American Love Songs Read Online Free Page A

what, though. You clean up the apartment, and well call the first month even.”
    Parker protested, “I dont want—”
“To live in this slovenly hellhole?” Jake let him splutter for a moment, then took pity on him. “You think I could find someone to clean this place for less than that? Youre nuts. You can owe me one.”
10 Or, as it turned out, a closet homosexual.
    Parker tilted his head to one side like he was considering. He wanted to say yes, Jake could tell. “Youre not a serial killer or anything, are you? Because I honestly dont think Im this lucky.”
    Jake leaned back on the couch with a smile, though that didnt last for long when he got a whiff of it. He definitely needed to buy some Febreeze. “Something tells me our luck is about to change for the better.” His stomach growled. That reminded him—”So, are you hungry?”
    “
M
AMA, Im home!” Jake announced his presence in the house the same way he had since he was six years old. He was neater when he took off his shoes now, though, careful not to track mud on his mothers hardwood floors after the time she made him wash them on his hands and knees. “I brought a friend,” he added, looking over his shoulder at Parker.
    Parker closed the door behind him quietly, actually bent to take off his shoes, and placed them neatly on the rack. Jakes mama was going to love him. “Are you sure your mom wont mind—”
    “Jacob!” his mom said, practically sprinting into the room. It was hideously embarrassing, but she was his mom, so Jake submitted to his full name and having both cheeks kissed affectionately. Then she mercifully turned her attention to Parker.
    Or, you know, not so mercifully, because the next words out of her mouth were, “And whos this? Jake didnt tell me he was seeing anyone!” She then proceeded to hug Parker , full on mashing him into her body. Jake could actually hear the breath whooshing out of his lungs. Hed known Parker for all of two minutes, and already Parker knew he was a) a total spaz, and b) gay, which, okay, it wasnt like Jake was in the closet or anything, but there was such a thing as tact when it came to broaching the topic of sexuality with your coworkers. And roommates. This was so not fair. Jake liked to ease people into his complete dorkiness gradually. Although, okay, yes, he maybe should have come out to Parker before theyd decided to live together.
    “Hes not my boyfriend, mama,” Jake protested when he finally found his tongue. He could see Parkers eyes over his mamas shoulder; they were bugging out like he couldnt breathe 11 . “Hes our new Kylie.”
    If anything, Mama Brenner just hugged Parker harder. “Another starving artist!” she exclaimed when she finally released him. Parkers face was a study in blues and purples. “I had better start dinner. Jacob, baby, get your guest something to drink.”
“Yes, Mama.”
    Jake had a pretty awkward childhood—he never knew when to keep his mouth shut, for one thing—but he couldnt ever remember feeling quite this awkward. Well, maybe that time hed “accidentally” walked in on Chris jerking off. He rolled his eyes a little. “Sorry. Total spastitude runs in the family.”
Parker just smiled wryly. “So I noticed.”
     
It sucked, but Jake had to ask, anyway. “You dont… mind, do you?” Because itd suck to lose another lead guitarist so soon.
    “What, that youre a total spaz?” Parkers expression said that that was not what he was talking about at all. “Please. You think you’re awkward? You havent seen me do anything but play guitar yet.”
    Jake mustered a smile, relieved. That was one less thing to worry about, anyway. “My mom thinks I need a boyfriend,” he confided, leading Parker down to the basement where the beverages lived.
“Having seen your apartment, I cant imagine why,” Parker drawled, sprawling on the sofa.
    Jake tossed him a beer and grabbed a Dr. Pepper for himself. “Its your apartment now too, bitch. Take some