Secret Girlfriend Read Online Free Page A

this morning? I was really
on my game.”
    What was I supposed to say? It was true. It was always true.
    “Coach kept a couple seniors after practice to let us know
he’d be watching this evening to name the tryout captains.” He braced his arm
against the locker and peered down at me. I dropped my head to hide how big my
smile grew at the whole thing—the whole Chris-is-so-close-I-can-smell-the-soap-he-used
thing.
    “Well, of course he’ll name you. You’ve been on the varsity
team since freshman year. You’re the best. The guys already consider you their
leader.”
    His smile widened. “Did he say anything to you about it?”
    I shook my head. I did that a lot around Chris. It was
easier than trying to make sense and gave me a second to pull my thoughts off
his general hotness. “I didn’t even know you guys did tryout captains.”
    That blinding smile came back and I felt like I’d won some
type of lottery. I wasn’t even sure what type, just something really good.
    “Let me know if he does, alright, babe?”
    I nodded, grinning at him again. Man, I needed to get Botox
in my lip muscles to stop the stupid expressions that popped up around him.
    “You know, this is easier.” He cocked his head to the side,
looking at me like he hadn’t seen me before. Like I was new,
brand new. “You being here. Knowing you’ve got my back. Just having you here makes me feel… I
don’t know… calmer.”
    I grinned again, or maybe just bigger. He made me feel
anything but calm.
    “What is it about you?” His voice had dropped and he looked,
if not serious, more serious than I’d seen.
    The doors behind Chris opened and he peered over his
shoulder at new-kid-Luke coming in. The Look evaporated and he stepped away,
distancing himself in more ways than one.
    “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
    More nodding on my part. “Okay.
Talk to you later.” Parroting was almost as bad as nodding. Doing both had to
look twice as inane.
    I leaned against the cool metal lockers to watch him walk
away, bag slung over his shoulder, hitching up his T-shirt to show the tan line
around the top edge of his shorts.
    “Hey.”
    For a new kid, this guy was everywhere.
    “Hey.” I settled my backpack over my shoulder and started
down the hall.
    He fell in step with me and motioned toward Chris, as
present as ever a few yards ahead of us.
    “You know that guy?” And nosy.
    “I know him."
    “How?”
    “How do I know him?” I stopped and gave Luke Parker my full
attention. “He’s Chris Kent. Everyone knows him. You even know him and you’ve
been around for like, what, eight minutes?”
    He leaned down enough that our eyes met and I wondered where
all that intensity came from and what it was going to get him on the field. “I
was wondering, because, you know, he looked awfully comfortable with you just
now.”
    It wasn’t any of his business and, since no answer I gave
was going to make sense, I shrugged. Hopefully my bangs gave me some coverage
when I rolled my eyes as he shortened his stride to walk with me again.
    “After seeing you run, I’m surprised you’re a bench-jockey.”
    “Not that it’s any of your business, but stats girl is a
very popular job and I don’t need to be on a team to run.”
    He snorted. Didn’t he realize that was my line? “Yeah, I can
see your skills are really stretched here.”
    “Trust me. Cross-country? Not such
a loss.” And why was I defending myself to him?
    Ahead, the door to the boys’ locker room fell shut behind Chris. A few more steps and we reached the girls’ room. I paused
and looked up at him.
    “Well, this is my stop.” I tried to smile, but it must have
looked pained—since it was.
    He nodded, but stayed where he was. Maybe he wasn’t very bright.
That would explain a lot. Plus they say children and the childlike can see
objects others can’t. That would make sense with the invisibility thing and
all.
    I slipped past the door and, pushing it closed behind