Romance: Teen Romance: Follow Your Dreams (A Nerd and a Bad Boy Romance) (New Adult High School Sports Romance) Read Online Free

thought.”
    “What’s he doing now? He’s like 20? He’s two years older than us, right?”
    “Yeah, after graduating last year, he went to work for Sawyer’s Construction. They’ve got him out there putting out tar on the streets, asphalt, you know.”
    “That doesn’t sound like very fun job.”
    Lydia shook her head. “It isn’t. He doesn’t like it. But they pay him really well, and that’s something he does like.”
    They had reached the bleachers and took a few steps up so that they could slide into the third row. They moved to sit in the very middle of the bleachers. Joanna looked out across the field. She spotted Mark almost right away. He was stretching. He’d changed from his school clothes into a pair of sweatpants and was not wearing a shirt. Her heart jumped up into her throat, and she swallowed hard.
    “Oh, wow.” Lydia breathed when she caught sight of him. She looked at Joanna as they sat down. “You are so lucky even I’m jealous of you. And I’m never jealous of anybody .”
    Joanna grinned at her.
    “Did you guys have a nice talk after I left today?” Lydia asked.
    Joanna nodded, reaching up to pull a strand of her long hair and twist it around her finger a few times. “Yeah, we did. Well, sort of.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “Well, we kind of started talking about his family. He’s got two little brothers with health problems, you know.”
    “He does? I didn’t know that.” Lydia frowned in concern. “What’s wrong with them? Autism?”
    “I don’t know if they are autistic. I know they have heart defects.”
    “Both of them?”
    “Yeah. They require extensive care, as far as I can tell. They only come to the Wednesday youth groups sometimes.”
    “I ought to join that youth group and be a counselor or something. Play with the kids. Make ‘em laugh.”
    Joanna nodded. “Yeah, you would be good at that.”
    “So is Mark required to help care for his brothers?” Lydia asked, looking back across the field at the handsome young man.
    “I don’t think it as much of a responsibility as it is him feeling obligated. He loves them, you know.”
    “His mom doesn’t take care of them?”
    “His mom left years ago. She ran off with some other man.”
    Lydia shook her head, clicking her tongue in disgust. “I’m never going to do that. I swear when I have a family, I’m going to stick to it. I’m going to be faithful and loyal, and my husband will never get rid of me unless he’s the one who messes up. You won’t see me running off and cheating and stuff.”
    Joanna looked at her, frowning slightly. “Me neither. I’m going to be faithful, too. It’s amazing how many people just don’t care these days.”
    “I know. It makes me wonder what kind of world my parents brought me into. And if I want to bring any into it. It better start getting better, or I’m not having any kids.”
    “That would be a shame, Lydia. You’d be a great mom.”
    Lydia smiled. “Well, I am experienced, what with taking care of my younger brothers and sisters.” Lydia was the second oldest after her older brother. “And I don’t mind taking care of them. Like I said, we all get along fairly well.”
    “I don’t know how your parents can handle it.” Joanna laughed. “I really don’t.”
    “Well, look who decided to show up uninvited.”
    Joanna and Lydia turned to see Teresa standing behind them, her arms crossed over her chest. Joanna’s heart sank. She’d been having a good time watching Mark and his team throwing the ball around. She didn’t want to leave but didn’t want to be involved in an argument either. She was immediately glad she’d brought Lydia with her. Lydia could do the drama stuff for her. She was used to it, with the drama that was always going on at home.
    Lydia and Joanna both stood up, turning to face Teresa, who was standing on the next row up. Her eyes were narrow and angry. Her jealousy made her ugly in Joanna’s mind.
    “We’ll have you know