Read Online Fixer-Upper by Meg Harding - Free Book Online Page A

a look. Matt sauntered into the room and picked up a gray long-sleeved Henley. He tossed it at Jake. “Wear that with your dark jeans and your old Converse.”
    “You think?”
    “I know.”
    “Come with me,” said Jake, blurting it out before he could think about it.
    Matt sat down on the bed, right on top of Jake’s clothes. “I won’t cramp your style?”
    Jake pulled the gray T-shirt on. “We both know I don’t have any style to cramp.” His words were muffled by the shirt covering his face.
    “How much time do I have to get ready?”
    He pulled his phone to him. “I was supposed to leave five minutes ago.”
    “Guess I’m going like this,” said Matt.
    “Guess so,” replied Jake, tugging his jeans on. He turned in front of the mirror. “This does look good.” He could see Matt rolling his eyes in the mirror’s reflection.
    He moved quicker after that, hustling them out of the house and into Matt’s car. Matt grumbled about being made to drive, but Jake knew he didn’t mind. He directed him, using Apple Maps, and after several wrong turns and no little confusion, they finally found the bar.
    The lot was packed with vehicles he was used to seeing sitting in front of his house. His gaze went right to Dakota’s truck, and the fluttering rolling feeling in his stomach increased.
    Breathe.
    He wished he’d worn a jacket so he could stuff his hands in its pockets.
    “Calm down,” said Matt, prodding him toward the door with a hand on his back. “You see him every day.”
    “That’s work.”
    “I’m not arguing with you.” Matt opened the door and practically shoved Jake through. He stumbled a little but righted himself quickly and looked up to see Jasper and Dakota grinning at him.
    He headed toward their booth and scooted in beside Dakota, leaving Matt to sit next to Jasper. “Hi,” he said.
    Dakota laughed. “Hi,” he said. “Didn’t know you were bringing a friend.”
    “I’m Matt,” said Matt, thrusting his hand forward for a shake. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s great to finally meet you in person.”
    “Oh, really?” Dakota shook his hand and looked at Jake. “You talk about me with your friends?”
    Jake could feel his face heating up. It felt like someone was holding a flame to his cheeks.
    “He talks about you all the time,” said Matt, getting to it before Jake could try and defend himself. “You’re teaching Jake here to become quite the landscaper, I hear. Gotta say, I’d pay to see that.”
    There was a drink in front of him, and without thinking Jake grabbed it up and took a large sip. He had a feeling the night would continue on in a similar vein, with Matt dropping hints left and right and barely covering them up. Maybe he shouldn’t have let him come.
    “You’re drinking my beer,” said Dakota.
    Jake pulled the glass away from his mouth, looked at it. He turned to Dakota and held it out. “Do you still want it? I’m sorry.” He couldn’t believe he’d drank his drink. Who did that? Apparently Jake did. He felt like banging his head into the table in frustration.
    He shook his head in response. “No, you drink that one. I’ll get a new one.” He made Jake move so he could stride to the bar.
    The second he was out of earshot, Matt and Jasper started laughing. “Oh my God,” gasped Matt. “Have you lost your mind?”
    Jasper was shaking his head, pressing his fist to his mouth to try to muffle his giggles. “You two are like watching a sitcom. I honestly don’t know if it’s the most frustrating thing I’ve ever witnessed or the funniest.”
    Matt clapped his shoulder. “I’m thinking a bit of both.”
    “I don’t think any of this is funny,” protested Jake, honestly horrified to the very core of his being. “I keep acting like an idiot. It’s embarrassing. I want it to stop.”
    “Just tell him you like him,” said Jasper, wiping underneath his eyes with his thumbs.
    Jake really didn’t think it was that funny. He wished he