Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry Read Free Book Online Page A

girl diet.
    Then I spot Jen’s dad’s SUV. I really don’t need him to see me here. I start to jump off the bench to run into the store. Wait. Wait. I’m an idiot.
    “Hey.” Aidan grins as he rolls down the window. “Climb in.”
    I jog away from the bench and jump into the passenger’s side, pausing as I take him in now that it’s daylight. Last time I saw him we were sort of in the dark. His arm has that lean, muscled look the jocks have and his chest is broad enough that even his waist looks tight. Nice jaw, fantastic hair…
    “So, you ditched,” he says with the beginnings of a smile.
    “Yeah. Guess so.” I let out a breath of relief. No one I know. No one to judge. No one to say anything. Just a small intimidation factor at how super cute he is.
    “You sound as relieved as I am.” He glances at me briefly as he weaves us out of the parking lot.
    “Relieved?” I ask.
    “I was looking for an excuse to get out of the house. Foster’s always looking at me like he’s waiting for me to do something, and I have no idea what.”
    Wow. He’s a guy and sort of got all personal. I’m feeling a bit flattered. “What are you going to do?”
    He slumps and his eyes slide over to mine.
    Idiot. “Oh, right. You’re done talking about this.”
    “What’s with you?” His voice is all relaxed and friendly like we’re always hanging out like this. Not like I’m the weird friend of his little high schooler cousin.
    “Same. Same. Kind of pathetic I guess. I swear I’m not normally this girl. I’m not sure why I let Shelton bother me so much. And I’ve never freaked out and left school.” I can’t believe how crazy honest I’m being here with someone I barely know.
    He nods, but doesn’t ask more. “My mom’s family is cool, but I feel like they’re always tiptoeing around me, and I hate it. If they have something to say, I wish they’d just get it out. You know how when you walk into a room and suddenly everything’s quiet?”
    My chest sinks. “And you know they’re talking about you.”
    “Exactly.”
    “Oh yeah. I know that one.” All my diabetes stuff gave me a good lesson on the whole hushed conversation thing.
    “So, that’s what it’s been like.” His hand clutches the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles are white.
    “Gotcha.” Wait. Starting really soon I’m going to need out of the house. Jen’s busy, Shelton’s occupied with someone else, and Mom’s accusing me of moping. “Hey. I just realized something here.”
    “What’s that?”
    “You’re not awful to hang out with,” I say as the excitement starts to build. He is cute. And Jen’s okay with us being together. And it’s not like I’m looking for a new boyfriend, but still…
    “Thanks.” The corner of his mouth twitches in the beginnings of a smile.
    “No, sorry.” I really have to get better about thinking first. “I mean. This is safe, right? And keeps them off our back? Like we could get together sometimes to hang out?”
    “I don’t know…” Only his tone says he does know and the answer is no.
    I feel a little prick of rejection, even though it was just an idea.
    “You can take me home. I’m not far. I’m sorry for asking you to come.” This was really stupid. The excitement of my idea just inverted itself into my chest. And not in a good way.
    “You asking for a ride isn’t a big deal, Kate. I’m just…” His eyes dart around a bit as he lets out a breath. “Planning anything right now is…hard. I’m not sure what’s next for me, and I’ve never had that before.”
    I slump in my seat. “Join the club.”
    We ride in silence for a bit but it turns from the awkward kind to the okay kind pretty fast. I’m not sure what’s different but maybe it’s that he’s not gripping the steering wheel as hard as he was.
    “I’m gonna drive for a bit. I’m sure if you go home you’ll be answering questions you don’t want to answer. Wanna join me?”
    His voice is unreadable. I’m not