Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn Read Free Book Online Page A

forcing me to fight a smile. “I’m going now.” When I try to push the door closed, Tegan sticks his foot out to stop it.
    This time, he’s serious when he speaks. “Five minutes.”
    I nod my head yes at him, already feeling a crack in my defenses.
    “Listen, maybe this is me being a total guy here, but I have no clue what I did to piss you off. Mom says guys are kind of dense when it comes to girls so I’m assuming this is one of those times. The only thing I can come up with is I made you uncomfortable and that freaks me out. I really wasn’t going for sexual harassment when I said that— ”
    “Aw, so that’s why you’re here. You’re worried about your job. Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell them you harassed me.” I hate to admit it stings a little. Deep down, I wanted there to be another reason he came. Maybe it’s just because I actually had a little fun with him, but like I thought, it’s all just a job to him.
    Tegan pushes his hair out of his face. “This is the second time you’ve said that. Your money is no better than anyone else’s. I wouldn’t be here if that were the case.”
    “Why are you here?”
    He shrugs. “I didn’t like the way we left things. You’re my client. I take my job seriously.”
    Ouch. His answer hurts worse than it should.
    “Plus… I owe you, I guess.”
    It just keeps getting worse. First I’m his job and then a favor. “I helped you get a chair out of a car, Tegan. It’s not like I came up with a cure for cancer or something.”
    “I don’t like to owe people.”
    “It’s called kindness. Again, it wasn’t a big deal.”
    “It’s a big deal to me.” The finality in his tone tells me he’s done and I am too.
    “Okay, fine then. Tell me how you know where I live?”
    He looks down at the ground for a second. When his head rises, he’s kind of looking up at me, a mischievous smile on his face. “You’ve got two things on me, Annabel Lee: harassment and stealing your address off your record.”
    “U g h!” I gasp, not really sure what to say.
    “Breaking the rules is a little fun. I promise, I don’t do it as much as I used to though.”
    “You used to steal girl’s addresses a lot? God! Maybe I should turn you in, Stalker Boy.” I can’t believe I’m joking around with him. No, what I can’t believe is how fun it is.
    His face pales. “No! That’s not what I meant. Yours is the only address or phone number I’ve ever taken. I meant breaking the rules. Gives you a little rush, ya know?”
    “Are you mental?” This boy is all kinds of confusing. I’m not sure I know up from down when I’m around him.
    Tegan laughs. “That’s one of the things I like about you. You say what’s on your mind. Plus, you’re funny. Not sure you really see it though.”
    This time I don’t fight my laugh. In fact, I hardly even cover my mouth when it bursts free. It takes a few minutes before I settle down enough to speak. “Me? I say what’s on my mind? Not even close. No one in my life knows how I really feel about anything.”
    “Hmm, maybe I’m just special then. Do you have a crush on me, Annabel Lee?” There’s laughter in his voice, but my insides freeze. This is not happening again.
    “Okay, I can tell from your face I just screwed up again, but I’m not sure how. Can we skip to the part where you tell me, so I can apologize and ask you to come back to the gym? You make things a lot more interesting around there.”
    My body starts to heat. “Oh, just because you’re gorgeous you think you can get away with whatever you want. That you’ll ask me to come back to the gym and I’ll just do it. Well think again, buddy!”
    “You think I’m gorgeous?” It’s not a real question. He’s only trying to frustrate me.
    “Ugh! I hate you!” I try and slam the door, but he stops me again. His eyes go from flirty to serious in T minus two seconds.
    “I’m not playing games. I’m not sure why you think that.”
    “Um, because look