The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot Read Free Book Online

obsession with the transvestite killer. They didn’t even get that mad.
    Anyway, Nadine, do you want to know something else? About Max Friedlander, I mean. If you can stand it….
    From where I’m sitting, at my desk at home, I can see into his apartment—I mean, Mrs. Friedlander’s apartment. Right into the spare bedroom. Mrs. Friedlander always kept the mini-blinds in that room down, but Max opened them right up (to look at the city lights, I guess—we do have that nice view here on the fifteenth floor) and I can see him lying on the bed, typing something on his laptop. Tweedledum is on the bed beside him, as is Paco, of course (no sign of Mr. Peepers, but then, he’s shy).
    I know it’s wrong to look, but, Nadine, they look so nice and happy in there!
    And I guess it doesn’t hurt that Max really has very nice forearms….
    Oh, God. I had better go to bed. I think I’m getting slap-happy.
    Love,
    Mel

To: Jason Trent
    From: John Trent
    Subject: How’d it go?
    She’s a redhead.
    Help.
    John

To: Mel Fuller     From: Dolly Vargas
    Subject: Max Friedlander
    Darling, did I overhear you correctly when I ran into you and Nadine at Starbucks this morning? Did you say Max Friedlander actually moved in next door to you?
    And that you were actually spying on him?
    And that you saw him naked???
    I seem to have gotten some water in my ears last weekend at Stephen’s, so I just want to make sure I heard you right before I call every single person I know and tell them.
    XXXOOO
    Dolly

To: Mel Fuller
    From: Nadine Wilcock
    Subject: Dolly
    Mel—
    Would you stop obsessing? Who is she going to tell? Dolly doesn’t know that many people here at the office.
    And the ones she does know all hate her and wouldn’t believe her anyway.
    Trust me.
    Nad

To: Mel Fuller
    From: Aaron Spender
    Subject: You
    Mel, did I hear this from Dolly correctly? Did a naked man move in next door to you? What happened to the old lady? Did she end up dying? I hadn’t heard. I’m very sorry for your loss, if that’s the case. I know the two of you were fairly close, for Manhattan neighbors.
    But I don’t think it’s appropriate for a man to parade around nude in front of his neighbors. You really ought to complain to the co-op board about this, Melissa. I know you are only renting, and that you don’t like to make waves because you have such a good deal on the place, but this kind of thing could be perceived as a sexual assault. Really, it could.
    Melissa, I was wondering if you’d given any thought to what I said in the elevator the other day. I really meant it. I think it’s time.
    I remember that day when we went walking through Central Park during your lunch hour. It seems so long ago, but it was only last spring. You purchased a hot dog from an outdoor vendor, and I urged you not to, because of that story I did on carcinogens in street-cart food.
    I’ll never forget the way your blue eyes flashed at me as you said, “Aaron, in order to die, you have to live a little first.”
    Melissa, I’ve decided: I want to live. And the person I want to live with, more than anyone else in the world, is you. I believe I am ready to make a commitment.
    Oh, Melissa, please won’t you let that commitment be with you? Aaron
    Aaron Spender
    Senior Correspondent
    New York Journal

To: Mel Fuller
    From: George Sanchez
    Subject: Tardiness
    So, Dolly tells me you finally got in touch with the dog guy. That would explain why you were on time this morning for the first time in twenty-seven days.
    Congratulations, kid. I’m proud of you.
    Now if you’d just start handing in your copy on time I won’t have to fire you. But I guess I