BoysLikeYou.indd Read Online Free PDF

some guy
    named Payton, I couldn’t take it anymore.
    “So you like The Cramps,” I asked, though it was more of a
    statement than a question, and judging by the look on Gram’s
    face, it had come out sorta rude.
    Nathan sat back in his chair and nodded. “Yeah, they’re
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    awesome. The guitarist, Blake, is old school and I appreciate
    that. Too many guys these days are just hacks. They wouldn’t
    know what an arpeggio scale was if it hit them on the head.”
    “Really,” I murmured. They weren’t the only ones. What the
    heck was an arpeggio scale?
    Gram sat up and grabbed the empty bowls off the table.
    “Nathan here is quite the musician.”
    Ah, now I understood the tattoos and hair. He wasn’t just
    into the look; he was part of the scene.
    Nathan’s face hardened, and the darkness or sadness or what-
    ever you wanted to call it was there again. It was in the blank
    expression that crept into his eyes, the way his hands froze, and the way his shoulders hunched forward as if trying to protect
    himself from something.
    It made me wonder. From what?
    “So you must be a guitarist,” I said.
    He shrugged and didn’t answer. Instead he pushed his chair
    back and got to his feet. “Thanks a lot, Mrs. Blackwell, that was way better than what I had waiting for me at home.”
    Gram leaned against the counter. “Thanks for your hard work
    today, Nathan. You’ll be back Monday, or will it be your uncle?”
    He shoved his hands into his front pockets, and for
    a moment, I glimpsed the tops of his boxers again, along
    with a pretty impressive span of flat, toned skin. My cheeks
    flushed when I glanced up and realized he was watching me
    watching him.
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    Juliana Ston e
    A hint of a smile touched the corner of his mouth, and
    I didn’t like the way his eyes glittered beneath the soft light
    from overhead.
    He was arrogant, and I didn’t like him.
    Or maybe I didn’t like how he made me feel, which was
    something I didn’t want to think about. At least, not right now.
    “I’m pretty sure I’m here for the next few weeks,” he answered,
    his attention once more on Gram. I exhaled a long, hot breath
    and pushed at a few pieces of hair that stuck to my neck.
    Gram smiled. “Wonderful.” She paused, her eyes swinging
    my way, her forehead drawn thoughtfully. About a half a second
    before she spoke, I knew what she was up to. I opened my mouth
    in an effort to dodge the bullet, but she beat me to the punch.
    “Do you have plans tomorrow afternoon, Nathan?”
    Oh. My. God.
    I gave Gram the stink eye but she ignored me, even with my
    right eyebrow raised at least an inch or more.
    If Nathan was surprised by Gram’s question, he sure didn’t
    show it.
    “Nope. Some of the guys are up at a cottage and I’m stuck
    here, so…”
    “I see,” Gram said, still avoiding my glare.
    I swear, if she goes where I think she’s going to go—
    “So, would you be able to take Monroe to the Peach Festival
    in town? She’s been stuck with me for a week, and I’m not
    exactly exciting company for a sixteen- year- old.”
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    “I’m almost seventeen,” I interrupted.
    Okay, Nathan seemed surprised now. He hunched his shoul-
    ders even more and rolled on the heels of his feet.
    “Uh…”
    Oh great. From the pained look on his face, I gathered
    that he’d rather eat rat poison than take me to some stupid
    Peach Festival.
    Not that I wanted to go or anything, but still…something
    about the way he avoided looking in my general direction pissed
    me off.
    “I’d for sure take Monroe, Mrs. Blackwell, but I…”
    His face flushed deeply, and for a moment, I forgot to feel
    insulted, mostly because my curiosity was piqued. Something
    was up, and for the first time in a long time, I wanted to know
    what it was— probably because it wasn’t me under the micro-
    scope.