Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian Page A

of her salad. “She lives for that guy, I swear. To be honest, I don’t see what the big deal is. He can be kind of a jerk and he isn’t even the hottest one.”
    â€œOh no. That would be Finn,” Ria put in.
    â€œReally?” Megan asked, happy for a change in subject.
    â€œOmigod! Evan is so much hotter than Finn,” Pearl said.
    â€œActually, I was talking about Miller,” Aimee said.
    â€œMiller?” they all repeated, dumbstruck.
    Aimee glanced across the cafeteria at the courtyard, where Miller was leaning back in his seat, listening to his radio. “I don’t know. There’s just something about him,” she said, narrowing her eyes wistfully as she watched him.
    â€œYeah, something weird,” Ria said.
    â€œRia!” her friends scolded.
    â€œNo, I get it,” Megan said. “He’s like the strong, silent type.”
    â€œYeah,” Aimee said with bashful smile, sitting up straight. “Not that I could ever get a guy like that. Or any guy.”
    â€œWhat?” Megan asked.
    â€œPlease. Look at me,” Aimee said.
    â€œWhat? You’re beautiful,” Megan said.
    â€œDon’t even bother, Megan,” Ria said, waving her fork around. “We tell this girl all the time that she’s hands down the better-looking Farmer, but she refuses to believe us.”
    â€œMy arms are thicker than Hailey’s calves,” Aimee said frowning. “Give me a break.”
    Ria and Jenna rolled their eyes. Aimee had broad shoulders, a lot of muscle, and maybe a little extra meat on her bones, but she was hardly a giant.
    â€œWhatever! You guys know I’m fine with my size. Someday some guy will totally fall in love with me. Just not in high school,” Aimee said. “Boys in high school are too superficial.”
    â€œWell, maybe not all boys,” Megan said, glancing over at Miller, then leaning in toward the table. “Have you ever seen his smile?” she asked.
    â€œActually, I don’t think so,” Aimee replied.
    â€œJust wait,” Megan said. “It’ll blow you away.”
    Aimee bit her bottom lip and looked out at Miller again. Suddenly he raised his fists in the air and cheered, startling the goths across the courtyard. Aimee laughed and returned to her salad.
    â€œWell, whatever. I still say it’s Finn. You guys just don’t have the same refined taste as me. I like the deep, soulful type,” Ria said, gazing past Megan’s shoulder. “I mean, just look at the boy. Those blue eyes, that just-got-out-of-bed hair. And look at the way he dresses. Any guy that can just throw on whatever and still be that beautiful has got my vote.”
    Megan glanced over her shoulder and found Finn sitting atone of the tables by the window, wearing a faded black T-shirt, baggy jeans, and his ever-present paint-splattered boots. The sun poured in through the windows on his left, highlighting his dark blond hair and his intense expression. He was surrounded by a group of guys who were all laughing and joking with each other, but Finn’s concentration was riveted on the sketchbook in front of him. His hand moved quickly across the page and even when someone threw an orange past his nose, he barely looked up.
    â€œWell, you do have to admire that level of concentration,” Jenna said.
    â€œYeah, but it’s totally pointless. That babe only has eyes for one girl,” Ria said.
    â€œReally? Who?” Megan asked.
    Ria pointed with her plastic fork. “Kayla Bird.”
    A tall, willowy, olive-skinned beauty floated over to Finn’s table in a long skirt and black boots. She lowered herself into the chair across from his and lifted her light brown, wavy hair over her slim shoulder. Finn glanced up, saw her, and instantly closed the sketchbook.
    â€œWho’s she?” Megan asked.
    â€œKayla Bird, junior. Artistic, beautiful, perpetually tan,” Ria