Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass Read Free Book Online Page A

up to him. “I’m curious about the people who bumped uglies to create you.”
    “You did not just say that.” One hand swats at him, the other covers my face. “Vulgar!”
    He tilts his head back and laughs lightly. “Your best friend is Shelby Chesterfield and you think I’m vulgar?”
    I smile and roll my eyes and pretend that I’m not slightly perturbed that he’s only been at Lincoln High for two days and he already knows Shelby’s full name and that she’s vulgar. Of course, that’s what anyone would learn the moment they enter Lincoln. That Shelby is someone whose last name you should know. That she has no filter when she speaks. That I am her best friend.
    “Just be good,” I say, pushing the front door open. But I already know he will be.



CHAPTER NINE
    F rom out Nathan’s back window I can’t see anything. It’s so dark. All that’s visible is his face right in front of mine, and all I can feel are his hands, moving under my shirt.
    Thanks to urban sprawl and suburban spread, the best place to park your car, if your intention is to fool around in the backseat, is in a vacant housing development still under construction. All the roads have been paved, but the houses aren’t built yet because the developers are still selling off the lots. I could have taken us to the actual lookout point, where we’d have to share the parking lot with other couples, or into the woods along the outskirtsof town, but I’m not sure his car can handle the back roads.
    Just like yesterday, Nathan finds it incredibly hilarious that this is the location we park at. And, just like yesterday, I kiss Nathan like I’ve been doing it for weeks instead of days.
    We spent a good twenty minutes inside my house talking to my parents but rushed through dinner at the Italian joint Nathan picked out. Nathan wasn’t craving chicken parmigiana as much as he was craving me.
    I press my hands into Nathan’s bare chest and grind my hips into him. He slips his hands under my bra straps, lets them dangle around my shoulders, but doesn’t take off my bra.
    With my parents, Nathan was courteous and charming. They were impressed, naturally. Especially that he’ll most likely be attending Barron next year. Nathan wants to be a civil engineer, which is what my father is, and, surprisingly, the insta-bond they established just seconds after they shook hands pleases me. Nathan also succeeded in distracting my father from that whole I’m-the-guy-hooking-up-with-your-daughter thing that Trip could never pull off. Even my younger brothers loved him, because unlike Trip, Nathan didn’t try to get them to go outside and play catch. Nathan asked them to explain the video game they were playing—which is all Gregory and Jason are capable of talking about anyway. Gregoryis twelve and Jason is nine, so video games are still their number one priority. And better yet, Nathan actually seemed to understand what they were saying. He was even able to give them advice for advancing to the next level. My mother liked Nathan too; her loose smile and lax posture made it obvious she was relieved he was so easy for everyone to talk with. I know what she must have said to my father after we left: I like him—he’s so well mannered . And my father said back to her, Anyone who knows about structural design is A-okay in my book .
    Nathan’s hands are in my hair. Nathan’s hands are on my hips. All I can think about is how impressive he was with my family. I kiss him as hard as I can. I bite his lower lip.
    “You’re amazing,” he tells me in between kisses.
    “I know” is what comes out. Shelby has always told me to be cocky in bed, and apparently I’ve been listening.
    He laughs into my mouth and it’s the best feeling ever. His hands travel up my neck and he grabs my face, pulling back a little so he can he can look into my eyes. “I’m serious,” he says. “I feel like I can talk to you for hours. And this . I could do this for hours