My Secret Boyfriend (4 page)

Ryan’s question estion startled Jordan. She lay curled up on the sofa, reading the Saturday morning funnies, still wrapped in a terry-cloth bathrobe and oversized, fuzzy pink slippers. Ryan was dressed in a gray sweat-suit. A white headband held a thatch of blond hair off his forehead. “Are you kidding?” she joked. “My idea of exercise is getting the morning paper from the end of the walk. Besides, it’s forty degrees out there.”

“Oh, I was just wondering . . .”

Then she noticed his downcast expression. Suddenly, it hit her that he probably jogged often and that he didn’t know a thing about her neighborhood. “Uh—wait a minute. Maybe I could be persuaded to take a few laps with you. I could show you the way to the park.”

Ryan smiled slightly, showing his dimples.

“Thanks. I’d like that,” he said.

She quickly changed into a baggy pink sweatshirt, jeans, heavy socks, and a ski cap.

Outside, an overcast sky and chilly breeze made her shiver. Why had she ever agreed to this insanity? Ryan said, “You look sort of athletic, that’s why I asked if you jog.” Little puffs of vapor came out with his words.

Jordan laughed out loud. “Tell that to my gym teacher. She says I run like a klutz. I even trip over my own shadow.”

“Then I won’t push too hard. We’ll take it nice and easy.”

“The park’s two blocks up and two blocks to the right.”

“Let’s go.” He started off running and she bolted after him, the wind stinging her eyes and numbing her nose. After less than a block, Jordan could scarcely breathe. Her lungs felt as if they were on fire, and her legs were rubbery. Ryan turned and jogged backward, grinning at her. “Feels great, huh?”

“Yeah, if you . . . Like ice blocks . . . for hands and . . . feet,” Jordan said, out of breath.

By the time the park came into view, Jordan was sure she would drop dead. At the edge of the park, Ryan paused and Jordan leaned over, resting her palms on her knees, gulping in mouthfuls of air. “Is this your park?” Ryan sounded disappointed.

She scanned the area. A softball diamond stood at one end, and there was a playground at the other. “This is it. What’s wrong?”

“It’s just kind of”—he searched for a word—“empty. I mean, back in Virginia there are so many trees.”

Jordan knew what he meant. The park
did
look lonesome and bare. “I guess if you’re used lots of trees, it is sort of . . . barren.”

He started running again, heading toward the concrete playground. Jordan followed him. When he reached one of the benches, he stopped to rest and motioned for Jordan to sit down. “Do you like living here?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t ever remember living anywhere else. Dallas is home.”

“You mean you don’t remember dumping spaghetti on my head?” His eyes twinkled.

“And baby Ryan, why would you smear ice cream all over my face?” She picked up his teasing tone. “A nice kid like me. And how dare you not share your rubber duck!”

“I don’t share my rubber duck with anybody.” He chuckled for the first time since he had arrived. “How long do you think our mothers are going to keep dragging out those old memories?”

Jordan wrinkled her nose. “Probably forever. My mother loves to talk about the times we were babies together and living next door to your mother. She says everybody was poor but happy.”

“Well, one good thing. Mom’s laughed more in the past two day than she did in the last six months in Virginia.” His eyes hazed over, and lines creased his brow. “It’s good to see her laugh and have a good time again.”

“Were things really bad?” She asked the question hesitantly, because she didn’t want it to sound as if she were prying.

“When Dad and Mom weren’t yelling at each other, Mom was crying. She cried a lot. Dad told me he’d never leave, but he did. People make you believe they care about you, but they lie.”

Jordan squirmed, thinking of the lies she’d told her friends about her and Ryan. “Maybe they don’t mean to. Maybe it just happens.”

Ryan scoffed. “A lie’s a lie. It doesn’t matter what you
mean
. It only matters what you
do
.”

A silence fell between them. Jordan cleared her throat, anxious to change the subject. “Want to head back? We don’t want to miss breakfast, do we?”

He smiled, brightening the dark mood between them. “I never want to miss breakfast.” He started to jog. “Besides, who would I throw my eggs at?”

She fell into step next to him. “Yeah . . . who?”

After their jogging session, Ryan kept to himself the rest of the day. Jordan understood. Everyone in her family was a stranger to him, including her. But she wanted to get to know him better. She wanted him to like her home and his new life. And she wanted to help him fit in.

But there was school on Monday. How would she act when all her friends asked her questions about him? What would she do if Ryan found out about the lies she’d told? Jordan tried not to think about it.

On Sunday afternoon, Jamey begged Ryan to go to the park with him and help him practice baseball. His Little League games didn’t start until spring, but with their dad away so much, it was a novelty to have an older boy to work with.

“Basketball’s my game,” Ryan told Jamey after he had pleaded for Ryan to come to the park.

“Aw, so what? I’ll bet you could pitch really well if you try.”

Ryan smiled at Jamey. “Can Jordan come, too?” he asked.

“She’s no good. She couldn’t hit a baseball if it were the size of a blimp.”

Jordan glared at her brother, but she had to admit that Jamey was right. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m really not much on a baseball diamond.”

“Come on,” Ryan urged. “Show me.”

The three of them meandered down to the park. The sun shone, taking the November chill out of the afternoon. Jordan stepped up to home plate, gripping the bat for dear life. “I don’t mind catching in the outfield,” she told Ryan nervously. “Why don’t you let Jamey bat first?”

“Naw. I’ll pitch and Jamey can go to the outfield. I want to see your stuff.”

Jordan knew that her “stuff” wasn’t much. “Well, all right,” she said. “But promise not to laugh.”

“My snake can swing better than she can,” Jamey yelled as he walked toward the outfield.

“Let’s give her a chance,” Ryan said, and Jamey did as he was told. “Take a few swings,” Ryan instructed, heading for the pitcher’s mound.

He lobbed a ball and Jordan swung wildly in the air. “See what I mean?” she said.

“Try again.”

She did, but the ball hit the chain-link fence behind her as her bat took another swipe at the air.

From the outfield, Jamey shouted, “See what I mean? She’s hopeless!”

“Cool it, muffin brain!” Jordan yelled.

“You’ve just never had proper coaching,” Ryan told her, jogging up to the batter’s box. He stood behind her, lifted the bat, and fitted her hands securely on the wooden handle. “Grip it this way. And don’t chop at the ball when it comes over the plate. Swing in one smooth motion.” He helped her swing the bat at the air a few times. Then he called, “Okay, Jamey. Toss us a few.”

Jamey pitched, and with Ryan directing the bat, Jordan connected with the ball. The vibration from the wood stung her hands. The ball flew high and far, and Jamey scrambled after it. “That’s the first decent ball I’ve ever hit!” Jordan beamed.

“All right. Now try it on your own. Remember what I told you.”

She missed his first two pitches, but hit the third one hard down the third base line. Jamey chased it as Jordan flashed Ryan a pleased smile. He offered a thumbs-up signal, and she leaned back on the bat, feeling satisfied with herself.

She studied him and remembered the feel of his arms around her when he was showing her how to bat. His arms had felt big and warm.
Where are the bells and whistles?
Jordan asked herself. There weren’t any. Jordan couldn’t understand why. Ryan Elliot was good-looking, shy, but friendly, and very, very nice. But there was no quivery feeling in the pit of her stomach when she was with him.

Jordan knew that those crazy sensations didn’t automatically mean a person was in love, but they did mean that the person you were with was special, different from all others. She thought about it for a minute. She should be head-over-heels crazy for Ryan. She should be doing everything in her power to make him like her as a girlfriend before school started back up. Why wasn’t she?

“Let me go to the outfield and let Jamey bat,” she called to Ryan. Jordan dropped the bat and headed for the outfield. Maybe she could figure out her feelings out there.

Jamey tossed her his glove as he galloped past. She reached the outfield and studied Ryan on the pitcher’s mound. He was big, blond, and good-looking.
What’s wrong with me?
she wondered.

“How so?” Jordan asked.

“I’m not sure . . .” Laurie looked carefully at her friend for a long moment. “Sort of healthy.”

Her evaluation surprised Jordan. “I don’t know why. I ate like a pig over the holidays. And I don’t think the jogging would have an effect already.”

“You’ve been jogging?” Laurie raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“Ryan’s been jogging. I’ve just been tagging along.”

“How romantic!” Laurie bubbled.

“There’s nothing romantic about sweating.”

Laurie craned her neck, glancing over students talking in the halls and waiting for the bell to ring. “Where’s is Ryan anyway? I can’t wait to meet him. And I’ll bet Jennifer’s about to pop her buttons over seeing him.”

At the mention of Jennifer, Jordan felt tense. Why was everyone so interested in her business anyway? “He’s in the office with his mother getting his schedule taken care of.”

“Maybe you’ll get lucky and have the same lunch period like me and Wade. Then you can eat together.”

“We already eat together at breakfast and dinner. I think I can make it through lunch without his company.”

“But isn’t it wonderful living under the same roof with your boyfriend? I mean, it seems so romantic to think that the first person you see every day is the person who means the most to you. What’s it like, anyway?”

“It’s like having to share an already overcrowded bathroom with another boy. And never having any privacy.”

Laurie’s eyes had grown wide. “Gee, I never dreamed it could be that way.”

“Well, it can be.”

“But—but he’s your
boyfriend
,” Laurie wailed. “It should be wonderful having him around all the time. You get to talk to him whenever you want. Wade and I talk on the phone so much that my mother sets the kitchen timer whenever he calls. We only can talk ten minutes or so,” she complained.

Jordan decided she’d laid it on too thick. “Well, it is fun most of the time,” Jordan admitted. She thought about how much fun Ryan could be when they went to the park or played a board game. “Forget I complained,” she added. “But constant togetherness can get old. Just remember what I told you if you ever get tired of Wade.”

“I’ve got an idea!” Laurie’s voice sounded excited. “Why don’t you and Ryan meet Wade and me at the Palace after school today? That way we can all get to know each other better.”

A sinking sensation gripped Jordan’s stomach. Jordan had hoped that she would be able to put off a trip to the Palace. She didn’t want kids talking about her and Ryan. What if he heard about their “romance?” She licked her lips nervously. “Gee . . . I don’t know. . .”

“Aw, come on. You can’t keep him to yourself forever. And besides, you need to introduce him around. Wade wants to meet him, too.”

Laurie made sense. If Jordan’s primary goal was to make sure Ryan made friends, then it was up to her to make sure that people met him. “I guess we could walk over there after school,” she said. “We’ll have some ice cream and let Ryan meet the gang.”

“Great! We’ll see you there.”

The warning bell rang and both girls headed off in different directions. The rest of the day was worse than she had imagined. The new boy in school—Jordan’s boyfriend—was the talk of the eighth grade. Jordan saw kids whispering and pointing. Once, she passed Ryan in the corridor and heard a group of girls giggle.

“Hey,” he said, “meet me after school and we’ll walk to the bus stop together. I’m afraid I might get lost without a guide.”

“Actually, I was going to take you to the Polar Palace,” Jordan said. “It’s a Martin hangout. Plus my friend Laurie wants to meet you.”

“That’s even better,” Ryan said. “I’d like to meet some other kids. So far, it’s weird going to classes and not knowing anyone. Your face is the first familiar one I’ve seen all morning.”

“Then it’s the Palace for a round of ice cream. See you later,” Jordan said, hurrying off. Now there was nothing left to do but hope for the best.

The Polar Palace was crowded when Jordan and Ryan entered. The smells of vanilla and hot fudge made her mouth water. Laurie waved to them from a back booth, and the couple made their way through the crowd. Jordan’s eyes darted nervously around, searching for Jennifer, but she didn’t see her. She was so relieved that she sighed out loud. Jordan felt she could fake her way through a session with Laurie, but facing the third degree from Jennifer was another matter.

After introductions, she leaned over and asked, “So, where’s Princess Jennifer? I thought for sure I’d stumble over her when I came through the door.”

“She and Glen broke up. And you know Jennifer—she lays low until she has someone to impress us with.”

“Maybe we won’t see her for the rest of the year then,” Jordan said dryly.

A waitress came to their table. “What’ll it be?”

Jordan pointed to the menu printed on the placemats, and Ryan studied the offerings. “What’s a Hog Wallow?”

Wade said, “A Texas-sized bowl of ice cream.”

“It says it’s only for big ice cream lovers. Do you all want to get one?”

Jordan opened her mouth to explain something, but Wade and Laurie flashed her a look. Wade said, “I’ll split the cost of one with you. But you’ve got to finish the whole thing.”

Ryan looked doubtful. “A bowl of ice cream? I won’t have any trouble. I hope there’s enough for the rest of you.”

The other three exchanged glances. “We’ll take small bites,” Jordan told him, suppressing a smile.

After the waitress left, Wade turned to Ryan. “So how do you like living here so far?”

Ryan shrugged. “It’s all right. And school’s school.”

“Yeah, but getting to live with Jordan and to see each other every day. . . ,” Laurie interjected.

Ryan gave her a questioning glance. “So?”

Jordan racked her brain for a way to steer the conversation in another direction. “Did I tell you Ryan’s a basketball player? He’s very athletic.”

“Really?” Wade asked. “Are you any good?”

“I’m okay.”

Jordan scoffed. “He’s terrific.”

“Of course you would think so,” Laurie said. “You’re prejudiced.”

Ryan turned toward Jordan. “Why are you prejudiced?”

Jordan ignored his question. “Isn’t Coach Couchman looking for new players?” she asked.

“Coach is always looking for new players. You should try out,” Wade urged. “You’ve only missed about four weeks of practice. The first game is in two weeks.”

“I don’t know,” Ryan turned his broad shoulders. “My mom hasn’t found an apartment or a job. When she does, it may not even be in this school district.”

“But you could play until she does,” Jordan said eagerly, while hoping the conversation remained focused on Ryan and not the two of them.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Jordan says you two have been jogging together,” Laurie commented.

“When she can keep up,” Ryan chucked Jordan’s chin.

“Did you jog in the Rockies? Wasn’t it hard to breathe so high up?” Laurie asked.

“The Rockies?” Ryan looked confused. Jordan dropped her spoon to the floor with a distracting clatter.

Fortunately, as she bent to retrieve it, the waitress brought out the ice-cream order. The bowl of ice cream was huge. Ryan’s eyes went wide as the huge bowl, heaped with every flavor of ice cream on the menu, was set on their table. The ice cream was covered with sauces, whipped cream, and chocolate and sugar sprinkles. Ryan’s jaw dropped.

Every head in the room turned to look at the mammoth bowl. The waitress set four bowls and a pile of napkins in front of Jordan and her friends. “Enjoy,” she said.

Ryan shook his head as if to clear it. Laurie and Jordan giggled. Wade grinned. “Do you think you can handle it?” he asked.

“Don’t you guys do anything
small
around here?”

“Never,” Wade said, placing his hand over his heart. “You’re in Texas now. We don’t know the meaning of the word.”

Ryan gave Jordan an amused look of resignation. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”

“You said you were hungry,” Jordan said. Her expression was pure innocence.

“I ought to smear this all over your face, baby Jordan.”

Laurie looked from Jordan to Ryan and back again with a confused expression.

Jordan knew she couldn’t explain. “It’s a joke between us,” she offered vaguely.

“It seems I overestimated my appetite and your Texas bowls of ice cream,” Ryan said with a grin. “You’re all going to have to help me.”

“All right!” Wade said, and pushed his bowl forward for Ryan to fill.

“Ryan’s super, Jordan,” Laurie whispered to her friend. You’re sure lucky to have him as your boyfriend!”

All Jordan did was smile weakly. If only she could tell the truth.