First Date

by Krista McGee

  “Have there been any attempts since your dad has been in office?”

  “I don’t know. My dad tries to keep Mom and my sister and me in the dark about the threats he receives. But we know. Being president isn’t the safest job in the world. And as much as I hate all that comes with being his son, I know my dad loves this country and he takes his job seriously. His passion is what will force me to follow in his footsteps, but it’s also what I love most about him.”

  Addy teared up as she heard Jonathon’s soft voice praising his dad. Pity and envy battled in her heart. She wished her dad were still here to talk to, but she was glad she didn’t have to live with all the pressures Jonathon had.

  “Addy? Are you still there? The phone didn’t die, did it?”

  “No, sorry. I’m here. I was just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  Addy wasn’t ready to divulge her thoughts, but she didn’t want to hurt Jonathon’s feelings. “I was thinking that your dad should open a new position: White House editor. Forget the biased news stations putting their spin on what happens in there. Make it an inside job. You get a crew to film cabinet meetings, overseas trips, state dinners, and edit it all together for the public.”

  “You know, that’s not a bad idea.” Jonathon chuckled. “Maybe I’ll pitch it to my dad once this show is over.” He paused. “What about you, Addy? What is it you want to do? Be a pro golfer?”

  “I wish.” She laughed. “I’m not really sure. I know I want to go to an Ivy League school, but from there, I don’t know. I love English. I’ve thought about journalism or even law—but the research side, not the actual standing-in-front-of-huge-crowds-of-people side. I would hate that. Sitting home reading and writing, though . . . that would be great. With some occasional golfing breaks, of course.”

  “So maybe we’ll end up in some classes at law school together then, huh?”

  She wasn’t sure if his tone was mocking or serious. “I doubt we’d run in the same circles.”

  “I’d like to,” he said, his voice soft, vulnerable. “I don’t have a lot of people I can just talk to, Addy. Everyone around me has expectations of what I should be or say or do. Except you . . . Thanks.”

  Her heart started beating so fast she thought she would pass out. But she had no idea how to respond to him. She could talk academics, golf, even make small talk. Flirting, though, was not something she knew how to do.

  Addy looked up to see the sign welcoming people to the Nashville International Airport.

  “I’m sorry, Jonathon,” she said, her voice shaking from nervous excitement. “I’ll have to go—we’re at the airport. Talk to you later?”

  “Sure,” Jonathon said, and Addy could hear the confusion in his voice. She felt bad, but she pressed End anyway.

  She hoped he would still be interested despite her inept response.

  Chapter 30

  The hour-and-thirty-minute flight back home went by in a blur. Addy enjoyed the silence and spent most of the time with her eyes closed, replaying that last conversation with Jonathon in her mind. She hoped she’d get another chance to talk to him while she was in Tampa.

  Grabbing her carry-on, Addy stood to leave. Since she and Mike were seated in the first-class cabin, Addy hoped to be the first off the plane.

  Preteen girls rushed forward, crushing that hope. Three of them babbled on simultaneously. Addy had no clue what they were saying, but she caught her name, Jonathon’s, and something about being the greatest. The whole thing ended with pleas for an autograph. On their shirts. Addy felt strange, but she obliged as the girls turned their backs to Addy and she scrawled her name across their shoulders.

  By the time she finished, Addy was surrounded.

  “Can I have your autograph?”

  “You’re a jerk. I can’t believe you’ve made it this far.”

  “You look a lot prettier on TV than you do in person.”

  Afraid to say anything, she just smiled, turned around, and walked forward.

  Trapped in the tram going from the gates to the main terminal, Addy tried to answer as many questions as she could without breaching either contract or dignity.

  “Yes, Jonathon is very handsome.”

  “No, we haven’t kissed. We’re just friends.”

  “Well, the other girls are certainly . . . enthusiastic.”

  “Yes, I actually am that clumsy.”

  Addy was exhausted before the doors even opened. But as she walked from the tram to the main floor of the airport, she saw a wall of people. Some faces were familiar, but most were not. Everyone was screaming. Dozens of signs were up. Addy’s face was plastered over most of them with slogans like Tampa Loves Addy and Jonathon Loves Addy 4-Ever. Camera crews from all the local television stations were present; reporters had their microphones out as they pushed their way through the crowd.

  Mike shot a “gotta run—wouldn’t want us identified as relatives on camera” look and Addy was left alone to face the throng.

  “Addy, how does it feel to be the most popular teenager on TV?”

  “Addy, did you really beat up the other girls on the show?”

  She shook her head at the reporters and sighed when she spotted Lexi shoving her way past the crowd.

  “Look out! Best friend coming through.” Lexi crushed Addy in a hug.

  The Lawrences were right behind Lexi. Mrs. Lawrence grabbed Addy’s arm and whispered, “Just let James take care of everything. We’ll run out to the car and wait for him there.”

  Mr. Lawrence turned toward the cameras and began answering as many questions as he could, saying over and over how proud he was of Addy and how glad he was to have her back home again. “Tampa has come out to celebrate our favorite hometown girl,” Mr. Lawrence said. “Now we’re going to take her home for a real celebration.”

  The crowd cheered and Addy felt a thrill—it was good to be home.

  Chapter 31

  Dad’s got the boat all gassed up and ready.” Lexi had given Addy just enough time to lay her suitcase down in the living room. “You looked awful on the mountain trying to ski. We need to show America real skiing, and you need to redeem yourself.”

  Addy laughed. “What are you, my manager?”

  “It looks like you need one.” Lexi looked down at Addy, her hands on her hips. “You can’t go all the way if you have another boring week like that. At least mouth off again or something.”

  “Lexi Summers, you know how terrible I felt about that.”

  “I know. I’m just saying . . .”

  “Since when do you want me to win? I thought you wanted me to come home.”

  “What’s another three weeks away?” Lexi said. “I mean, you win this show, go to prom with Jonathon, and you can get me all kinds of connections. I need a basketball scholarship, you know.”

  “You want me to win so you can get scholarships?” Addy laughed at her best friend.

  “That may be the reason God has you on that show. To help me.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” Addy pushed past Lexi and sat on the couch. “Boy, it’s nice to be home.” Addy glanced around and frowned. “Look at this place.”

  “What?”

  “The couch is faded; Uncle Mike’s recliner is about a hundred years old. The coffee table is all scratched up.”

  “So?”

  “I don’t know. Cameras are going to be in here tomorrow. It’s a little embarrassing.”

  “Addy Davidson.” Lexi sat beside her friend. “Since when do you care what your house looks like?”

  “Since I was on a TV show trying to win a date with a guy whose mom is an interior designer.”

  “Who cares?”

  “I thought you did.”

  Lexi looked around. “How about we put up one of those pictures of dogs playing poker? Right there, over the couch.”

  “Yes, Lexi.” Addy rolled her eyes. “That would really make this place look classy.”

  “I know, right?” Lexi leaned back. �
�So skiing tomorrow?”

  “Definitely.”

  “What else?”

  “Eric wants to get some shots at school.”

  “Ooh, how about we go to the gym, and they could get some shots of us shooting hoops together?”

  “Lex, you know I won’t play basketball with you.”

  “Come on, just because you can’t win doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”

  “We’ll probably go to the golf course too.”

  “And the beach,” Lexi said. “What if you snorkeled and had some of those underwater cameras with you? That would be cool.”

  Addy agreed. Lexi might make a pretty good manager after all.

  Chapter 32

  A-D-D-Y,” the cheerleaders chanted. The rest of the school, all 517, were sitting in the bleachers in the gym, chanting along with them. “A-D-D-Y.”

  Eric and his crew were set up in front of the makeshift stage, and Addy followed Mr. Lawrence out. The crowd erupted in cheers and screams.

  “Thank you all for coming.” Mr. Lawrence silenced the crowd with his hands. “I know what a sacrifice it was for you to have to miss class this morning.”

  The crowd laughed.

  “We have been watching The Book of Love for the last few weeks, and we’re so happy to have Addy Davidson representing Tampa Christian School.”

  Everyone on the bleachers stood to applaud, and the cameras panned the audience, who clapped louder and waved “Hi, Moms” as the cameras passed by.

  Mr. Lawrence waited for the crowd to sit, then announced the morning’s lineup: songs from the choir and the band, speeches by some of Addy’s classmates and teachers, and then a special presentation for Addy from the school.

  “So sit right here, Addy”—Mr. Lawrence pointed to a chair on the stage—“and enjoy the show.”

  Addy looked out over the crowd. I never would have imagined this. Not in a million years. My whole school out for me? A month ago, most of them barely even knew my name.

  The morning flew by as her classmates sang and played for Addy. At the end, one of her favorite teachers came up to the podium.

  “I have had the pleasure of being Addy’s math teacher for the past two years,” Mrs. Stevens began. “She is an amazing young woman. She works hard to keep up her grades, but she also works hard to be a good example to the other students.”

  Addy blushed as Mrs. Stevens talked about how she tutored younger children in her free time, and how she and Lexi led a Bible study once a week.

  Addy swallowed hard. Great, all of America is going to know I lead Bible studies. I’ll get all kinds of hate mail from people who can’t stand Christians. Oh, God, just when I was starting to feel a little comfortable with all this. Help me.

  “I know you were nervous about going on The Book of Love.” Mrs. Stevens looked at Addy. “But I think we’d all agree that you are doing a fantastic job, and we are so, so proud of you.”

  The crowd once again stood and cheered. Mrs. Stevens hugged Addy and, wiping tears from her eyes, whispered again how proud she was.

  “We’re not done yet,” Mr. Lawrence yelled into the microphone, motioning for the students to sit. “Addy, we have one more surprise for you.”

  He motioned for Addy to join him, and as she stood, Mrs. Hawthorne, the very overweight band director, was wheeled out on a dolly. A huge golden harp was in front of her, and she was dressed as a modest but comical cupid. Playing the song “The Book of Love” in a classical style, Mrs. Hawthorne was wheeled to the center of the gym while smaller “cupids,” children Addy recognized from the first and second grades, walked in behind her throwing petals from bright red baskets.

  “Addy Davidson,” Mr. Lawrence said over the howling laughter of the students and faculty, “we have brought our very own cupid out here this morning just for you. You have all of our hearts, and we believe you’ll have Jonathon Jackson’s as well.”

  The crowd cheered again, and Addy tried to stop laughing long enough to appreciate it.

  “And we want you to know that you are the winner in our ‘Book of Love.’”

  Two more children came up on the stage with a bouquet of flowers and a crown.

  “And you are our prom queen.”

  Balloons dropped from the ceiling, and everyone in the bleachers ran up to the stage, throwing confetti and shouting. Addy accepted the flowers and the crown from the children with tears in her eyes.

  Oh yes. It’s good to be home.

  Chapter 33

  He wanted to drive the boat,” Lexi said.

  Spencer Adams was walking down the dock toward her.

  “You can drive the boat,” Addy whispered.

  “But I’m not nearly as easy on the eyes as Spencer.” Lexi laughed.

  “Hey, Addy.” He grinned. Not as perfect a smile as Jonathon’s, Addy noted. Even Spencer Adams looks plain after spending time with Jonathon.

  “Thanks for letting me come.”

  Addy, Lexi, and Spencer put on their life jackets as Eric and his crew set up their cameras on the shore of the lake.

  “Nice place,” Eric said. “What do you call those trees?”

  “Cypress,” Addy answered. Having grown up around this lake, she knew she took its beauty for granted. The green water sparkled as the sun hit its surface, and the large trees surrounding it looked like their branches and trunks were melting into the ground.

  “Want to try?” Addy asked Eric, lifting up a ski.

  “Not a chance.” Eric looked through the camera lens. “There are alligators in that lake, right?”

  “Sure,” Lexi said. “But they don’t bother us.”

  “That’s a relief,” Eric said.

  “They’re too scared of the boats to come near us. They like to stay near shore.”

  Eric’s eyes widened and Lexi laughed.

  “Lexi, stop scaring him,” Addy said. “Don’t worry, Eric. My uncle always says the alligators are just as scared of us as we are of them.”

  “Well, that’s good.” Eric leaned on his camera. “Because I am very, very scared of alligators.”

  Spencer started the boat. “Do you want to start on shore or in the lake, Addy?”

  “In the lake.”

  Within minutes, Addy was jumping out of the boat into the water.

  “Cold?” Lexi asked.

  “A little.” Addy worked her feet into the plastic boots on the water skis, grabbed the handle at the end of the rope, and positioned herself behind the boat.

  “Ready?” Lexi asked.

  Addy put her thumb up and Spencer hit the gas. Addy leaned back, knees bent, letting the rope pull her into a standing position. Moving outside of the wake, she easily jumped the waves the boat made. Another thumbs-up sign, and Spencer knew Addy was ready for more speed.

  Addy pulled on the rope and within seconds was beside the boat.

  “Show-off,” Lexi yelled.

  Addy pulled back, crossed the wake behind the boat, then pulled up on the other side, this time dropping one of the skis and positioning her right foot in front of her left.

  Addy and Lexi had spent hours on this lake, and waterskiing came as naturally to Addy as walking. Lexi wasn’t quite as accomplished, and the running joke between the girls was that Addy took pleasure in her superior abilities.

  Lexi moved Spencer out of the way, and Addy knew she was in trouble. The boat made a sharp turn to the left, and she bent her knees in response, following the curve of the boat. Lexi looked back and pushed the boat even faster. Knowing she had no chance to win this battle, Addy waited until she was right in front of the dock, let go of the rope, and the momentum carried her back to shore.

  “That was amazing.” Eric came out from behind the camera. “How’d you do that?”

  “How’d I do what?” Addy removed the ski and sat on the shore to catch her breath.

  “You just came right back here,” Eric said.

  “I don’t like falling in the lake,” Addy said. “When I was little and I’d fall
, I’d hear the humming of the boat’s motor under the water, and I thought it was a snake. It scared me so much I didn’t even want to keep skiing. So Mr. Summers taught me how to get back to shore when I was done so I didn’t have to stay out there. That’s how I’ve come back ever since.”

  Addy waved Lexi and Spencer back to shore. “Except when Lexi makes me crash.” Addy laughed.

  Eric packed up. “I’ll meet you at the beach in the morning, Addy.”

  Spencer pulled up next to the dock and stood. “Ready to get Lexi back?”

  With a gleam in her eye, Addy ran to the boat, ready to do just that.

  Chapter 34

  That was a bad fall.” Spencer watched Lexi limp back to her house.

  “She really wiped out,” Addy said.

  “Are you sure you shouldn’t go with her?”

  “No way.” Addy draped a towel around her shoulders to protect herself from the chilly April breeze. “Lexi hates for anyone to see her hurt. She’ll patch herself up and be back in just a few minutes.”

  Spencer sat beside her. “I was actually hoping for some time alone with you, Addy.”

  She looked at Spencer’s profile. His olive skin, dark hair, and ebony eyes revealed his Hispanic heritage. Until recently, Addy thought Spencer was the best-looking boy at school. And until now, he never even gave me a second glance.

  “I know you’re getting a lot of attention and all that. And I have no doubt you’re going to win that competition.” Spencer turned to look at her, leaning closer.

  Nice cologne, Addy thought. But not as nice as Jonathon’s. “I don’t think that’ll happen. But I’ll stay on as long as God wants me there.”

  “That’s what I’ve always admired about you, Addy. You have such a strong commitment to God.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Listen.” Spencer paused for a minute, looking out over the lake. “Like I said, I know you’ll be going to prom with Jonathon Jackson. But I was wondering if . . . maybe . . . you’d go to our school’s prom with me.”

  I did not see that coming. She leaned away from Spencer. Seventeen years without any boy giving me a second glance, and now the cutest boy in school is asking me to prom?