My Secret Boyfriend Read Online Free PDF

added. “How about kitchen duty for the next three days?”
    She weighed the alternatives. She didn’t want her parents to find out all her fibs and fantasies about Ryan. She didn’t want to give in to Jamey either. But it was the lesser of the two evils. “Three days,” she told him through gritted teeth. “Just three days.”
    A bright smile lit up his face. “My lips are sealed.”
    Jamey scampered from the room. With shaky hands, Jordan retrieved her diary, locked it, and buried it in the deepest drawer of her bureau. Maybe it would be best if she never wrote in it again. But then who would she tell her thoughts to? She couldn’t tell her mom. Or even Laurie. There was no one. And confessing to the diary had given her some sort of outlet. Oh, why had she ever opened her mouth in the first place?

Seven

    T HE Dallas airport teemed with holiday travelers. There were people everywhere, loaded down with souvenirs and luggage. Jordan sat rigidly in a padded chair, her heart thumping hard in her chest. The plane from Washington had arrived, and it was only a matter of minutes before the Elliots walked into the terminal.
    Mrs. Starling was too excited to sit still. Jamey kept busy at a nearby video game. Back at home, their house had been thoroughly cleaned. The guest room had been aired, and a bouquet of flowers had been placed on the dresser. Bunk beds had been assembled in Jamey’s room. His closets had been half emptied, and a new dresser had been added. Everything was ready—except Jordan. She dreaded Ryan’s arrival more than a visit to the dentist.
    “There they are!” Mrs. Starling shouted. “Beth! Here we are, Beth!”
    Mrs. Elliot was blond and stylishly dressed in a pale blue wool suit. Behind her came Ryan. He was tall and serious and carried a duffle bag over his shoulder and a small suitcase in his hand. He was even better-looking in person than in his picture. “Hi,” Jordan said.
    “Hello,” he answered stiffly.
    The two mothers embraced and reintro-duced their children to each other. Jordan thought Beth Elliot was pretty, but she had tired lines around her eyes that made her look older than she was.
    “We’ll get your luggage,” Mrs. Starling directed. “Oh, Beth, it’s so good to see you.”
    “It’s good to be here,” Mrs. Elliot said quietly.
    They headed down the escalator to the baggage-claim area. Jordan followed Ryan through the crush of people, watching his back weave through the crowds. Jamey had to run every couple of steps to keep up with him.
    In the car, heading for home, the three of them sat in the backseat, while the mothers chattered up front. Jordan gave Ryan a sidelong glance. He’d dropped his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. He looked tired and alone.
    Jordan tried to imagine how he must feel. His parents were divorced. He’d had to pack and move hundreds of miles away from his friends and school. And now he had to live with strangers. The thought brought a lump to her throat.
    “I’ve got a snake.” Jamey’s timid voice broke the stained silence in the backseat. “Did you ever have one?”
    Ryan opened one eye and peered down at Jamey’s face. “No. I’ve never had a snake.”
    “Jordan’s afraid of Stallone. But he’s really a very nice snake. I’ll let you hold him whenever you want. When we get to the house, I’ll show you.”
    “I don’t think I want to mess with your snake,” Ryan said, his voice low.
    “Oh.” Jordan could hear the disappointment in Jamey’s voice.
    Ryan looked at Jamey briefly, then added, “Maybe some other time.”
    “All right!” Jamey beamed, and a tiny smile turned up the sides of Ryan’s mouth.
    At the house, they unloaded the car and Jamey led the Elliots on a tour of their new home. In Jamey’s room, he proudly showed Ryan his new bed. “Can I have the top bunk?” Jamey asked shyly. “I didn’t want to take it in case you wanted to sleep on top.”
    “Sure, sport,” Ryan said, turning his