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

touching any part of hers. His move only pressed her farther into Finn’s side.
    â€œSorry,” she said, blushing.
    Finn cleared his throat. “No problem,” he said.
    He lifted his arm and laid it on the back of the couch, giving them both a little more room. Megan tucked her arms in front of her and crossed her legs tightly, making her body as small as possible. She hoped the meeting was quick, because she wasn’t going to be moving a muscle.
    â€œOkay, I’m sure you all know why we’re here,” John began. “Your mother and I know that you guys are all doing your best to make Megan feel welcome.”
    Doug let out a grunt that only Megan could hear and Finn shifted slightly, pressing himself into the arm of the couch. Megan’s heart pounded a mile a minute.
    â€œNow, we were hoping we weren’t going to have to have thisconversation. We were hoping we could trust you guys to set a good example,” John continued. “But Evan’s behavior last night has forced our hand.”
    â€œNice one, loser,” Doug said.
    Megan blushed furiously. Doug pulled out a pen, uncapped it with his teeth, and started to add to the doodle on his jeans—the same ones he had worn the day before.
    â€œNow, in case any of you knuckleheads were having any funny ideas about the new member of the household, your mother and I have one thing to say,” John continued. “As far as you all are concerned, Megan is not a girl.”
    Doug cackled and Megan sank down in her seat. She stared at a knot in the center of the wood floor.
    â€œThen what is she?” Caleb asked innocently, making Doug and a couple of the others laugh.
    â€œCaleb,” Regina said softly, scoldingly. “What your father is trying to say is, while Megan is living with us, you guys are to treat her like a sister. You all are brothers and sister, got it?”
    Megan was dying to look at Evan. Instead her eyes darted right and landed on Ian, who was blowing gum bubbles. Then she managed a glance at Sean, who was looking at his watch. Finally, with the effort of ten men, Megan managed to find Evan. He was staring straight ahead, his heels tapping an unsteady beat on the floor.
    â€œMegan?” John said.
    She turned and looked at John.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    â€œDo you understand?” John asked.
    â€œOh. Yes, sir.”
    â€œAnd the rest of you?” John asked.
    â€œYeah, hands off Megan. We got it,” Doug said. “Can we go now?”
    â€œWait! Does that include Caleb?” Ian asked, cracking up at his own joke.
    â€œNice one, wise guy,” Regina said. “You just got yourself trash duty for a week.”
    Doug started to get up.
    â€œWe’re not done yet,” his father said. Doug flopped back down with a huge sigh.
    â€œI know you’re all used to having the run of the house around here, but that changes now,” John said, raising his voice slightly. “Megan’s parents have entrusted us with her care, and that means all of us. As of right now, you will all start respecting her privacy. That means no going into her room without permission, not touching her things, and from now on, the oak tree out back is off-limits.”
    â€œNo fair!” Caleb cried.
    â€œThat’s the climbing tree!” Ian added.
    â€œNot anymore,” his father said. “And we’re going to have a curfew.”
    â€œWhat? That’s crap!” Doug blurted. “Sean never had a curfew!”
    â€œWell, things were different when Sean was in high school,” Regina said.
    â€œYeah, Kicker the buzz kill wasn’t here,” Doug said.
    â€œYou want a week of trash?” John asked, his eyes flashing.
    Oh God. They’re going to kill me. They’re all going to kill me, Megan thought.
    â€œThe new curfew is midnight,” John said, gazing sternly at each of his sons in turn. “And don’t think that your mother