Almost by Anne Eliot Read Free Book Online

eyes.
My hockey-puck samples clump against my back when I sling my pack over one shoulder. I can hardly breathe.
I can't walk away from Jess now that she's asked me for help directly.
Plus, I'm well aware my bag is full of crap. If it comes down to product samples, she's going to win. She believes I'm about to steal the internship from her, but after seeing those bumper stickers I know I'm the long shot. As soon as Mr. Foley compares my half-page résumé boasting a lame assistant-coach job plus snack-bar expertise to what Jess has typed on hers, I'm dead.
As I move to follow Mr. Foley, she pulls out her bumper stickers.
She flashes me the top ones: Boys in Books are Better…Boys in Books are Better.
Crap! It's partly my fault Jess Jordan believes that damn bumper sticker is true.
“Sir,” I call out to Mr. Foley before I can change my mind. “How about you interview us together.”
Jess's mask slips. She meets my gaze and her eyes are so alight with hope, relief and trust that I'm sure I've done the right thing.
But then she shoots out of her seat and stands too close to me. “Do you mean it?” she whispers.
I nod, and she smiles. I'm overcome with thoughts of cinnamon-sunshine and how much I like this very real smile—so different than the ones she'd been faking all morning.
“Thanks.” She latches on to my arm as though she's scared to let go. “This is going to be awesome. You won't be sorry.”
I want to shout: I'm already sorry. I've been sorry for three years!
Instead I smile and say, “Yeah. We'll work out details at school. Monday.”
She nods again. Her small hand trembles against my arm. Her fingers seem really fragile—with nails that have been chewed down to nothing.
Maybe this is absolute wrong thing to do. Crap. Crap. And Crap! What have I agreed to?
It's not like I can take it back now. She'd told me she was going to hire someone else if I didn't sign on. I couldn't let that happen. And dammit I need this job.
I vow to just watch over her. Make sure she's okay. Make sure she doesn't get hurt any more, even by herself and her strange ideas. Hell, I've been watching over Jess Jordan for three years in secret already. She doesn't remember me, so what harm can come from trying to be her friend?
“What's the idea?” Mr. Foley asks, retracing his steps down the hall.
Jess pipes in, “If you agree, Mr. Foley, we have a way you could hire us both, but only pay one salary.”
Mr. Foley raises his salt-and-pepper brows high above his glasses and smiles. “I'm listening.”

Chapter Five
Jess
Footsteps on the hall floorboards bring me fully awake and thankfully they stop my nightmare. My heart's racing. I'm covered in sweat but hopefully I can recover myself in time.
The clock blinks 2AM from the far side of the room as the footsteps draw nearer.
As happy as I am my torture has been derailed, my heart fills with dread. If someone's prowling this side of the house past midnight, I must have just ruined months of hard work by crying out in my sleep.
My fault for risking it, but the bed had looked so comfortable. I'd only meant to stretch out for a minute, but I'd been so tired after the interview I must have drifted off.
I bite my lip and hold quiet. I can tell by the pace that the person lurking is my mom. She's not going to stop until she checks on me. I force my sleep-heavy limbs to move off the bed. Comforter in tow, I make a break for the desk and wipe the tears from my cheeks and eyes while I quickly run a hand over my keyboard. The laptop surges to life just in time, illuminating the far corner of the room as she opens the door without even knocking.
“You okay?” she asks, voice tight. Worried. Waiting for me to admit to the nightmare.
“All good,” I say, using a cheerful tone. I need to play this perfectly or I'm toast. I angle the monitor light away from my body and burrow into the comforter before pretending to type. When Mom doesn't leave, I'm forced to look up. Hopefully my serene