One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin Read Free Book Online

smiles again. “Don’t I always?”
    Brian cracks his knuckles and says to no one in particular, “We’ll discuss this later.” He slams the door behind him. The sound of the garage door opening and closing blankets the confused silence.
    â€œHe’s still not used to having a teenage daughter,” Mom explains. “It makes him nervous.”
    â€œI don’t belong to him,” I snap.
    Mom claps her hands. “Change of subject—Micah! How did your first week of senior year go? Everything you hoped it could be?”
    â€œSucked big time.” Loch keeps on smiling. “Thanks for letting me stay over, but I better get going.” He slaps me on the back. “Later, Toni.”
    â€œLater.” Seconds after he leaves, I pop open a Mountain Dew and lean my elbows against the kitchen counter. As I twist the tab on the can, back and forth, back and forth, I can feel her eyes on me. Finally, I look up.
    â€œGo ahead,” I say. “Lecture.”
    â€œI probably shouldn’t allow boys in your room anymore,” Mom says. “Overnight. With the door closed.”
    â€œMom.” I pop off the tab and clasp it between my fingers. This new concern of hers is clearly Brian’s influence. “He’s not a boy.”
    Mom’s eyebrows raise. “And how, may I ask, do you know that?”
    I sip from the can. “I haven’t seen his man bits to know for certain, but he’s slept over here a thousand times before.”
    â€œBut you’ve both grown up—”
    â€œIt never bothered Dad,” I interrupt.
    Mom looks up, her eyes full of surprise. She picks at her chipped red nail polish. “It did bother him.” She takes a bite of her cereal. More milk dribbles down her chin. “But it would bother him more now. Micah grew into that manly chin of his. He transformed over the summer. He’s kind of movie-star pretty now. Don’t you think?”
    â€œMom. It’s Loch .”
    As she tosses the bowl into the sink, leftover milk splatters onto the countertop, but she leaves it. “Things can’t stay the same forever, Toni. Everything changes, whether you pretend to see it or not.” She kisses my forehead before she disappears into the living room.
    After I gulp down the last of the Mountain Dew, I toss the can into the recycling bin. I know things change. She doesn’t have to tell me that. Once upon a time, I had a father. Now I don’t.
    If that’s not living with change , I don’t know what is.

six

    O VER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE weather shifts and cold air swoops in to replace the last remnants of summer. Crunchy, crisp leaves spread across town like a seasonal plague. The lake water trembles, and the sky’s mood darkens. Weather I would normally welcome on a Saturday morning, sinking beneath my covers, warm and cozy. Today, however, a special homework assignment calls.
    â€œI must be seeing things,” Brian says when I walk into the kitchen, the early morning light shuffling through the blinds. “It’s Saturday, and Toni is awake before noon? Wow.” He sips his coffee.
    I set my book bag on the counter, groaning, and head for the fridge. I gulp down a Mountain Dew and grab another for the road.
    â€œYou headed out?” Brian asks.
    â€œYeah.” I try to leave, but he just keeps talking.
    â€œSearching for Champ with your boyfriend?”
    I stop, embarrassed. “Loch isn’t my boyfriend.”
    â€œOh. Hard to keep up. Sorry.” Brian cracks his knuckles. “Do you want him to be your boyfriend?”
    Brian makes it sound like Loch could be a first boyfriend (oh, how cute!) to write about in a diary or something. How do I explain my relationship with Loch to Brian? Loch’s my best friend. I can share things with him that I could never share with a boyfriend .
    I take a deep breath, telling myself to be nice here. “I’m going