Read Online Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman - Free Book Online Page B

I’m not prepared for.
    “It’s not always this noisy,” Tyler says as a guy on a skateboard whizzes past belting out some rap song at the top of his lungs, “but I recommend studying in the library. Okay, let’s see . . . here’s your room.”
    Tyler knocks twice and after a moment the door opens. There, standing before me, is a half-naked guy so gorgeous I do a double take. He’s got dark, liquid eyes, close-cropped black hair, and smooth brown skin. His bare torso ripples with muscles: sculpted shoulders, well-defined pecs, and washboard abs. He’s perfectly cut without veering into scary bodybuilder bulk. My attention jerks back to his eyes, which take me in warily.
    “Hi.” I can feel everything in me shifting into flirt mode. My hip automatically juts out to one side and the word comes out soft and fluttery.
    Tyler and the guy at the door both look at me like I’ve just farted.
    “I mean yo, what’s up?”
    Yo?
    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    “Uh, Emilio, this is your new roommate, Nat.” Tyler looks apologetic.
    “Roommate? Oh, man . . . ”
    “I know.” Tyler holds up a hand. “It sucks, but you’re the only junior with a single.”
    “Why didn’t anyone give me a heads-up?” Emilio lets us into the room, which is small and sparsely furnished. There are two beds against the far wall, each one beneath a tall, wavy-paned window with curlicues of ivy peeking around the edges. One of the beds is unmade, so I toss my duffel bag onto the other.
    “Last-minute thing, I guess,” Tyler says. “He just kind of showed up.”
    Emilio grudgingly holds out a hand. “Sorry, man. Emilio Cruz. I’m not trying to be a jerk. I just like my privacy.”
    I shake his hand. His fingers are warm, his grip firm, and I have to fight the irrational impulse to pull him to me. “I understand. Don’t mind me. I’ll try to stay out of your way.”
    Tyler looks at his watch. “We better get you into uniform. Class starts in fifteen minutes.”
    “Oh, yeah, okay.” I look back at Emilio, who’s buttoning his shirt now. “Nice meeting you.” The second it’s out of my mouth I know it’s geekily formal and wish I could take it back.
    Emilio smiles with half his mouth. “Uh-huh.”
    I follow Tyler out, catching one last quick look at Emilio before the door swings shut. God, he’s amazing. Why do I never meet boys like that when I’m a girl? The thought of living in close proximity to such a fine specimen fills me with equal parts horror and giddiness. I remind myself I’m on a mission here, not trolling for phone numbers. Any interest I have in Underwood boys must be purely professional.
    Still, the image of a shirtless Emilio is burned into my brain.

    Tyler’s room is a few doors down. As we enter, the skinniest, palest boy I’ve ever seen stands buck-ass naked, one leg up on the bed, running a towel back and forth between his legs like dental floss.
    I start to scream, then quickly cup a hand over my mouth.
    Tyler looks at me like I’m crazy. “What’s wrong now?”
    I force myself to look at the floor. “Nothing. Just a cramp. I’ll be fine.”
    Tyler gestures with one hand at the naked guy before heading straight for the closet. “My roommate, Max. Max, this is the new guy, Nat.”
    Max swings the towel around his neck and salutes. “Top of the morning to you!”
    “Yeah,” I say, still flustered.
    “Okay, try this on.” Tyler hands me a neatly pressed uniform on a hanger. “Hurry up! I can’t be late for class.”
    Max, thank God, is pulling on a pair of tighty whiteys, so at least I don’t have to concentrate on not looking at him. That’s when it sinks in, though: Tyler expects me to change into his uniform. Here. In front of them.
    I take the hanger from him, my mind reeling. “Uh, okay . . .”
    He looks at his watch again. “Really, you have to hurry. I’ve got a quiz first period.”
    “See, the thing is . . .” I trail off. The thing is what? The thing is you