Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky Read Free Book Online Page B

learned how animals can smell each other‘s pheromones, chemical signals that prompt them to mate. I can almost hear my pheromones bouncing into Wes‘s.

    When we finish the album, Wes gets up to reshelve it. I take the opportunity to move this operation to the couch. He follows me but sits on the opposite side, holding his knees to his chest with his forearms. Not exactly the most receptive pose.

    We stare into space for a couple minutes before I say, ―Mmm…I really like your house. I feel so at home here.‖

    Then out of nowhere Wes grins and makes the most promising statement of the evening. ―I‘m really happy you were able to come tonight.‖

    I rush in with, ―Me too. I had a lot of fun.‖

    Wes shifts his position and leans toward me. My heart starts racing again and I instinctively wet my lips.

    Then he stops and says, ―I should take you home. I don‘t want your dad to be mad at me for keeping you out late, him being the chief of police and everything.‖

    ―Yeah,‖ I answer, attempting to sound indifferent. ―I do have to be up in, like, five hours as it is to make Science Quiz practice.‖

    Wes is mute on the drive to my place, and I can‘t think of anything not small-talky to say. So I close my eyes and pretend to sleep. When we get to my apartment building, he murmurs, ―Dom?
    Dom?‖

    I am hoping he‘ll try to wake me by gently nudging me. Or perhaps by kissing me. The moment is perfect.

    Suddenly the car stereo is blasting rap at full volume.

    ―Okay, I‘m up, I‘m up! Turn that off!‖

    ―Couldn‘t resist.‖ He laughs. ―See you at the next meet.‖

    I feel as if I‘m tied to the passenger seat. There‘s no way we can part ways this unemotionally after how much we‘ve talked tonight, let alone been e-mailing. I clear my throat, smile, and extend my right arm toward him, inviting him in for a hug. He leans into me for only a couple seconds before pulling back and saying goodbye again.

    I bow my head in defeat. ―Good night, Wes.‖

    Subject: Have a minute?

    Date: Monday, January 21, 1:31 a.m.

    Dear Wes,

    When I got to my bedroom just now, I thought, Yes! Finally I’ll get some sleep. I jumped into bed, and then I thought, Wow, this was such an awesome night.

    So before I hit the hay, I wanted to write and let you know I had mucho fun talking to you just now. I totally enjoy our e-mails, and hanging with your friends tonight was great, but it was triply great just being with you without anyone else around. I really felt like I got to know you better. Maybe we could arrange for something similar again soon, if you want and if you have time.

    Anyway, off to bed now. Hugs, Dom

    Subject: Yes, I have a minute

    Date: Monday, January 21, 2:00 a.m.

    I agree. We need to hang out more before the year is up. I wish we‘d met before we did. I always wanted to go up into the bleachers and introduce myself to you at the meets last year, but I was afraid you‘d think I was strange. I really wish I had now, we could have spent more time together. Dom, I hope we keep in touch after graduation. I‘ll be really bummed if we don‘t.
    G‘night.—W

    9

    B eing an only child, I can‘t help that my parents are really tuned in to my life and can detect when something‘s on my mind besides school. They finally confront me one evening in late January. When they walk into my room, I turn off my monitor so they won‘t see I‘m in the middle of e-mailing Wes.

    Dad sits down on the foot of my bed and asks, ―Have you been feeling all right?‖

    ―Yeah, why? Have you been feeling all right?‖ I know I‘m sounding adversarial, but I‘m really ticked off at them for interrupting my train of thought.

    ―We‘re a little concerned, Dommie. You seem preoccupied,‖ Mom says.

    ―Preoccupied?‖ I guffaw dismissively. ―Don‘t you remember last semester? College crapplications? The SATs? I am perfectly relaxed in comparison.‖

    Mom nods but says, ―It‘s just that lately we