“I’m not beautiful like Brianna.”
He stopped and moved to meet my eyes. “You’re right.”
Yep, this was a dream, and it just came to a crashing halt.
“Your beauty surpasses her in every way.”
Before I could respond, his lips were on mine again.
The moment was broken by the sound of a giggle and whistle.
“About time, bro,” Tyson whooped. Gretchen squealed and clapped. I truly wanted to crawl into a hole and hid now. Emerson gently brushed his knuckles down my cheek. “So, beautiful,” he whispered, kissing me, not caring who seen him do it.
“Ask her,” Gretchen squeaked.
I glanced over Emerson’s shoulder to see my best friend curled up in the arms of her boyfriend. It was strange. The first time I met Tyson and Emerson, they looked so similar to me. Now, they looked nothing alike. “Ask me what?”
“To be his Valentine. Duh!”
“You know I hate Valentine’s Day.”
“That was before you had a boyfriend,” Gretchen persisted.
“A boyfriend?” I breathed, meeting Emerson’s gaze.
“If you’ll have me. I’d like to be both your Valentine and your boyfriend.” That smile of his, the one that lit up the universe appeared on his lips. My stomach fluttered with happiness.
“Really?”
He kissed the end of my nose. “Absolutely.”
“I would like that,” I admitted.
Emerson picked me up from the ground in one a single swoop and twirled me around. For the first time in my life, I had been kissed, and it was by a boy worth waiting for.
The rest of the day went by in a flash. Emerson skipped his afternoon class, and we spent the day in his room, listening to music, talking, and doing everything we’d always done except for one added bonus – I got to kiss him anytime I wanted.
The next day was Valentine’s Day, and for the first time in my life I wasn’t sick to my stomach over it. I had a boyfriend. A real boyfriend.
When Emerson arrived at my apartment, determined to pick me up for what he consider our first date, I didn’t know what to expect. Gretchen was anything but happy about the fact that he refused to bring me to the Valentine’s Day bash she was throwing at their place. He’d told her he wanted our first date to be something special.
He knocked on the door, and I took one last gander at myself in the mirror. Gretchen forced me to wear a red dress and heels. She was shocked to hell when I managed to do my own makeup and hair. For some reason, she believed just because I never did either that I had no clue how to. Well, I showed her.
I opened the door to find a tuxedo-clad Emerson holding a bouquet of roses. He leaned in and kissed me tenderly. “Hey there, baby girl.”
The butterflies in my stomach were on high alert.
“Hiya.”
“These are for you.” He handed me the flowers. Attached was a white envelope. No one but my dad had ever bought me flowers before.
“Thank you.”
As any polite girl would do, I slipped the card from the bouquet and opened the envelope. To my surprise, there was a cute card with the words Be Mine emblazoned on the front of it. My breath hitched in my chest. All at once, I was five again, but instead of me putting myself out there for a boy, the boy was putting himself out there for me.
I flipped the card over. He’d printed his name ever so carefully, and below it read, Do you love me? Yes or No?
All I could do was stare at those simple words. I did. I loved him. I’d always loved him. That much I knew. I looked up to find him waiting patiently.
“How did you know?”
“Gretchen.”
I nodded. Of course, she would tell him that story.
“And that guy was an idiot for not seeing in you the amazing person you are.”
I bit my bottom lip, still homed in on those little words.
“Are you going to answer me?” he ventured.
I read the sweet note once again. This was so surreal, but in the best sort of way.
“Yes…” I replied.
“Is that my answer?”
I nodded with a smile. “But why me? I’m not anything special. I’m just Sloane.”
He tilted his head, taking my hand in his. “You don’t get it do you? You’re my Sloane, and you’re everything good and wonderful in this world. You are truly something special.”
“Really?”
“Really. You’re the one. The girl I’ve been waiting for. I’ve known it since the day I met you, and now that I have you I won’t ever let you go.”
He pressed his lips to mine and slipped my hand into the crook of his arm.
Magic filled the air that night. Not only did I make love to my boyfriend for the first time, but I also learned a valuable lesson – never close your heart to anything, because you may let the world pass you by in the process.
Years later, I bumped into Scottie Reeves. When he recognized me, I immediately saw the remorse in his eyes. He apologized profusely for having treated me the way he had, and even admitted to me that he’d had a crush on me too but was embarrassed because all of his buddies kept calling him a nerd lover. I laughed and admitted being a nerd. Actually, I admitted to still being a proud nerd and a doctor. I accepted his apology and even introduced him to Emerson and our three boys. No longer did I feel any animosity toward Scottie. My childhood experience melted away in the glow of true love. Because of Emerson, I knew romance didn’t suck. Romance was epic, when love was true. And there was no greater love than that of a man who sees you for you.
I am blessed with the best readers, friends, and supporters in the world. Let me first start off by thanking Melanie Moreland, who is not only an amazing author, but a dear friend who never gave up on me even when I was ready to give up on myself. I also want to thank my long time friend and editor, Amy Gamache. She always makes my words better, but I value her shoulder and her directness most of all.
I couldn’t do this without T.M Franklin and Lindsey Gray. Their eyes for beauty brought my words together in this quaint tome. Thank you to all the ladies at Enchanted Publications. Your support and guidance are a blessing to me.
Every writer needs that person (or two) who reminds them why they love to write. MC, you are that person for me. Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t have the courage to believe in myself.
Thank you everyone for reading this little book. My words breathe because of you. You’re the best!
Jeanne McDonald enjoys writing contemporary fiction filled with spice, romance, drama, and humor. She prides herself in being a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love.
Jeanne is the founder of the author co-op, Enchanted Publications, and is an avid supporter of autism awareness.
When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, or diligently working toward her master’s degree in communications. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.
You can learn more about Jeanne and her books at www.jeannemcdonald.com.
Where to find her:
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A Ray of Hope
The Truth in Lies (The Truth in Lies Saga I)
The Certainty of Deception (The Truth in Lies Saga II)
The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga III)
Indulgence (Taking Chances #1)
Satisfaction (Taking Chances #2)
Compass
Politically Incorrect
What the Heart Wants – an Enchanted Publications anthology
Summer Girls by Jami Denise
Tiny Threads by Jami Denise
Canada Square by Carrie Elks
The Shakespeare Sisters series by Carrie Elk
s
Cutlass by T.M. Franklin
Do Over by T.M. Franklin
The Talisman Chronicles by T.M. Franklin
Fireworks by Lindsey Gray
Holiday Cure for the Cursed by Lindsey Gray
Not the Same Season by Lindsey Gray
Chasing Castles by Jiffy Kate
The Other One by Jiffy Kate
Constellation by Jennifer Locklear
Breathe Again by Sydney Logan
Listen to Your Heart by Sydney Logan
Winter Song by Sydney Logan
Politically Incorrect by Jeanne McDonald
Compass by Jeanne McDonald
The Taking Chances series by Jeanne McDonald
The Contract by Melanie L. Moreland
It Started with a Kiss by Melanie L. Moreland
All Over You by Ayden K. Morgen
Jackson Stiles, Road to Redemption by Jo Richardson
Cookie Cutter by Jo Richardson
http://www.enchantedpublications.com
Not where the storyline ends...
My Geeky Valentine Page 10