The Book of Broken Hearts by Ockler Sarah

Author:Ockler, Sarah [Ockler, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781442430402
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2013-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The Bowl was Canyon Rock Bowl, a natural amphitheater carved into the red sandstone that sloped toward the river valley. Across the swoop from the very top, it was a smooth terra-cotta bowl dotted with rock-slab benches and patches of yellow-green scrub grass.

“Watch your step, Papi,” Mari said as we navigated the terrain. “Juju, help him.”

I reached for Papi’s elbow, but he shook me off, the silver Alzheimer’s Association bracelet glinting in the setting sun. “I’m fine, queridita. You two keep grabbing at me like little monkeys, that’s the problem.”

“I could use some help,” Mom said. “I wore the wrong shoes for this adventure.” She finally slipped out of her wedges and went barefoot, picking her way along the rocks.

The freaks were definitely out tonight, and by freaks I mean everyone in town plus a good number of tourists, not to mention all the dogs, but we found a spot close to the exits. We had enough ensalada rusa, pressed red pepper sandwiches de miga, and medialunas to feed everyone here.

I tied Pancake’s leash to a screw drilled into the rock and headed down to the vending area for drinks, which we’d forgotten to pack.

“Jude!”

I almost didn’t recognize her voice, but the wild red curls clued me in fast. Zoe was hanging out at the lemonade stand, pink-filled cups spiked with lemon slices in each hand. She was tan and glowy, and a hot streak of jealousy raced through me when I pictured her and Christina splashing around the Animas, beach towels side by side on the riverbank.

“You have new freckles,” I said when I got close enough for a hug. “Like, a thousand more at least.”

Zoe giggled. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight. You should’ve texted!”

So should’ve you. . . .

“Mari’s in town. Family-bonding time.” I rolled my eyes like I’d rather be anywhere else.

“Your sister’s here?”

“She came to help with my dad.”

Zoe swirled her pink lemonade. “How’s . . . everything?”

Glad you asked, because it’s capital-A Awesome!

“Okay,” I said. “Considering.” I’d reached the front of the line, and Zoe waited off to the side while they handed over my lemonades and change.

“How’s the play stuff going?” I asked.

“Rockin’ it. I was basically born to be the Queen of Hearts.” Zoe’s mouth curled into a wicked, Queenly grin, but it faded fast. “Alice kind of sucks, though. She’s not from Blackfeather. Animas High, I think. Everyone misses you.”

I smiled. It was a nice sentiment, but for all that missing, I hadn’t heard a peep from anyone but Zoe and Christina since the BHS picnic, and even their peeps were getting shorter and less frequent, more like chirps than peeps.

“We’re doing a sneak preview on the eleventh. Like, a special screening for friends and family. I have extra tickets if you and Mari want to come. Oh, Christina’s here too. Come say hi.”

I peered into the crowd to find my family, but everything was a blur. “I should get back—”

“Just for a minute,” she said. “I brought some of the guys from the Crow too—Mad Hatter and Tweedledum.

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