wall.

  Seven

  Dad came in, humming under his breath, and the door swung slowly toward me. I sucked in my stomach, trying to be as skinny as possible, and caught the door handle with my fingertips. No noise, no noise.

  Then came the sound of a drawer opening followed by a rustling and then a thump. “Honey, where’s my iPad?” he yelled.

  “What?” my mom called back.

  I held my breath for as long as I could, then let it out noiselessly. It probably wouldn’t even matter if Dad found me; I could just say I was playing a game with Geoff or something. But a weird part of me wanted to see if I could actually stay hidden well enough that he wouldn’t know I was there.

  Quick footsteps sounded from the hall even as the slide of another drawer sounded. “Seriously, Dad?” Geoff said. “Your underwear drawer?”

  A sliding noise, then a thump. “I never know where your mother is going to put things. It’s like she gets a thrill out of hiding my stuff.”

  Geoff laughed. “Right. Well, this time she hid your iPad in the living room.”

  “Where?” Dad asked, still sounding put out.

  “On the coffee table.”

  Dad grunted as they left the room, their bodies passing the crack between the door and the wall. “Why didn’t she tell me when I said I wanted to show you the video? I came in here for nothing.”

  “Uh, because she’s busy heating up the chicken strips and talking to Molly?” Geoff said, his usual “get with the program” tone in his voice.

  A faint chuckle came from my dad. They must be farther down the hall. I let out a shaky breath, but then smiled. That was kind of fun.

  Still, I didn’t have time to gloat over my hiding skills. I slipped out from behind the door and headed for my father’s nightstand drawer. Absolutely nothing there except for an extra coaster. Crud.

  I made a quick scan of the walk-in closet, which was easy since it wasn’t full of clothes like their closets at home. Just a couple of bathrobes, pants and shirts, and three of my mother’s summer dresses. My search had come to a dead end. The big event info was most likely on their laptops or other devices.

  In one last-ditch effort, I quietly opened a few dresser drawers and checked under the bed. Nothing but the suitcases under there.

  I strolled out of my parents’ room, heading for the kitchen. Sometime today, I needed to search their electronics. But that might be trickier than it sounded.

  ***

  After we’d cleaned up from lunch, all five of us stood around in the kitchen, chatting. Despite the sinking sensation in my chest, I made myself tell Geoff and Molly about all that had happened to Cady. And that she wanted to see him.

  “Cool, cool,” Geoff said. “I want to see her too. She makes the best cookies.”

  I huffed. “She has a broken foot. I doubt you’ll get any homemade cookies.”

  He leaned toward me in challenge. “You never know.”

  “Before you two get into the boxing ring,” Dad said, “I need help picking up the branches scattered all over the yard.”

  Geoff lifted both hands. “We just got here. You’re gonna make us work?”

  Mom laughed. “We’re going to try.”

  Molly smiled at her. “I’ll go change clothes.”

  “See how sweet she is?” Dad said, gesturing to Molly. “You could learn something here.”

  “All right, all right,” Geoff said. “We’ll work. Amanda, call Cady and see if we can come over in a couple of hours. It’ll make the perfect work break.” Everyone stared at him, so he frowned. “What?”

  I knew he wasn’t that clueless. He just loved trying to make me mad. Instead, I spoke casually. “Am I your personal secretary?”

  He grinned. “Consider it a trial run. I have to see how well you do.”

  Dad laughed, and I pressed my lips together super tight so I wouldn’t. “It’s clear I need to protect Cady from you,” I said. “I’ll call her and I’ll go with y’all so you don’t make her wait on you.”

  “It may not be convenient,” Mom said.

  Geoff shrugged. �
��Then we won’t go. But I have to say, Amanda, you’ve made an excellent start as my secretary.”

  “Ugh,” I said.

  Dad clapped his hands together. “All right, everybody. Work clothes!”

  I headed for the stairs with a sudden thought hitting me. What would Kyle think of Geoff?

  ***

  Three hours later, Geoff, Molly, and I walked into Cady’s house to the smell of freshly baked cookies. Kyle exchanged introductions with them. “Cady’s waiting for you in the kitchen,” he said.

  “See,” Geoff said to me and then ushered Molly forward. “Cady! Your favorite Geoff is here!” They walked out of the front hall.

  Kyle let out a quiet snort. “That was interesting.”

  “Sorry, it’s just my brother. He’s always that way.”

  “Wow. Okay.” He shut the door and gave me slight smile. “How’re you?”

  “You mean since my brother arrived to take charge of the house?”

  He chuckled, a low sound that made me want to grin. Or step closer. I rubbed my lips to hide anything that looked like a smile. I did not want him to see me reacting. “I’m okay,” I said, ignoring the humor still lighting up his eyes.

  “My older sister is a little like that,” he said.

  Crap. Something else in common. “Really?”

  He pulled a pot holder from his back pocket and tossed it from one hand to the other. “Well, the take-charge part. She doesn’t usually announce her presence like your brother.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think anyone does that. He’s just a weirdo.”

  Kyle erupted in a laugh. “Every family has one.”

  I pointed to the pot holder. “You helped with the cookie making? I’m really sorry Cady thought she needed to do that for Geoff.”

  “I was surprised, but it wasn’t any big deal. There’s a secret, you know.”

  “A secret?” I whispered.

  He leaned closer and whispered, “They’re not homemade.”

  My pulse went into high gear. Cute boy alert. And he’s leaning in! I cleared my throat. “They’re not?”

  “No,” Kyle said, the scent of chocolate on his breath.

  I waited, not sure I wanted to move away from that delicious smell. Or the warmth coming from his body. Was he flirting or just being friendly?

  “Cady knows of a bakery that sells fresh cookie dough,” he said, still keeping his voice quiet.

  I let out a stupid-sounding laugh and stepped back. Anything to keep from staring at Kyle’s perfectly shaped lips. “That’s convenient.”

  “Right?” He gestured with his head. “Come on. There’s another batch in the oven I need to check on.” We started out of the entryway, but he paused. “You want to race?”

  “Ha. You’re just desperate for a rematch since I won.”

  He stuck his finger through the loop on the pot holder and twirled it. “It was no contest. You cheated.”

  “Pfft. I can’t help if you’re clumsy.”

  His mouth spread into a leisurely smile. “You’re just afraid I’ll win.”

  I could feel myself wanting to move closer, to let myself enjoy his attention. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready for this. Not with Alex still haunting my thoughts. “Nah,” I said, keeping my voice light. “There’s just no doorway for us to come bursting through at the same time.”

  He laughed. “True.” He headed for the kitchen, and I followed. When we got there, the timer on the oven started beeping.

  “Ah, just in time, I see,” Cady said, smiling at us. She wore a blue blouse over loose pants she’d knotted up over the walking boot. Geoff and Molly were already seated at the kitchen table, a plate full of cookies in front of them.

  I gave a little wave. “Hey, Cady. You didn’t need to make cookies.”

  “Yes, she did,” Geoff mumbled, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster. He chewed away, happily oblivious to the fact that he might be a pain in the butt.

  But Molly knew it. “You’re spoiling both of us,” she said to Cady.

  The older woman just shook her head. “Nonsense.” She lifted a coffee carafe and limped toward the table.

  I rushed over. “Please sit. I’ll pour the coffee.”

  “Thanks, sweetie,” she said, releasing the pot into my hands. She joined Geoff and Molly at the table.

  “Could I have milk instead?” Geoff asked.

  Cady shook her head. “Sorry. We finished it off this morning.”

  I poured coffee in all the empty mugs and made an irritated face at Geoff when I knew Cady couldn’t see. He lifted his mug. “Cheers,” he said, and sipped.

  I wanted to spill some on him. Well, not really, but I hated to see him so smug. I returned the carafe to the coffee maker. Kyle was using a spatula to remove the fresh cookies from the pan and place them on a rack.

  Chocolate attacked my nostrils. “Is it okay if I just lean over them and breathe?” I asked quietly.

  “No, but—”

  “Can we have some of those warm cookies?” Geoff said.

  I stared at the ceiling for a couple of seconds. My brother was getting more obnoxious by the second.

  “Sure,” Kyle said, giving me a mischievous look. “You can get a few after they cool for a couple of minutes.”

  Geoff grumbled something I couldn’t hear through Molly’s conversation with Cady. “Very nicely done,” I whispered.

  “Thanks,” Kyle said in a low voice. “You don’t usually wait on him, do you?”

  I shook my head. “Not if I can help it. He’s just trying to rub in the fact that he was right about Cady serving cookies. I told him she wouldn’t because of her foot.”

  “Oh. Right.” He pulled a chocolate chip cookie apart and offered me half.

  “Aren’t they too hot?” I asked, taking it. Melted chocolate oozed from the center of the cookie, and I automatically ran my tongue across it to keep it from dripping. “Oops. That is hot.” I looked up to find Kyle with his cookie suspended in front of his mouth, his gaze fixed on my lips. Oh, no. Would he think I was flirting? Or trying to throw myself at him?

  Alex and I had been dating for a month when he let it slip that all his friends thought I was a chaser. That news made me want to hide under my bed. Good thing I didn’t go to his school where I’d have to see those guys every day.

  I bit into the cookie, barely registering the warm sweetness. I needed a distraction. “Water,” I said, and swept around him to the cabinet for a glass and filled it at the sink.

  Behind me, Kyle cleared his throat. “Pretty good, aren’t they?”

  I swallowed a gulp of water, the cool liquid helping me to get a grip. “Yeah, they are.” Without looking back, I walked away to join the others. I squeezed in beside Molly on the bench seat.

  “I’m taking it as a sign,” Cady said.

  “What?” I asked.

  “The sunburst in the corner,” she said. “It’s just so incongruous, so hopeful amidst all the profanity.”

  What was she talking about? “I’m sorry. What?”

  “Oh.” Cady lifted her hands like she was about to clap, but didn’t. “You haven’t heard. The graffiti artists hit us again last night.”

  “What!” I looked from her to Kyle, who nodded. “Why didn’t y’all tell me right away?”

  My brother put down his coffee mug. “Because you were over there sh—”

  “I’d like to see that sunburst,” Molly said, placing her fingers on Geoff’s forearm. They communicated without words as usual. But I couldn’t care less what Geoff had been about to say. It was probably an insult.

  Cady reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I’ll be happy to show you,” she said to Molly. “Anyone else want to come?”

  “Yes,” Geoff said.

  Everyone agreed, and we made our way out of the kitchen—Geoff snagging a cookie as he went—through the house and out the back door into the cloudy afternoon. We walked around the studio building to the other side, moving at Cady’s crut
ches pace, and stopped. There, on top of Kyle’s fresh coat of sky blue paint, were just about all the cuss words you could think of emblazoned in different colors. Red, purple, orange, green, and yellow. Some of the swirling rounded words outlined in black and some not. And over in the lower right hand corner peeked a bright golden sun with beams exaggerated into points. It felt so wrong. Like someone had put pornography into a children’s book.

  “I don’t think that’s anatomically possible,” Geoff said, frowning at the words on the wall.

  Kyle snorted and shook his head.

  Cady chuckled. “Oh, Geoff. You have a unique way of looking at things.”

  Molly squatted to examine the sun. “You know, this shows some talent.”

  “That’s exactly what I thought,” Cady said. “When we paint over the words, I think I want to keep the sun.”

  “Why?” Kyle asked, sounding frustrated. I probably would be, too, if all the work I’d just done had been ruined.

  “Because I like it,” Cady said.

  Kyle squinted at her. “Aunt Cady, you’re not trying to win this guy over if he comes back, are you?”

  “Oh, that’s a good idea,” Molly said.

  “What if I am?” Cady asked.

  “He’s a jerk,” Kyle answered. “He destroys property. How do you even know he’s not one of the ones writing all the profanity?”

  “I don’t, but I think this kid has talent, and if I can get him interested in art, then it’s a win.”

  “I agree,” Molly said.

  “Why do you think it’s a he?” Geoff asked.

  Good question. But I was coming down on Kyle’s side in all of this. “So what if he comes back?” I asked. “He’ll probably spray paint over the sun just to spite you.”

  Kyle gave a swift nod. “Right.”

  “I repeat,” Geoff said. “Why do you think it’s a he?”

  “We don’t know if the person is male or female,” Cady said. “That first night I saw three or four dark shapes running into the woods. One was a bit shorter than the others. Might’ve been a girl and might’ve been a younger person. We won’t know unless we catch them.”