In Real Life Read Online Free PDF

not like I’m that girl pining away for her guy best friend. In fact, the past month or so is the first time I’d been single in a long time. It’s taken some time to get over the Josh Ahmed disaster, since I thought he was going to be the boyfriend. I mean, I don’t want to get involved with someone before I leave for college. It’s not like I have feelings for Nick, or he has feelings for me. No.
    So, yeah, I expect Lo to defend me to Grace, who’s been at UCLA and playing house with her ex and probably doesn’t realize how non-Nick-centric my life actually is. But instead, Lo walks up to Grace, slips a wet arm through my sister’s, and says, “Oh yeah, Hannah. You’ve got it bad.”
    *   *   *
    The reality of what I have just committed to do sets in after Lo runs home to gather her hoochie wear and I’m left alone in the living room with a very excited Grace. My sister bounces on the couch, poking at her cell phone, while I wear a trail of trauma into the carpet with my pacing.
    â€œWhere are we going to stay? How are we going to get a hotel without Mom and Dad knowing? The only money I can use is that ‘for emergencies only’ credit card, and I seriously doubt this is up there with car problems, fire, or bodily harm.”
    Grace looks up from her phone. “Hey, you deciding to do something crazy is a five-alarm emergency in my book. We need to jump on it before you change your mind.”
    I shoot her a dirty look, but she waves it off.
    â€œI’m texting Nick.” I reach over to the coffee table to pull my phone off the charger. “Maybe he knows where we can stay.”
    â€œNo!” Grace stretches across the couch and grabs my phone before I can reach it. “No texting. This should be a surprise.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause it’s more fun this way. Imagine the look on his face when you show up at his show. He’s going to flip.”
    I feel wrongness down to my gut when I think about doing something this big, this game changing, and not cluing Nick in. My stomach tightens like a fist at the thought of keeping this secret, even if it’s only for twenty-four hours and even if it’s a fun secret. I tell Nick everything. Well, almost everything. But I tell him more than I tell anyone else. Even Lo.
    But then I let myself picture this scene Grace has set up: Nick at House of Blues with the band. Onstage, playing guitar. Seeing me in the crowd. The instant of recognition. The smile. The hug. The excitement.
    This is the moment that launched a thousand daydreams, the moment I thought I gave up forever once I decided meeting Nick was never going to happen and gave the relief power over the regret.
    I can keep a secret for one night if it means getting that experience.
    â€œOkay. Fine. Surprise.” I pull my hair out of its bun, shake it loose, and then wrap it up again. “But that doesn’t solve the hotel problem.”
    Grace hops up from the couch, hands me my phone, and slaps me on the butt. “Oh, I have that handled. Thanks to Rocker. ”
    â€œ Rocker ? How?” I have no idea how Grace’s internship at Rocker magazine equals hotel, but I’m all ears.
    â€œWell, this internship was an issue between me and Gabe, as you know—”
    â€œOne of many, yes.”
    Grace rolls her eyes. “Anyway, since we broke up, I’ve totally thrown myself into things there. I’ve been trying to pitch some story ideas,” she says. “I figured since they’re full of experts on L.A. music there, I could do some research on the Las Vegas scene or something. Local Vegas bands. My editor loves that kind of stuff.” She looks so pleased with herself, and it’s comforting to see a look of confidence on her face again. This breakup almost broke Grace; I thought Gabe had taken that confidence when he left.
    â€œYou’re an intern, though,” I say.