Read Online Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer - Free Book Online Page B

out?” I asked. “You could run the leaf blower or something.”
    Kathryn looked like the idea had never occurred to her. Before she could answer, her mom yelled up fromthe bottom of the stairs. “Kathryn, Brooke, come help me set the table!”
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    Kathryn’s mom made an amazing dinner. And no matter what Kathryn said, her dad wasn’t corny. It was just obvious he really loved his family, the way he gave her nicknames and wanted to hear about our school stuff. Kathryn blushed all through the meal, and once she told him, “Please, Dad! Let Brooke eat!” But mostly, the three of them looked really comfortable in their cozy dining room.
    When she walked me to the door later on, I asked what she was doing for the rest of the evening.
    â€œI don’t know,” she said. “Maybe Matt will come over and watch TV if this online thing he’s hosting ever ends.”
    â€œOf course he will.”
    Her face went bright red. “He’s just a friend.”
    â€œWhatever. He’s totally in love with you.” As if she hadn’t noticed. It was obvious to anybody with eyes. But Kathryn just shook her head.
    â€œAnd I’m totally changing the subject,” she said. “What are you doing tonight?”
    â€œPracticing.”
    She sighed. “That’s what I should be doing.”
    â€œSo do it.”
    â€œBut there’s TV! And Matt coming over! Why don’tyou stay here and hang out with us?”
    â€œI’ve gotta get my hour in. Two if I’m on a roll.”
    â€œFine, Miss Dedicated.” She handed me my purse and opened the door just as my mom was pulling up. “Go home and practice.”
    And I did go. And I did plan on practicing. But then Bud Dawes called, inviting me and the twins, who were home yet again, to a party at his house. I told him no. I couldn’t. I had work I needed to do. And he told me Miles Monaghan would be there.
    Twenty minutes later I was in my bathroom, trying to follow the directions from InStyle magazine on how to apply blush so as to “minimize unflattering features”—namely, my nose.
    â€œDempsey cab service!” Bill hollered from down the hall. “Leaving in five minutes!”
    I gave up on the blush and fluffed out my hair the best I could. Then I put on the outfit I’d picked out: a gold draped sweater, jeans, and heels.
    â€œHey.” Brice poked his head in. He looked me up and down. “You ready, Brookehilde?”
    I took off the heels and put on flats instead.
    â€œReady.”
    When we got to Boodawg’s house it wasn’t packed, which surprised me because usually his parties are huge. This was a small group. Mostly basketball players and afew other A-listers. Looking around, I felt better—like I hadn’t skipped out on practicing to go to a big bash or anything, so that made it okay.
    What made it even better was Miles, in the kitchen, pumping drinks from a keg under the gourmet island.
    â€œBrooke! Excellent!” He smiled his adorable crooked smile at me. “I told the Big Bs not to bother coming unless they brought you along.”
    His bangs kept falling into his eyes, which were this amazing shade of blue. He had on a navy sweater that made them look even bluer. Miles was a senior. A good friend of Bill’s and Brice’s. But he was different from the other guys who hung out at our house. Whenever the twins started calling me Amazon or Brookehilde, he would tell them to shut up. And he never called me Baby B. I could tell Miles didn’t go for girls who were just pretty. Miles wanted something different. Someone special.
    Miles Monaghan, I had decided, would be my first real boyfriend.
    I hadn’t told anybody about it. Not even Kathryn, which was kind of dumb, because if I was going to tell anybody, it would have been her. Maybe I felt weird because I’d never had a boyfriend before. Mostly, though, I think it was