“Much safer than getting clobbered by someone on the opposing team.”
He chuckled. “That too.”
“I think that will be amazing,” I told him, resting a hand on his arm. “You’ll be a talented surgeon, and you have a purpose behind that too. A drive, you know? That will make all the difference. Plus, I admit, I like knowing you’ll be safe, Tate. When you got hit on the field...” I shivered. “I think I’d die right along with you if anything ever happened to you.”
We weren’t yet out onto the street. Tate slowed to a stop at the sign and, holding my gaze, he kissed me so slowly, so impactfully, it cemented what I couldn’t say.
My exhale was his inhale.
“What about you?” he asked, returning his attention to the road. “No rocket science?”
“Did I ever tell you I got contacted by Harvard and Princeton?”
“I think I heard you were smart or something.” He winked.
“I think I could have any pick of schools I wanted. I’ve got applications ready, but I’m still so hesitant to send any of them.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m too attached to this side of the US. To my family. My friends.” To you. I didn’t say it. “Even before I came to MLA, I didn’t want to travel across the country for a school like that.”
“The prestige doesn’t appeal to you, I take it,” he said.
“Not really. More than anything, it just doesn’t feel right. My heart’s not in it. I think I could get a degree in music closer to home. I’m taking lessons from the best teacher in the Northwest, and I’ll never forget Professor Granger’s instruction. I used to dream of fancy music schools, but life is short and I plan on spending as much of it as I can with the people I love while still pursuing my dreams.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” he said.
“I don’t. Not really. But I think that’s okay too.”
Tate accelerated, entering the freeway and the race of vehicles going top speed. Once settled, he offered me his hand, our fingers fitting perfectly together. Graduation was just a handful of months away. I had my pick of any school I wanted, and I had time to figure out where I would go. For now, I was content to enjoy a part of my life I never thought I’d have.
THANKS FOR READING! If you want to see Bailey’s life with her best friend before this story takes place, read Camryn and Beckham’s clean romance here!
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About the Author
Catelyn Meadows is a romantic at heart. A mom of four munchkins, Catelyn married a true-blue farm boy who still makes her heart pitter-pat, and she wanted to create stories that do the same. She also writes clean, young adult fantasy romance as USA Today bestselling author, Cortney Pearson.
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Copyright © 2020 Cortney Pearson
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, printing, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the author, except for use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, incidents, or events are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Beta Read by Naomi Naihe
Copy Edited by Salt & Sage
Proofread by Lisa Lee
Cover Design by Victorine Lieske
Author Photo by Clayton Photo + Design
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Don't Kiss the Quarterback: Billionaire Academy YA Romance Book 5 Page 18