The Next Door Boys Read Online Free

I'm feeling the stirrings of the Spirit of our dear Father in Heaven, and you're talking meals?”
    “I'm about to throw in a pair of shoes.” I laughed up at him.
    “Okay.” He tried to sound thoughtful. “How about I pick the song and I'll make you whatever you want for dinner.”
    I would've done it if he'd just asked. “Wait, what's the topic?”
    “Topic?” he asked.
    “Yeah, you who asked. What are people talking about?”
    “Uh…”
    “Never mind. How about, ‘Peace Be Still’? I love that one, and since we've done it before, it shouldn't take too much prep from either of us.”
    Brian talked over Jaron's shoulder. “You sing?”
    “Her voice is…” Jaron shook his head. “When she actually sings, which she doesn't always do,” he looked at me accusingly, “her voice is pure and sweet and absolutely… angelic.” I reddened at the praise.
    “Why wouldn't you ‘actually’ sing?” Brian asked.
    “When I ‘actually’ sing during a sacrament meeting hymn, people start to stare at me. It's unnerving.” I hoped I made sense.
    “Okay.” Brian shrugged.
    I did love to sing, but it made me so tense. When I was tense like that, I couldn't breathe. Breathing was important for singing. Jaron knew me well enough to give me very little warning. It was better that way. He was also good about forcing me to do it. I didn't want to feel like I volunteered. Like, “here I am, I can sing, listen to me!” He always told me I was silly for thinking that way, but his words didn't change the way I thought. I didn't know how my voice sounded to other people; I knew it felt good to sing… when I could breathe.
    “We can walk over to the stake center sometime tomorrow and practice,” Jaron said.
    “Yeah, that'd be good,” I agreed.

     
    Sunday changed my peace and quiet. Everyone in the ward suddenly knew who I was, all because Jaron talked me into singing one song. After sacrament meeting I had three guys ask if they could take me out sometime later in the week—on our own, with a group… no one seemed to care. I was running out of polite ways to say “no.” I wanted to finish school, and I thought it might be nice if I actually took some time and used the degree I'd worked so hard to get. I saw Jaron and Evan talking as Megan, Kim, and I walked out the door. Evan waved and smiled at me. I may have smiled back. I sighed. I really didn't want to deal with the possibility of Evan liking me.
    “What's with Evan?” I asked when the doors closed behind us.
    “How can you not see it?” Kim sounded annoyed.
    “He likes you.” Megan smiled, taunting me.
    “But I don't want him to like me. I don't want anyone to like me. I didn't encourage him at all!”
    “Well, I guess you should stop being so nice to him.” Kim said.
    “I shouldn't have to worry about being nice to people!” I folded my arms in front of me. I didn't know what to do. He'd probably show up tonight sometime and again tomorrow for FHE. I didn't want to be rude to the guy, but I didn't know how to discourage him either.
    “Kim's mad because she's had a crush on him for a while.” Megan whispered, knowing full well Kim could hear. She flashed Kim a smile to tease her.
    “Well, who wouldn't?” Kim said back. “And seriously, we've been serving together as the activities chair people for, like, six months! He totally should have asked me out by now.”
    I just shrugged; this type of dating was all new to me. I'd had dates for high school dances but had never gone past that. It seemed silly, knowing it wouldn't go anywhere.

     
    Sunday afternoon was hot; I could feel it through the windows of my room. I changed into comfy shorts and a T-shirt and flopped myself onto the hammock on Jaron's porch. I had no intention of looking nice because I expected that Evan would show up. It seemed like a passive way to discourage him—if Megan and Kim were right. Jaron joined me with a book. He sat without a word. I closed my eyes and kept them