Read Online Even When You Lie to Me by Jessica Alcott - Free Book Online

said, “Fair point.” I didn’t usually trust guys my own age, but there was something about his laugh I liked: it was quick and friendly, like he was always ready to be amused by your jokes, no matter how terrible.
    “And our brother is on the lacrosse team,” Asha said.
    I turned to Dev. “Not you.”
    “What an assumption! Look at these muscles,” he said. I started to blush, but then he rolled up one sleeve and poked at his flaccid bicep. He was joking. I relaxed.
    “You’re wasted on the paper,” I said. “They probably need a water boy.”
    He laughed again; his whole body shook with it. “I’ll look into it,” he said.
    “It’s our little brother, Jai,” Asha said. “I doubt he cares whether we’re here, but our mom would kill us if we didn’t show up. What about you?”
    “Lila’s on the field hockey team,” I said. “She said I have to whistle when she comes out.”
    “Doubt she’ll be able to hear yours above all the others,” Asha said.
    I glanced at her to see her expression, but she was looking down at her camera, adjusting the settings. “Sorry,” she said when she saw me looking at her. “It’s hard to get the white balance right with these artificial lights.”
    “Ah,” I said. “Of course. But that camera’s…good?”
    “It’s her Christmas and birthday presents for the next five years,” Dev said. “You know what I got for Christmas last year? A pair of hiking boots. I don’t even hike.”
    “I think they were trying to give you a hint,” Asha said as I laughed. “Like, go outside more than once a month.”
    “I play plenty of sports,” Dev said.
    “I don’t think playing them on your Xbox counts.”
    “It’s okay,” I said. “The outdoors is overrated anyway.”
    “
Thank
you, Charlie,” Dev said. “I’m glad someone here makes sense.” We smiled at each other.
    The gym had mostly filled up. There was an expectant thrum in the air like the murmur of a band tuning up.
    “Here we go,” Asha said.
    Dr. Crowley crossed the gym with long fluid steps, looking crisp and cool despite the damp heat. “Welcome, everyone,” she said when she got to the microphone. The crowd whooped; kids drummed their feet on the bleachers.
    “This is our inaugural rally, so let’s make the most of it.” She smiled indulgently at the crowd. “First up is Coach Rick Perona.”
    “Thanks, Dr. C.,” Coach Perona said as he took the microphone. “All right, children, settle down.” His eyes gleamed as the crowd cheered. “As you all know, we haven’t had the best couple of seasons. We’ve had setbacks; we’ve had disappointments.” He paused to survey the crowd. “But this year, that’s all gonna change.” The noise swelled. “Introducing your new quarterback, Ethan Salvato!”
    Ethan burst through the gym doors as if the sound itself were propelling him out. He whooped as he jogged through the gym.
    “Sean Varniska, running back!”
    Katie stood up and screamed. As Sean ran past, I imagined his penis flopping around in his shorts like an uncooked hot dog hanging out of a split-open pack. I wondered how he could run with it if it was really as big as that girl had said. Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable, slapping him on the leg or something? I tried thinking of him with an erection, but I couldn’t picture Sean’s goofy face contorted in…effort.
    Dev pointed out their brother when they sent out the lacrosse team’s players. As Jai stood in line he searched the bleachers, and when he spotted Asha and Dev, he waved like a little kid, looking excited and proud to see them.
    “Good thing you came,” I said as Asha waved back.
    “Ah, I wouldn’t have missed it,” she said.
    Finally there was the field hockey team. Lila came out third, to a good level of applause. A few boys wolf-whistled at her, and a couple more groaned “Lila!” like it was a dirty word. She bowed and lifted her skirt at the hip, just enough to show some thigh. A few more guys shouted