Page 280 of Nobody's Girl

We run upstairs to change into our bathing suits. “Come to my room as soon as you’re ready,” I tell her.

She’s at my door before I know it and we take off out to the pool. I turn on the outside lights. A light inside the pool comes on as well, making it look pretty. The usually humid and hot air is a bit cooler, making the night more pleasant.

“I just can’t believe this, Al. Like when did your parents get rich?” Laura asks me.

That question has caught me off guard, so I make something up. “Dad sold some stocks or something like that. You know, they don’t talk to me about their finances.”

We slip into the warm water. “This is a lot warmer than I thought it would be,” I say.

“It feels fantastic. It’s so nice out here. You were right, swimming at night is cool,” Laura says.

We sit on the large steps that lead into the pool, leaning back on the edge. Stretching my legs out, I kick them back and forth slowly. Stars sparkle in the night sky as I gaze up at them. An image of Eden and me flying in the dark sky flitters through my mind.

“So what’s your plan for the fall, Laura?”

“I’m up in the air about it right now. You know how I’d planned on going to a local community college and staying at home? Well, Kyle wants me to go to Austin with him now. There are small colleges there too and many more part-time jobs for me to choose from,” she tells me, making my stomach clench. “I’m really happy we can still be close, Ally. You know you’re like the sister I never had.”

How can I be jealous of her? I love her!

I smile as I say, “You’re like a sister to me too, Laura. I’m happy for you. So are you thinking about going with him?”

She nods her head and says, “He told me he loves me last night.”

My heart stops! He loves her?

“Wow,” I say as I look up at the sky, trying to make sure the tears which threaten don’t fall.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too,” she says.

Still looking up, I ask, “How about you? Do you love him?”

“Of course I do. What’s not to love about him? I told him after he told me,” she says. “Then we went inside my house and made love for three hours.”

Good Lord, I want to cry my eyes out and throw up!