Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

Author:Marjetta Geerling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Chapter 13

"What were you thinking?” I ask Jackson later. Hannah and I escaped the war zone shortly after Jackson tossed in his grenade.

It is hours later, almost midnight, and Hannah’s down for the night. Jackson’s convinced me to sit in the tree with him. We are squished up together, which was maybe his plan, and I’m leaning against him for balance.

When I look up, I can make out a few stars through the leaves of the trees. The night air is cool against my skin, a relief after the summer heat of August. It may crawl back up into the nineties again tomorrow, but while the sun’s down, I actually feel like I should’ve brought a sweatshirt.

“I didn’t see how they could get any angrier.” Jackson shrugs off his timing. “I was wrong. They actually took his car back. Can you believe it?”

The Jennings family were amateurs when it came to family fights, but they’d been loud enough tonight that I’d closed Hannah’s window so she could go to sleep.

“Sounds like it was World War Three,” I say.

Jackson’s forehead scrunches up. “I knew they wouldn’t be happy with me. Why make Cody take all the parental rage when I had a share coming my way? It only seemed fair.”

I lay my head on his shoulder, something I do all the time with Cody. But it feels different with Jackson. “How’s Cody?”

“I don’t think he’s coming out of his room anytime soon.”

Cody has hermitlike tendencies. It’s not unusual for him to lick his wounds in private. I know he’ll come out when he’s ready. Still . . .

“Can you sneak me in tonight? I want to check up on him.”

Jackson snorts. “Wish you were planning to sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night.”

I push against him, but not too hard since he’s my balance. “If you’re gonna start talking like that, I’m leafing.”

He looks at me blandly.

“Get it? We’re sitting in a tree? Leafing?”

He doesn’t crack a smile, and I feel stupid. “Forget it.”

Only then does he let a smile spread across his face. “Got you,” he says.

“Jerk. You gonna let me in tonight or not?”

“Only if you promise to check on me, too.” His face is innocent, but his eyes are teasing.

“Uh-huh,” I agree. “Just close your baby blues and wait until I get there.”

“I’m holding you to it,” he says. “One good-night kiss in exchange for a sneak-in. Deal?”

“I didn’t say anything about a kiss.”

“What do you think’s gonna happen if you visit me in my bedroom in the middle of the night? We’re not playin’ checkers, if that’s what you’re hoping.”

“Maybe I won’t stop by then.”

“And leave Cody, your best friend in the whole world, all alone on what is possibly the worst night of his life? You can’t do it, Abby. And you can’t sneak in unless I turn off the alarm for you. So, deal? Right?”

I decide to negotiate terms once I’m inside their house. “Deal.”

Jackson laughs and kisses the top of my head.

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