Believe in Me (Jett #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Hey,” I say, giving her a friendly head nod.
    She’s wearing cut off jean shorts short enough that the inside of the pockets hangs down the front of her thighs, and a plain black tank top. Her toes are curling on top of her flip flops, like she’s ready to bolt at any moment.
    “Good morning,” she says, scratching her elbow. Our eyes meet for just a second and then she looks down, but not down to the floor. Her cheeks turn massively red and I realize exactly what she’s looking at. My bare chest.
    She turns away, tucks her hair behind her ears. I turn back to my biscuits and put them in the oven, all the while hiding a massive grin.
    She thinks I’m hot.
    And I think she’s a mystery.
     
    *
     
    We’d taken breakfast outside to the patio, which is really like a room that happens to be outdoors. There’s a roof that extends across the patio, with ceiling fans and two TVs hanging from the ceiling. Only the long wall that runs along the backyard is open to the outside. The rest is kind of walled in with trellises and the natural stone fireplace and bar. It’s not until breakfast is nearly over that Mom decided to dig her claws into our guest.
    Keanna had been pretty quiet all during breakfast, but I noticed she ate a lot, sampling from every dish Mom prepared. We had eggs, bacon, toast, my biscuits, fruit, scones and jams, sausage links, coffee and orange juice.
    Keanna ate some of it.
    I was just about to comment on it when Mom sets her coffee down with kind of a loud clink, and then smiles warmly at Keanna.
    “So, Keanna. Becca said you and your mom just moved here?”
    She shrugs. “I guess so. I never really know where we’re moving next.”
    “So you move a lot?”
    Keanna begins to nod but then she stops herself and puts on a forced smile. “Something like that.”
    Mom takes a sip of coffee. “What grade will you be in next year?”
    “I’ll be a senior, assuming my transcripts transfer okay.”
    “Jett’s a year younger than you,” Mom says, somehow managing to look relieved for some reason. “He could show you around Lawson High, introduce you to some people.”
    “Thanks,” Keanna says, reaching for another piece of toast. “I’ve moved so much in my life that I’m pretty good at making friends, though.” Her eyes meet mine. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
    “Why do you move so much?” Dad asks. I guess he’s finally decided to join the conversation and stop talking to Park about track stuff. “Are your parents in the military?”
    Keanna chuckles to herself. She shakes her head as she layers strawberry jam onto her toast. “My mom is the posterchild of wanderlust. She doesn’t like being stuck in one place for very long. I doubt we’ll be here past summer.”
    My stomach tightens at the thought of this strange girl disappearing before I’ve had the chance to get to know her. Dad nods to himself and then says, “You don’t want to stay with your dad?”
    She chuckles again and then she looks straight at him. “I don’t know my dad.”
    Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like an awkwardness has descended. I have this sudden urge to rescue her from my parent’s questions so I blurt out the first thing I think of. “You’re really skinny for being able to eat so much.”
    Shit. That was supposed to be a compliment (don’t girls like being called thin?) but the look in her eyes makes me wish I could rewind time and keep my damn mouth shut. Keanna stares at the piece of toast and then looks up at me, with something like deceit in her eyes. Or maybe it’s anger.
    “Ignore my son,” Mom says, rolling her eyes. “Eat all you want, dear.”
    Keanna doesn’t stop looking at me though. Finally, she pushes her chair back and stands up, shoving the rest of her food into her mouth. “Sometimes I go all day without seeing any food at all. So forgive me for eating when there’s actually food in front of me.”
    A lump forms in my throat and I want to take it all back,