Read Online Persuaded by Jenni James - Free Book Online

started to shake. Okay, okay, okay. Stop freaking. This is what I wanted, right? To help Gregory find someone. There. Okay. Kylie’s great. I couldn’t have planned it better myself, right? Right? Kylie was still talking, and it took every bit of self-control I possessed to listen to her.
    “. . . So all you have to do is just casually mention it to him. He’ll pick up on it for sure.” She sighed as she put the car in gear and pulled into the road. “So please, please, please say you’ll do it for me?”
    “Huh? You want me to . . .” I trailed off.
    “Ugh.” Kylie rolled her eyes. “Just mention that I like him, okay? You know, that I think he’s hot—that sort of thing.”
    “How? When? I mean, I don’t even talk to the guy.”
    She waved her hand agitatedly. “Just the next time you hear from him, or see him, or get a chance to talk to him—just bring it up for me, okay?”
    “Wait. Don’t you think me telling Gregory that you like him is a little immature?”
    Kylie’s jaw dropped as she glanced over at me. “No, I don’t.” She focused back on the road. “It’s not like you’re going to bring it up like we’re kids, or something. Just mention it casually, you know? Sheesh, Amanda! Make it natural. Just promise me you’ll do it, okay?”
    Grr. “Fine.” The chances of me having an opportunity to tell Gregory would be scarce anyway.
    Little did I know he would prove me wrong just a few hours later.

Seven: Matchmaker, Matchmaker . . .

    “Hey, Amanda! Can you get that?” Kylie hollered from her bathroom where she was touching up her makeup again. Her cell had been ringing off the hook since her mom had left a couple of hours ago.
    “Sure, hang on.” I set the celebrity gossip magazine down and rolled off the guest bed to answer the phone that was chirping merrily with the latest pop song on Kylie’s dresser.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, Kylie?” Gregory’s voice shocked me so much I almost dropped the phone.
    “Uh, no. It—it’s Amanda,” I managed to choke out.
    “Who is it?” Kylie mouthed.
    I covered the phone with my hand. “Gregory.”
    “Shut up!” she hissed. “Are you kidding me? You’re gonna tell him about me, right? You have to.”
    “Hey.” Gregory chuckled into my ear. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
    “Oh—hi, Gregory.” I feigned surprise. “You needed Kylie?” I smiled at her and walked forward.
    “Yeah, sure, if she’s around.”
    Kylie shook her head, stepped into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut.
    “Uh, well, she’s in the—the shower right now. Can I have her call you back?”
    “Okay. This is her cell, right? You can just have her call me back on the number that’s on the screen.”
    His phone number. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it would explode. With a deep breath, I nodded my head and then realized he couldn’t hear me. “O–okay, that’ll be great. I’ll let her know.” Tell him. Just get it over with and tell him.
    “Thanks. You’re awesome.”
    He thinks I’m awesome. My hand began to shake as I clutched the phone tighter. Then, before I lost my nerve, I blurted, “Oh! Uh, Gr–Gregory, I wanted to tell you something.”
    “Yeah?”
    His voice sounded so good. I closed my eyes and swallowed. “Well, you know how Kylie’s not around at the moment?” What am I saying? Just spit it out.
    “Um, yeah?”
    “I—uh, anyway, I just wanted to say before she comes back, that she, she—uh, she—”
    “She—?” I could hear the grin in Gregory’s voice and it nearly disarmed me.
    Say it already. “Look.” I attempted a chuckle but failed. With another deep breath I plowed on. “Kylie likes you. I mean, a lot. S–so, if you want to ask her out or something—I’m not saying you have to, just if you do, she’d probably really like it.” There. I said it. I held my breath and waited for the verdict.
    Gregory was quiet for a few seconds before saying softly, “Oh. Actually, that’s what I was hoping