Page 40 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
“And you like him.”
Her cheeks grow even redder. “No. We’re just friends. I like him as afriend.”
Sure. Then why is she still blushing?
“What’s his name?”
“Liam. He’s eighteen and lives in Kansas. We gamed the other night and he’s pretty good.”
I give her a knowing smile.
She makes a face. “Stop. I told you he’s just a friend.”
“But you might want something more?”
“No. Anyway, he lives all the way in Kansas.”
“So? These things happen all the time.”
“Look, I don’t even know anything about him. And I don’t do online relationships, so you can erase whatever thoughts you’ve got spinning around in your head.”
“Okay. I’m just excited for you because I know you want a boyfriend.”
“Yeah, I want someone who actually lives in my city. There’s no point getting attached to someone when things won’t work out. That’s why we’re just friends. Not that I like him like that, anyway. Like I said, I don’t even know him.”
“Right…”
She folds her arms across her chest. “So how’s Eric Palmer doing?”
“What?”
“Eric Palmer? Hottie next door? Swoony backup singer and awesome guitarist in your band? Super romantic Beast? Does any of that ring a bell?”
I straighten up on the bed. “What about him?”
“How is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sureyou don’t.”
I get up and plant myself back at my desk. “Things went great at rehearsal this afternoon. He and I are vibing really well.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
I stare down at the complicated math. “I have a lot of homework.”
“Right. Katie hashomework.”
“Do you have any idea how hard this stuff is?”
She shrugs and lies back on the bed with her arms stretched over her head. “Meh. That’s why I don’t bother doing any of it.”
I give her a look. “How are you going to graduate?”
She shrugs. “I’ll pull it off. I always do.”
She’s really smart, even though she doesn’t care about school. She can pull off a passing grade by not even studying.
