Dating Makes Perfect
Page 26
“Hey, listen.” He cleared his throat as Crenshaw bellowed his name a third time. “If you can’t stand the heat, get off the field.” He paused, smiling wide. “So, what do you think?”
“About what?” I asked.
“I’m thinking that’s going to be my quote for yearbook.”
“Seriously?”
His face dropped. “Too obvious?”
“Yeah, just a little.” Unable to stand that look, I added, “But for you, it kind of works.”
“Really?” His face suddenly brightened. “Then I’ll go with it.”
“Take it off!” The shout brought on another round of feminine laughter.
Turning toward the giggling mass of girls, Becks grinned. “Only if you say pretty please.”
“Pretty please,” they replied in unison, and I nearly gagged. When he didn’t immediately strip, the girls started up a chant of “Take it off! Take if off!” This was why they shouldn’t let cheerleaders hold practice next to the soccer field. The words got louder and louder as they got bolder, an unruly mob of hormonal teenage girls with megaphones. It was a scary sight.
“You’re not seriously going to listen to them,” I said flatly.
“What else can I do?”
“Becks, beware of the dark side.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s a Yoda-ism,” I said, “and you know exactly what it means. Becks, have you no shame?”
“Nope,” he said, lifting the jersey over his head in one swift pull, causing a mixture of applause, screaming, and appreciative sighs.
I shook my head, struggling to keep my eyes north of his jaw line.
“What can I say, Sal?” he said, backing away. “It’s like that line from that show Oklahoma. I’m just a guy who can’t say no.” Flicking his jersey at one of the cheerleaders, he hotfooted it out to center field, grinning all the while. He gave a frowning Coach Crenshaw a swat to the backside, and then the team got down to business.
I wrote down Becks’s quote, making a side note to include it in my next article, while the girl who’d caught Becks’s jersey gripped the shirt to her heart and pretended to faint.
At least, I hoped it was pretend.
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris delivers a passionate, emotional romance perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen or Huntley Fitzpatrick
Look up the word “nerd” and you’ll find Lily Bailey’s picture. She’s got one goal: first stop valedictorian, next stop Harvard. Until a stint in the hospital from too much stress lands her in the last place a klutz like her ever expected to be: salsa dance lessons.
Look up the word “popular” and you’ll find Stone Torres’s picture. His life seems perfect—star of the football team, small-town hero, lots of friends. But his family is struggling to make ends meet, so if pitching in at his mom’s dance studio helps, he’ll do it.
When Lily’s dad offers Stone extra cash to volunteer as Lily’s permanent dance partner, he can’t refuse. But with each dip and turn, each moment her hand is in his, his side job starts to feel all too real. Lily shows Stone he’s more than his impressive football stats, and he introduces her to a world outside of studying. But with the lines blurred, can their relationship survive the secret he’s been hiding?
For every book nerd who’s ever crushed on a guy from afar, this sweet contemporary romance will
be sure to melt your heart.
by LISA BROWN ROBERTS
Shy bookworm Amy McIntyre is about to compete for the chance to interview her favorite author, who hasn’t spoken to the press in years. The only way to win is to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, but that level of confidence has never come easy.
The solution? A competition coach. The problem? The best person for the job is the guy she’s secretly crushing on...local surfer celebrity Toff Nichols.
He’s a player. He’s a heartthrob. He makes her forget basic things, like how to breathe. How can she feel any confidence around him?
To her surprise, Toff agrees to help. And he’s an excellent teacher. Amy feels braver—maybe even brave enough to admit her feelings for him. When their late night practices become less about coaching and more about making out, Amy’s newfound confidence wavers.
But does Toff really like her or is this just another lesson?
Let’s be friends!
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