Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian Read Free Book Online Page B

Megan said. “My team was state champion last year.”
    There you go! Nice one! she thought, smiling triumphantly.
    â€œReally?” Evan asked, looking over his shoulder. “That’s awesome, Kicks.”
    Megan’s smile widened.
    â€œKicks? What’s Kicks?” Hailey asked.
    â€œIt’s Megan’s nickname,” Evan said. “Actually, her nickname’s Kicker, but I shortened it. I think Kicks is cooler, don’t you?” he asked, glancing at Megan in the mirror.
    â€œDefinitely,” Megan said.
    Hailey sat back hard and stared out the window, her jaw set. “That’s so nice that you two already have your own nicknames.”
    â€œDo I sense a little sarcasm, Hails?” Evan asked playfully. He stopped at a red light, picked up her hand, and kissed it.
    Hailey rolled her eyes but smiled. “No,” she said. “Not at all. So, how was lacrosse practice? Are you finally going to make All-State this year?”
    â€œYou know I don’t care about that,” Evan said, still holdingHailey’s hand as he turned the wheel with his left. “Lacrosse is for fun. As long as I make first-team hockey—”
    â€œI know! I know! The schools will be coming after you !” Hailey replied.
    As Evan and Hailey chatted on, Megan found herself suffering from major third-wheel discomfort. She sat back in her seat and gazed out the window, wondering how far Hailey’s house was from the school. As much as she didn’t want to be left alone in the car to make conversation with Evan, listening to the happy lovers’ chatter was much, much worse.
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    Sublect: The Immersion Program
    Megan Meade’s Guide to the McGowan Boys
    Entry Two
    Observation #1: When there’s food in their sights, boys notice little else.
    It’s like lion-and-gazelle time on Animal Planet. Heidi Klum could walk in and no one would notice. Okay, maybe they would. No way to test that theory. But still, it’s like ultimate concentration.
    Observation #2: They’re easily distracted.
    Evan was supposed to show me around school, but he saw some friends and got sidetracked. I chose not to take the slight personally.
    Observation #3: They know how to pose.
    Evan. His car. Some perfectly placed sunbeams. A casual, unaffected lean. **sigh**
    Observation #4: They have bizarro taste in women.

Four
    â€œSo, did you have fun?” Regina asked that night as she opened the front door.
    â€œYeah, thanks again,” Megan said. “But you really didn’t have to get me all this stuff.” Clutched in her hands were four shopping bags full of clothes and makeup Regina had insisted on bringing home for her.
    â€œI didn’t have to—I wanted to,” Regina said. “Do you know what a pleasure it is to spend time in the women’s section at the Gap?”
    Megan laughed. “Well, thanks again.”
    â€œAnytime,” Regina said. “I’m going to make some tea. Do you want some?”
    â€œNo thanks. I think I’ll just go put all this away.”
    â€œWell, good night, hon,” Regina said with a smile.
    â€œâ€™Night.”
    Megan headed down the hallway for the stairs but paused when she heard voices coming from the basement. Down below, Doug called out the play-by-play for what, from the sound of it, was a digital football showdown.
    â€œAnd Ian’s Patriots take the ball on their own thirty-yard line,” Doug intoned, lowering his voice to a near-perfect impression of Al Michaels. “Can Ian, the upstart sixth grader, who until recently was still sucking his fruit punch from a sippy cup, beat last year’s champion and complete spazmo—all filler, no killer Miller?”
    Megan smirked. Doug was actually kind of funny. Who knew?
    â€œAnd Brady drops back to pass. . . . He’s lookin’. . . . He’s