“I think it’s about time we get you a boyfriend.” Hannah brushed another coat of bright-red polish onto her toenails as we sat on my bedroom floor.
“I don’t have time for that.” I stared at my phone, pretending to be interested in the TikTok dance video I was watching, as my cheeks started to burn. The truth was I did have time, but I hadn’t had the greatest luck with guys in the past. My cat, Jingle, purred and rubbed up against my legs before settling at my feet.
“Whatever, Emma. I’m busier than you, and I still make time for boys.”
“But there’s no one at our school that I’m interested in. Besides, that’s what I have my books for. When I read about a high school romance, the happy ending is pretty much guaranteed.” I pulled my dark brown hair behind my ear and looked up from my phone.
“You have got to get your head out of those silly books and start living. Let’s see, who would do the trick?” She tapped her chin and paused. “What about Jake Austen?” She twirled her fingers around in her blond hair and giggled.
“Um. He’s living in New York City now. There’s no way he’d be interested in me. I live in San Diego.” My cheeks burned brighter than the California sun.
I’ve had a crush on Jake since I was a freshman. He’d been the best-looking guy to walk the halls of Hidden Shores Academy. I—along with half the other girls in our school—was heartbroken when he moved away. His piercing blue eyes and golden-blond hair would drive any girl insane. Not to mention he was a local celebrity that the entire student body went crazy over.
My friends always told me that we would end up dating. I mean, it made sense. We were best friends when I was a freshman. But sophomore year, we weren’t in any of the same classes anymore, and he was in an entirely different social circle than me. Sadly, his new group of friends didn’t want much to do with me. It didn’t help that he had landed a huge role in a major movie and I was a literal nobody.
Hannah snatched my phone. “Good thing I know your passcode.”
“Wait, what are you doing?” I threw my hands up in frustration.
“Chill, I’m just looking through your contacts.”
“I guess that’s okay,” I said with a lump in my throat. If she sees I have his number saved in my phone, I’ll never hear the end of it.
“Ooh! There’s Jake! This is a good picture of him.”
Hannah shot me a wicked smile. “You should text him.”
“Why? He didn’t text me. There’s no way I’m texting him first.”
I crossed my arms against my chest.
“So what? Guys love it when you text them first. In fact, Alexander told me to message him first.” She paused. “Unless…you aren’t scared, are you?”
“I’m going to be honest. My parents are old school and have always said the guy is the one who needs to be making all the moves. Not to mention, I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
“Your parents were teenagers decades ago. Times have changed. Live a little! Text the man,” she said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“I can’t. What if he never responds? Besides, he might think I’m chasing him if I do that.”
“If you don’t, I’m going to text him from my phone, pretend to be you, and tell him that you have a pillow with his face on it, and you make out with it every night.”
My mouth fell open. “You wouldn’t!”
Hannah smirked matter-of-factly. “Oh, I would. And I’d enjoy it too.”
“How do you come up with this stuff?”
“What can I say? It’s a gift,” Hannah said with a shrug.
I folded my arms. “You know what? I’m not going to.”
“What if I paid you five bucks?”
“I don’t want your money. What kind of girl do you think I am?”
“The kind who is too scared to contact the boy of her dreams because she’s afraid of getting rejected.”
“That’s my girl.” Hannah shot me a triumphant smile.
I hesitated before typing a message with shaky fingers, wondering what kind of trouble I would be getting myself into. Jingle’s purring at my feet calmed my nerves a little, but it still wasn’t enough.
Hey, Jake! I haven’t heard from you in a while. How have you been?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I can’t send it.”
She smiled like she had a secret. “That’s okay. I’ll send it for you.”
Before I knew what happened, she was on top of me, kicking the floor and screeching inside my ear, sending Jingle racing toward the closet to her favorite hiding spot. Her elbow pushed over the nail polish remover, spilling it on the engineered hardwood floor. She knocked me over next, soaking my hair in the smelly substance.
“Ew!” I said as I sat up and peeled a wet clump of hair from my face. Hannah snatched my phone from my open palm and tapped the screen.
“I sent it!”
“Thanks a lot. Now I have gunk stuck in my hair.” It was bad enough that I had that gross stuff in my hair. Now I had to worry about whether he would respond.
“It’s not a big deal. Just take a shower.”
“Fine.” I crossed my arms. “Maybe I will.”
As I walked away, a knock sounded at the door.
“I’ll get it!” Hannah announced and took off running.
I followed her down the hall to the front door and turned the corner in time to see Hannah answering it.
“Hey, what happened to your hair?” he asked.
“It’s a long, long story.”
“I’ll say.” He laughed under his breath.
“What are you doing here?” I leaned against the door. My cheeks flamed yet again. I hated the idea of him seeing me at my worst. Nail polish remover in my hair was definitely not the look I was going for.
“Game night, remember? Are you going to let me in or what?”
I stepped aside, and he strolled in like he owned the place. “I thought that was tomorrow night.” I spotted his parents coming up the sidewalk behind Hunter.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Easton.” Our parents had been friends for years. But I couldn’t stand Hunter. It was horrible that our family kept inviting him over. They didn’t care that I despised him. They seemed to think I was silly. But they didn’t know the truth either.
“Change of plans. Didn’t your mom tell you?” Hunter said with a smug smirk.
“She just got home from work. I haven’t talked to her all day.”
Great. Now I had to take a shower before I could play games with them. Which means I’d have to have wet hair in front of Hunter.
This day just keeps getting better and better.
“Hey, Hannah.” He gave her a quick wave. “Are you staying for game night too?” His parents joined him in the foyer, shutting the door behind them.
“I should probably get going. Have fun.” She waggled her eyebrows at me like she thought there was something between me and Hunter.
No way was I ever going for him again. Live and learn.
***
“Hey, are you going to the winter formal?” I asked him after Hannah had left and I’d showered. My parents were setting the food out on the dining room table, and I sat on the couch next to Hunter.
“Why?” He raised his eyebrows. “Are you asking me if I want to go with you?”
I blushed. “Heck, no.”
“Why not? I’m better than any of your other prospects.”
“In what universe?”
He put a hand over his heart like I’d shot him with an arrow. “Ouch. That hurts.”
“Actually, I wasn’t planning to go with anyone,” I said. Because I didn’t date. I’d sworn off guys long ago. They were more trouble than they were worth. I mean, other than Jake Austen.
Let’s not get too crazy. If Jake asked, I’d date him in a heartbeat.
“That’s okay. I have a date anyway,” Hunter said.
“Of course you do.” Why would I think anything different? The guy was a known player.
Not to mention he’s toyed with my feelings in the past. Not that he was aware of it, but still. What was done was done.
I didn’t need him coming around acting friendly and looking attractive. I was over him.
Right?
Get your copy here.
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