In Every Way Read Online Free PDF Page B

shrugs. “It’s incredibly rude not to write back.”
    “I didn’t get them until now, Jenny.” I lean forward, keeping my voice low, while being hella grateful that this two feet of counter space is between us. “You’re being a little . . . excessive. Please stop texting me.”
    “I don’t understand why you said that in your text, Josh. We are clearly meant to be together. We should at least try it out. We make a great couple.”
    “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel that way.” I glance over at the customers, and Jenny’s head flies around to look at them as well. My chest seizes up, but luckily she doesn’t say anything obnoxious. She turns back to me.
    “You’re not giving this a chance.”
    “How did you know to find me here?” I ask.
    She rolls her eyes. “You told me like five times about your family’s business, idiot.”
    I take a deep breath. “See? Name calling like that is one of the reasons I don’t think we should date.”
    She flinches. “Are you so much of a pussy that you can’t take a little playful talk?”
    Oh geez. My dad will be back any minute now and I don’t want him to see what I’ve gotten myself into. As much as I want to tell her to get the hell out of the store, I take a deep breath. “Look, I’m busy right now. Can we talk later?”
    Her lips press into a thin line. “How much later?”
    “I work until ten,” I lie. We close at nine, so we’ll be long gone by the time she comes back.
    “Fine.” Jenny’s blue eyes meet mine and it sends a chill up my spine. Then she smiles all sweetly. “I’ll see you then, Joshie.”

Chapter 6
     

    Confession time: I’ve never had a boyfriend.
    Though I probably don’t need to confess that. I’m pretty sure the entire world could take one look at me and, if asked the question “Does this girl have a boyfriend?” they would answer no right away.
    I think not having something only makes you want it more. I have friends who’ve been heartbroken and trampled on by guys, and they still want a new boyfriend when things with the first one blow up. So maybe there’s no escaping it. We all just want to be loved, no matter how much it might suck when you get your heart broken.
    I snort to myself as I head to work a few days later. I’m sure heartbreaks suck. I can’t even imagine. And that’s just it—I can’t imagine because I’ve never even been close to it. You have to be in love before you can have your heart broken.
    No one loves me.
    No one crushes on me.
    I don’t know why.
    Maddie says it’s because I’m so quiet and I keep to myself. She swears that I’m not too ugly to get a boyfriend, but I think that’s just the kind of things friends say to other friends. Maddie is sweet, and kind. She would never say, “Bess, you’re too chubby to get a guy’s attention.” Even though it’s true, and even though it wouldn’t really hurt me to hear it, she still wouldn’t say it.
    I guess that makes her a nice friend.
    I send her a text, even though I’m pretty sure she’s already left for her vacation on the other side of the world.
     
    Bess: I miss you! Summer sucks without you.
    Maddie: I miss you too, chicka. We’ll hang out when I get back :-)
     
    I don’t reply because I’m not sure if we’ll get charged for texting internationally, but the short exchange puts a smile on my face. Maddie and I met in class when she moved here last year. Although she was quickly picked up by Mindy and the popular crowd, we were still friends in class.
    Although she promises to hang out with me this summer, I’m not entirely sure it’ll happen. I mean, it would be fun, totally. But she’s in the popular crowd and I am most definitely not.
    Grandma and I don’t even live anywhere near Shady Heights, the uppity part of town where Maddie lives with her family in what is literally a mansion.
    Still, I’m grateful for the friendship, even if I don’t belong.
    Today I remembered to bring healthy snacks. I have a baggie of