Summer Reading is Killing Me (Phee Jefferson Book 2) by Amy E. Lilly Page A
Authors: Amy E. Lilly
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content. Now, I can’t stop
wondering if I’m fooling myself into thinking he and I might have a future.
Maybe I’m still just living a schoolgirl fantasy. Or maybe, everything’s just
fine and you’ve made me paranoid.” I scowled across the table at her. I stabbed
my straw up and down in my glass to break up the ice in the bottom.
“Hold on, Phee . I gave
you my honest opinion. Clint’s held himself back since we were kids. He’s the
proverbial strong and silent type. His aunt was old-fashioned and reserved. I’m
sure she raised him to control his emotions. What were his parents like? Maybe
they weren’t demonstrative either.” Juliet said.
“Never asked. It’s awkward bringing up his mom and
dad. Their deaths must have been the most traumatic event in his life. When he’s
ready to tell me about them, he will. I’m not like you, Juls .
I don’t feel comfortable poking at an open sore.”
“You should talk to Mom,” Juliet suggested. “She
may have known Clint’s parents when they were alive. They could have been
stuffy like his aunt. If that’s the case, as long as you’re happy with him, my
opinion shouldn’t matter.”
“I’ll talk to Mom, but do me a favor. Don’t fill
my brain with any more doubts. My inner voice is a chatterbox all by itself. It
doesn’t need you to encourage it,” I joked half-heartedly.
“Fair enough. I hope your inner voice talks to you
about your yoga skills. It was asleep this morning when you went to my class.”
Juliet looked up at the ceiling and around the room whistling under her breath.
“Everyone’s a comedian in my life. How did I get
to be such a lucky gal?” I made a mental note to buy Juliet clown shoes to wear
with her hot pink bedazzled mask.
Chapter Twenty One
I bought Wade a sandwich and left Odd Couple’s. As
I walked down the street, I paused in front of Glimpse of the Past, an antique
store specializing in vintage clothing. Miller’s Cove was the hot spot in the
state for antique hounds. Out of all the shops in the area, this one was my
favorite. I peered in the store window to get a closer look at the cameo
brooch pinned to a mannequin’s lace-front blouse. As I leaned closer, I saw a
reflection in the glass. I turned and spotted Clint deep in conversation with a
short, blonde woman. It wasn’t anyone I knew from town. He clearly knew her
because he laughed at whatever she said. She playfully pushed him down the
sidewalk. A slow, angry heat coursed through my body. No wonder he didn’t get
jealous or seem interested in moving our relationship forward. He had his next
girlfriend already lined up. I wiped away a tear. He’s not worth crying
over, I thought. Straightening my shoulders and sniffling, I marched back
to work.
I handed Wade his lunch. If he noticed my strained
smile, he didn’t comment. He took a paperback and went to the picnic table
outside the back door to eat his lunch. I didn’t have time to worry about Clint
and his new lady love since our summer readers were out in full force today.
The children loved the first day of the summer reading program as they set
their goals and picked out new books to read. Each week throughout the summer,
my volunteers and I had story hour, crafts, and Science Time with Sid.
Sid was Mr. Sidnor , a retired high school science
teacher who showed kids how to do experiments with everyday objects. It was by
far our most popular program with the upper elementary and middle school crowd.
I spent the afternoon speaking to parents about new books and the scheduled
activities. By the time five o’clock arrived, I was dead on my feet.
When I arrived home, there was a small bouquet of
Gerber daisies tied with a ribbon and a note attached. Phee ,
It will be my pleasure to pick you up at 5:45 and drive you to our dinner with
Senator Campbell. – Anthony Ziegfried . I smiled
at the thoughtfulness and unlocked the front door to make a mad dash for the
shower. I had twenty minutes
wondering if I’m fooling myself into thinking he and I might have a future.
Maybe I’m still just living a schoolgirl fantasy. Or maybe, everything’s just
fine and you’ve made me paranoid.” I scowled across the table at her. I stabbed
my straw up and down in my glass to break up the ice in the bottom.
“Hold on, Phee . I gave
you my honest opinion. Clint’s held himself back since we were kids. He’s the
proverbial strong and silent type. His aunt was old-fashioned and reserved. I’m
sure she raised him to control his emotions. What were his parents like? Maybe
they weren’t demonstrative either.” Juliet said.
“Never asked. It’s awkward bringing up his mom and
dad. Their deaths must have been the most traumatic event in his life. When he’s
ready to tell me about them, he will. I’m not like you, Juls .
I don’t feel comfortable poking at an open sore.”
“You should talk to Mom,” Juliet suggested. “She
may have known Clint’s parents when they were alive. They could have been
stuffy like his aunt. If that’s the case, as long as you’re happy with him, my
opinion shouldn’t matter.”
“I’ll talk to Mom, but do me a favor. Don’t fill
my brain with any more doubts. My inner voice is a chatterbox all by itself. It
doesn’t need you to encourage it,” I joked half-heartedly.
“Fair enough. I hope your inner voice talks to you
about your yoga skills. It was asleep this morning when you went to my class.”
Juliet looked up at the ceiling and around the room whistling under her breath.
“Everyone’s a comedian in my life. How did I get
to be such a lucky gal?” I made a mental note to buy Juliet clown shoes to wear
with her hot pink bedazzled mask.
Chapter Twenty One
I bought Wade a sandwich and left Odd Couple’s. As
I walked down the street, I paused in front of Glimpse of the Past, an antique
store specializing in vintage clothing. Miller’s Cove was the hot spot in the
state for antique hounds. Out of all the shops in the area, this one was my
favorite. I peered in the store window to get a closer look at the cameo
brooch pinned to a mannequin’s lace-front blouse. As I leaned closer, I saw a
reflection in the glass. I turned and spotted Clint deep in conversation with a
short, blonde woman. It wasn’t anyone I knew from town. He clearly knew her
because he laughed at whatever she said. She playfully pushed him down the
sidewalk. A slow, angry heat coursed through my body. No wonder he didn’t get
jealous or seem interested in moving our relationship forward. He had his next
girlfriend already lined up. I wiped away a tear. He’s not worth crying
over, I thought. Straightening my shoulders and sniffling, I marched back
to work.
I handed Wade his lunch. If he noticed my strained
smile, he didn’t comment. He took a paperback and went to the picnic table
outside the back door to eat his lunch. I didn’t have time to worry about Clint
and his new lady love since our summer readers were out in full force today.
The children loved the first day of the summer reading program as they set
their goals and picked out new books to read. Each week throughout the summer,
my volunteers and I had story hour, crafts, and Science Time with Sid.
Sid was Mr. Sidnor , a retired high school science
teacher who showed kids how to do experiments with everyday objects. It was by
far our most popular program with the upper elementary and middle school crowd.
I spent the afternoon speaking to parents about new books and the scheduled
activities. By the time five o’clock arrived, I was dead on my feet.
When I arrived home, there was a small bouquet of
Gerber daisies tied with a ribbon and a note attached. Phee ,
It will be my pleasure to pick you up at 5:45 and drive you to our dinner with
Senator Campbell. – Anthony Ziegfried . I smiled
at the thoughtfulness and unlocked the front door to make a mad dash for the
shower. I had twenty minutes
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