American Love Songs Read Online Free Page B

responsibility.” He grinned and dropped onto the battered armchair by the television. “I keep telling her Im too young and have too much promise to ruin my life by falling in love with anybody, but she doesnt listen.”
11 Think Kermit the Frog.—JB
     
“She sounds pretty awesome.” He didnt sound like he was being sarcastic.
    Jake grinned wider, stoked that Parker actually got it. “The best. Well, except for the meatloaf. Dont ever let me invite you over on meatloaf night. I need to stay on your good side.” 12
Parker smiled back and cracked open his beer. “Noted.”
    It wasnt long before Jakes mom called them up for dinner, and there was a noise like a stampede of wildebeest going by overhead, racing in the direction of the kitchen. “Looks like Beccas got friends over,” Jake said drily, offering Parker a hand up. “Brace yourself.”
“Younger sib?”
     
“Shes the baby,” Jake confirmed, pausing at the top of the stairs to shut off the light. “Not done high school yet.”
    “You didnt mention anything about having to deal with teenagers.” Parker wrinkled his nose, but his eyes were twinkling behind the plastic frames. “I may have to rethink being friends with you.”
Jake rolled his eyes and closed the door to the basement. “Save your judgment of my family until after dinner, okay?”
     
“Hmm, deal.”
     
Leading the way into the kitchen, Jake sneaked up behind Becca and covered her eyes. “Guess who!”
     
Becca squirmed, laughing and trying to pry his hands from her face. Then she gave up and stepped on his foot, hard. “Oof!”
    “Jerk,” she laughed as he released her, turning around for a hug. For such a little girl, she had a grip of iron. “How come you never call me, huh?”
“What, your fingers dont work all of a sudden? I dont think Sara and Carrie would back you up on that.”
     
Beccas two best friends waved at him from the table, where they were already seated, giggling.
     
12 I should have said, “Never let me eat here on meatloaf night.” Its not the meatloaf thats the problem.—JB
     
“Oh, whatever.” She released him and pushed at his chest. “Oh my God, who is that?”
    Apparently she had noticed Parker. Jake glanced back at him and smiled. “This? This is the guy whos going to make me famous, Bec. Meet Parker McAvoy, guitarist extraordinaire.”
    “Nice to meet you,” she said, batting her eyelashes and shaking his hand. To Jake, she added out of the corner of her mouth, “Can we keep him?” 13
    “Not in the way that you mean, you little deviant.” Jake nudged her with his elbow. “Now get out of the way so we can sit down, yeah? Were starving.”
“Jake, get the milk, would you? Parker, would you prefer water?” Jakes mother interjected.
     
“Please,” Parker said, smiling shyly. His cheeks were flushed. Jake winced internally. Becca was going to eat him alive.
    Somehow, Jake managed to wrangle Parker a seat between himself and his mom, where there was minimal elbowroom but also much less risk of overhearing awkward teenage girl whispers. Or being groped under the table—he and his sister had grown up in the same house, after all. They had all the same tricks. His mom did help by running interference when things got out of hand—”Rebecca Lee! You will either stop flashing those breasts around at the table or go put on a sweater, do you understand?”
    Becca wasnt too much of a teenager not to be embarrassed, and she turned bright red at the admonition. So did Parker, which even Jake thought was kind of cute. “Yes, Mama.” She straightened her posture and adjusted her shirt.
“Thats better. Now eat your beans.”
    Later that night, when they were finally back at the apartment and free of the giggles and stares of teenage girls, Parker slumped into the second-hand rocking chair and thunked his head back against the wooden rails. “Your family is nice,” he said. “Do I have to see them every week?”
13 This would turn out to be