Switching Gears by Chantele Sedgwick

Author:Chantele Sedgwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Published: 2017-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

A few hours later, I’m getting ready for my race. The race. Me against my sponsored nemesis. I wonder if she knows I know.

She’s so going down.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I slide my hair back in an elastic, put a bit of mascara on so Kelsie doesn’t kill me, and head down the hallway.

“Where are you off to this morning?”

Mom sits on the couch, a book in her hand. I’m taken aback for a second; I don’t remember the last time I saw her read a book.

“Oh. Uh … I’m going riding.”

“Why?”

I sigh. “Because it’s fun? And I have nothing better to do today.”

“You could stay home and chat with me. We could go to lunch or a movie or—”

“No, no, that’s okay. Maybe another day.” I give her half a smile and she looks back at me as disappointment flickers across her features. It takes her a second to recover. She sets her book on the couch next to her and her hands rest in her lap. “Where are you riding today?”

I debate on telling her the truth, and that I’m going to Park City, but I have a feeling she won’t let me go. So … I improvise. “Ogden.” Okay, improvise isn’t really the right word. I lie. Enough to make her not question anything and to stop the conversation from delving into stuff I don’t want to talk about. And maybe also because she lied to me for so long.

She sits up straighter. “It’s not one of your races, is it? I’d really like to come to one.”

“No.” Technically it’s not that kind of race.

“You’re not going alone, are you?”

“No. Kelsie’s going with me. And she’s driving, if that makes you feel any better.” My eyes flit to the door. I can’t look at her. Lying to her feels … wrong. But I know she won’t let me drive all the way to Park City just to spend money on the ski lift and ride down a hill on a bike.

“Don’t be gone long. Please.”

“Okay.” Relieved the questions ended, I head toward the door.

“Emmy.”

I stop and look over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I want to talk to you when you get home.”

“About what?”

She gives me a pointed look. “You know what I’m talking about, Emmy. I’ve tried to talk to you several times and you just make excuses or leave the house. You’ve avoided me for two weeks now. I want to talk to you about my … condition. I want you to know that I’m okay. I’m going to be okay. I know you’re worried and you’re dealing with it the best you can right now, but you can’t ignore it. Or me. I want to do our girls’ nights again. We can’t stop doing those. Okay?”

I close my eyes, trying to fight the headache coming on. “I’ll … talk to you about it when I get home.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

“I will.”

Kelsie’s already in the driveway when I open the door. “Hey,” she says, getting out of her car.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.