Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick Page A

Jordyn?” Lindsey sat down next to her.
    “Matt Parker asked her already. I know.”
    Lindsey put her head in her hands. “Now what
about me?” She pouted.
    “You’ll be fine. School hasn’t even started
yet.” Katie leaned forward, and lightly pinched Lindsey’s pouty
cheek.
    The party guests started to depart. The music
stopped. Her father put out the torches, and invited everyone up to
the deck. A few people stayed and chatted for awhile, but finally
they all headed for home. Katie went into the house. She looked at
the clock. It was one a.m., time left to read.
    Katie kissed both her parents. “Good night
and thanks. Is it alright if I help clean up in the morning? I’m
really tired.”
    Her mom nodded. “Your father will probably
have it all done by then, but it’s fine, honey. Go to bed.”
    When Katie got to her bedroom, she grabbed a
tank and pajama shorts, and went into her bathroom. She decided to
take a long, hot shower. She dried her hair and in the steamy
mirror wrote ‘Drew’ with a heart under it.
    She thought about Ty and what happened
tonight. She really didn’t want to hurt him. He’ll be fine. Look
how he rebounded when he was playing volleyball.
    Katie padded over to her bed, looked at her
nightstand, then opened the drawer. The book was gone. It was
nowhere to be seen. She looked under the bed, in the closet and in
all of her drawers. She even called Lindsey. Her heart began to
pound. Finally, she went downstairs.
    Her mom was still in the kitchen with a glass
of wine in her hand. “I thought I deserved this after that
wonderful party.” She held the glass up to Katie.
    “Mom, where’s my book?”
    “What book, sweetie?”
    “You know, the one you gave me. The romantic
historic fiction book, remember?” Katie was getting upset.
    “Oh, I thought you finished it. I lent it to
one of my college students. She has such an interest in those types
of books. I told her I had the perfect one for her.”
    “I wasn’t done reading it!” Katie screamed.
She wasn’t sure how many times she read it. It was all a blur.
“Plus it was just here this afternoon!”
    “You weren’t done? You’ve had that book since
the beginning of July,” her mom acted surprised. “She stopped by
this evening, during the party, and I gave it to her then.”
    “I hope that girl in your class is a fast
reader. Tell her I need it back in ten days.” Katie breathed
heavily.
    “Ten days? What’s the significance of ten
days?” Her mother now seemed more interested.
    Katie thought fast. “It will be Labor Day
weekend and I’ll have more time to read.” She wasn’t going to say
it would be September third, Aunt Lucinda’s wedding, and I’m in it.
Katie wondered how she could tell her mother that.
    “Yes, ma’am! Will do! Now go to bed.”
    “Sorry for yelling. Thanks again for
everything, Mom. You too, Dad, wherever you are!” Katie called out
as she went up to bed. She hesitated on the stairs for a moment,
thinking she heard her father’s voice.
    “Good job, Joanna.”
    That was weird.
     

Chapter Fifteen
     
    School started
uneventfully. Katie counted down the days until the wedding, and
seeing Drew again. She went from class to class in a
fog.
    “Hey, Katie! You walked right by me.” Erin
ran to catch up. “Ty told me he asked you to Homecoming. Are you
two a couple?”
    “No! We’re just friends.”
    “Then you don’t mind if...” Erin started to
ask.
    “Be my guest,” Katie waved her hand. She was
glad Ty would have a distraction.
    “Tryouts tomorrow. Be there!” Erin waved as
she headed off to class.
    Katie decided she would go to tryouts just to
keep everyone quiet. Ty kept reminding her about them. Even her
mother got in on the act.
    Katie spotted Matt and Jordyn holding hands
in the hall. Wow, they are a couple! “Hi, Jordyn, Matt.” Katie
raised her eyebrows at Jordyn.
    “Oh Katie, stop it! Everyone knows. And guess
what? I’m going to try out for cheer squad,