by Tina Ferraro
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice strained. “I panicked. I couldn’t deal with you and Saffron and the championship—at least, not right then. You and me, we’re too important to screw up.”
I looked up and looped my arms around his neck.
“Same reason I pulled away after we went for pizza that night. I’d kind of meant it as a first date—”
“You did?”
“Yeah, but we got to talking about my dad moving out, and you were just such an amazing listener. I realized I wasn’t in the right head yet for this relationship. And the other night, with your dad? I lied to him about why you’d gone to the tux shop. I couldn’t have him knowing what a jerk I was, that you’d run there because of me. I needed him to keep liking me.” He cocked his head into just that perfect angle to connect his gaze with mine. “Because in the back of my head, I knew that someday things might change. That I’d find the right time to tell you...”
“Tell me?”
“How I feel about you. How you’re, you know, the one.”
Goosebumps broke out on my arms. “Oh, God! Me, too. I mean,” I said and laughed, “that’s how I feel about you.”
His lips made a soft connection with my forehead, then started a slow trail down to my own. I suspected nothing in my life would be the same again, and all I could think was bring it!
Adam was my real starter boyfriend, not someone to make mistakes on—but to learn and grow with. Who knew? We might totally bypass the heartbreaks and romantic trauma I thought I had to prepare for. We might just be The Real Thing.
Acknowledgements
My heartfelt thanks to my critique partners, Kelly Parra and Stephanie Hale for their tireless reads and support, and to the writer-friends who offered listening ears and help through the writing of this book: Heather Davis, Diana Duncan, Janie Emaus, Marley Gibson, Dona Sarkar and Jessica Smith. My appreciation as well to Elaine Spencer for her energy and good suggestions, and to Cynthia Riley for the wonderful cover.
About The Author
Tina Ferraro is the author of three young adult novels with Random House: Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, How to Hook a Hottie, and The ABC’s of Kissing Boys. A two-time finalist for Best Young Adult Romance in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest, she lives in front of a computer in southern California with her scientist husband, two cats and any of their three young adult kids who happen to be home. When not writing, she busies herself playing too much Facebook Scrabble, swimming laps, and chasing coyotes out of her neighborhood. Learn more about Tina at www.tinaferraro.com or http://facebook.com/tina.ferraro1.
Contents
Title page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
About The Author
Table of Contents
Title page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
About The Author