Crush: A YA Romance Collection

by Lavinia Leigh

  Arielle made a gesture with her hands. “Please. I would love to hear what you’ve got.”

  He started playing, the music going straight to her soul. She had tingles spreading inside her and goosebumps running down her arms and legs.

  She suddenly realized she still wore her pajamas, with her hair in a messy bun. How embarrassing, but this guy had still said she was cute. Until now, she hadn’t wondered, but she wanted to put a name to the face in front of her, but she could wait, not wanting to interrupt him.

  The words he sung took her to another planet. The tones were soft and enchanting, making it easy to get lost in the melody. This guy was an artist, which she felt deep inside her bones.

  When the music stopped, she glanced up at him. “Don’t stop playing.” And then her cheeks got hot again.

  But his got red too as he stared at the ground. He set his guitar down beside him, stood up, and stepped over to her. For a minute, she didn’t think he would say anything, but then he extended his hand. “The name’s Tyler.”

  “Hi, Tyler.” She shook his hand. His was rougher than hers, maybe from playing guitar. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  He ran a hand down the side of his head. “Yeah, you too. You live across the street?”

  “No, my friend, Jess, does. I was staying the night with her.”

  “Yet you’re wandering around outside in the wee hours of the morning?” He smirked. “Doesn’t sound like your sleepover is going well, huh?”

  Arielle shrugged, realizing she was doing that way too much. “I had a bad dream and it was so hot I walked outside to get some fresh air and heard you playing.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know you.”

  He winked. “But you let me play a personal song for you. And you are sitting in my garage with me.”

  Arielle stood. “Yeah, maybe I shouldn’t be.” She began to walk out again and his hand on her arm stopped her.

  “Stay. Tell me what’s haunting you.”

  “Nothing…”

  “Your eyes tell a different story.” He spun her around to face him and was way too close.

  She couldn’t help it, her eyes went to his lips. They were redder than any she’d ever seen, almost as if he wore lipstick. It made him smirk, and Arielle found herself thinking about how sexy she found him.

  “I lost my dad a little while ago.” She met his eyes, not able to believe she’d told him. “I haven’t been the same since. The same day my dad died, my ex-boyfriend broke up with me, so it hasn’t been a good month.”

  “What a dick.”

  “Don’t. Name calling isn’t the answer. He’s not a dick, misguided, maybe, but not a dick.” Why she was defending Blake, she didn’t know. “We live a long way from each other and never saw each other so it was time to part ways. He broke up with me before my dad passed, but he wasn’t there for me…when I needed him to be…” Her voice came out strained, the hurt and pain wrapping through her words.

  Tyler put his arms on her shoulders and leaned his forehead in to touch hers. “Loss is difficult to handle when the people you care for the most aren’t there to support you. I’m sorry you had to go through this. If there is anything I can do to help, please tell me.”

  She found she kind of liked him close. He smelled like the woods, earthy and real, and she liked it.

  Maybe she wasn’t in her right mind, but she met his eyes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you. I am going to get back now, Tyler. But I’m kind of glad I wandered over here in the wee hours of the morning.”

  He grabbed her hand as she walked away and yanked her into him, almost as if he was using a dance move. He placed his open palm on her face and his thumb wrapped underneath her chin as he kissed her. Fire burned through her stomach and excitement shot through her, bouncing from one corner of her body to another.

  A part of her couldn’t believe she was standing there kissing a complete stranger in the middle of the night, but another part of her, one she didn’t let out much, loved the rush of energy that it brought. Blake had broken her heart first, then when Dad had died the same night, her heart had been ripped from her. Now, it might be on its way to mending…at least a little bit.

  One thing was for sure: she loved kissing Tyler, maybe even more than she’d liked kissing Blake. Maybe I’m crazy, she thought.

  When he pulled back, he had another sexy smirk on his face. “Didn’t want you to leave without a proper goodbye, Arielle.”

  “I like your proper goodbyes,” she said, realizing how much she meant the words.

  “Good. Maybe there will be more goodbyes, since you like them so much.” He ripped a piece of paper from over on the wooden tool table and pulled a pen from his pocket. “Here’s my number.” He handed her the paper. “Call me anytime.”

  She grinned and tucked the small piece of paper in her pocket, then wandered back to Jess’s house, feeling like she was walking on clouds, a feeling she hadn’t felt since…it wasn’t until then she started to think about Blake. Before she’d met the stranger across the street from her best friend, Blake had been the one thing on her mind all the time, but now, maybe she’d begun to let him go. All those thoughts she had after Dad’s funeral had been true. Putting Blake behind her was something she’d already done, she just hadn’t realized it until now. Some things a person couldn’t come back from.

  Sure, she understood he’d been with his dad and they were working on their relationship, but couldn’t he have called her since then? It had been weeks.

  It seemed as if he’d forgotten about her before she’d even thought about forgetting about him.

  It would be better if she moved on. And it would be interesting moving on with Tyler. He had a sort of bad boy vibe to him, maybe because he played the guitar, but to Arielle, there seemed to be much more to him, and she couldn’t wait to find out.

  She would call him first thing tomorrow and see if their three a.m. meeting had been a fluke, or if it had meant the same to him as it did to her.

  For now, though, she crawled back into her makeshift bed on Jess’s floor and closed her eyes, wishing for happier dreams than she’d had before. She couldn’t fall asleep right away because an image of Tyler drifted through her mind and her heart raced. Something good might be coming her way. It might be different than what she’d wanted, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be great.

  It was nice to have something put a smile on her face again, albeit a small one.

  When she fell asleep, it was Tyler she dreamed of instead of Blake.

  Epilogue

  Seven Years Later

  Arielle rubbed her swollen stomach, feeling the baby inside her kick her hand. The sensation was unreal, but always made her smile, not able to believe there was life growing in there.

  Moving to a bigger house had been the right thing to do, but she had so many boxes. Old ones and new ones.

  She opened an old one and lost her breath as she saw what sat inside. Blake’s white shirt, yellow from age, sat in there right next to a certain painting with a beach scene and kids playing. She thought she’d gotten rid of those things.

  For some reason, she’d held on to them. A small part of her heart wondered how her life would have changed if she’d kept Blake in it, but the thought skated through her mind, leaving as fast as it came.

  Before she’d met Tyler, she’d imagined spending the rest of her life with Blake, her first love. She’d thought they would grow old together and have children…but as she stood and rubbed her belly one more time, she couldn’t imagine having anyone else’s child other than Tyler’s.

  After losing her Dad, Tyler had brought her back to sanity. He’d picked her up when she’d all but crumbled on the floor and he’d put every piece of her together again. She could never repay him for all he’d done, but she tried every single day.

  Now, she was expecting their very first child, after a year of marriage. He couldn’t be more excited, and neither c
ould she.

  Warm arms wrapped around her from behind, rubbing her stomach until those hands stopped over her own. “Hey, sweets. How’s our little man doing today?”

  “Strong and active, the way a boy should be.” Arielle smiled and leaned into his chest.

  “Good. Let’s keep it that way. What do you want for dinner?”

  “How about we go out?” Arielle asked. “I don’t feel like cooking.”

  “Good. Me either. I will be happy to take the most beautiful girl out to show her to the world.”

  Arielle turned, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him and then pulled back, smiling. “How did I ever get so lucky?”

  “Knock, knock. Anyone home?”

  Arielle turned toward the front of the house. Her mom came around the corner, followed by her step-dad. “Hey, you guys. What are you doing here?”

  “Wanted to see how our daughter and that baby are doing. I guess our son-in-law too.” Mom laughed. “Kidding, Tyler.”

  “Good thing,” Tyler said, his tone light.

  “We are doing well,” Arielle said. “Tyler was just taking us out to dinner.”

  “Oh good. We can join, if you don’t mind?” Mom asked.

  “Not one bit. Let’s go.” Arielle grabbed her jacket on her way out the door.

  Her family had been torn apart for a while after Dad passed, especially Mom as she’d fallen into drinking, but Mom stopped all that and moved on, finding a wonderful man to marry. Some people hadn’t thought much of that, but Arielle had been ecstatic. Nobody should live their life alone and she wouldn’t wish that sentence on her mom. Not one bit.

  As she walked outside, another car pulled up to the curb. Reed jumped out, a big grin on his face. “Hey, where’s everyone going?”

  “To dinner. Want to join?” Arielle asked.

  “I never say no to free food. You’re paying, right?” Reed grinned.

  Arielle shook her head and chuckled. “Come on, freeloader. Let’s go. I’ll buy. I still owe you from when I bet the baby would be a girl.”

  He pointed at her. “Ah. I forgot all about that. Good thing you didn’t.”

  She glanced back at her small house as she climbed in Tyler’s car. She’d never dreamed to be so happy, but she was. Her heart had led her exactly where she needed to be. Things weren’t always easy, but they were right.

  With Tyler, she would forever be young and in love because that was exactly how he made her feel. Some people said the grass was greener on the other side, but to her, the grass was the most vibrant green she’d ever seen right where she’d ended up. And she couldn’t be happier.

  The End

  About the Author

  Cassandra Fear lives in Ohio with her husband, two kids and two dogs. Hiking, taking care of her fish tank and reading are her favorite hobbies. She loves chocolate, hates driving in the snow and could eat macaroni and cheese every day. In her spare time, she loves to write, and has always dreamed of becoming an author. Her dreams will become reality with her first book, Above the Flames.

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  http://www.facebook.com/cassandrafearauthor%20

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  Our Little Secret

  By Ashelyn Drake

  Chapter 1

  The hallway is even more crowded today, thanks to the new basketball trophy in the display case. All the players keep huddling around it, and all their adoring fans huddle around them. I’ve never seen girls swoon like this, and unfortunately they’re blocking my view of Toby. I can just barely see his face around the mass of limbs reaching forward to touch him.

  “You’re coming over after school, right?” Tori asks, coming up behind me.

  “What?” I jump and turn away from Toby, practically smacking my head on my open locker door.

  “What’s gotten into you?” Tori asks.

  “Nothing. I was just trying to remember what I need for next period.”

  “Try books, like always.” She eyes me and shakes her head. “Seriously, it’s like you were in another world. You had that same stupid look Meredith always gets when my brother walks by. It’s nauseating.”

  I force a laugh. “Meredith really likes Toby, doesn’t she?” The thought makes my stomach churn.

  “Likes? The girl’s obsessed.” She turns and rolls her eyes at the crowd around Toby. “Look at her. If she rubs up against him anymore…well, let’s just say the girl has a future in porn.”

  “Tori! That’s a little harsh.” Although Meredith really does need to learn about personal space. “How can Toby stand her touching him like that?”

  “Because she’s head cheerleader.”

  I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I have to filter my thoughts better, especially around Tori. “Right. So, do you think he’s into her?”

  “Not really. He’s into basketball and his schoolwork. Who would’ve thought my brainiac brother would be so popular? Sure as hell not me.”

  “That’s because you’re his sister. It would be totally disgusting if you saw him the way other girls do.”

  She shrugs. “I guess so, but you don’t get it either, do you? I mean, we grew up together. You’re practically related to us.”

  Related? Not even close. Or all these thoughts I’m having about Toby would be really uncalled for. “Whatever. Let’s just get to class before the crowd heads this way and tramples us to death.”

  She loops her arm through mine and practically drags me down the hall. “I get why girls drool over Ryder. He’s wicked hot, has money, and drives an awesome car. But Toby’s just…Toby.”

  “You don’t know anything about cars.”

  “So? It’s pretty, and I’d look amazing in the passenger seat.”

  She would. Tori is every bit as pretty as Toby is hot. Being twins will do that, though. Tori has a model’s face with a short pixie cut to show off her perfect cheekbones. And her legs go on forever. At five foot eight, she only has three inches on me, but it seems more like ten, probably because she’s always in heels. My ballerina flats do nothing for my height, but God, they’re comfortable.

  “Earth to Becca.” She yanks on my arm. “What is with you today?”

  “I didn’t sleep well. Sorry.” Actually I slept great, thanks to another dream about Toby.

  “Neighbor’s dog keep you up again?”

  The Ackles have one of those tiny dogs that people carry around in purses. It yaps at everything and must be afraid of the dark with the way it carries on all night. “I forgot to put in my earplugs.”

  “God, it sucks that you have to live next door to Meredith and her freaky little rat-dog.”

  Tell me about it. Not that I think I have a shot with Toby, but even if I did, I’d never get past Meredith. She’s hated me ever since the first grade when I showed up at school with the same Barbie lunchbox she had. She swore I did it on purpose. I never understood what the big deal was, but Meredith has always wanted to have things that no one else did. Right now that thing is Toby. “I’m sure once she ropes Toby, I’ll be seeing them together all the time.”

  “I pity you.” Tori squeezes my arm before letting go and turning down another hallway. “See you after school. And could you bring some popcorn? We’re out. Douchewad devoured it last night watching the game.”

  Toby likes popcorn as much as I do, and we’re both strictly kettle corn people. Something about the sweet and salty combination is just perfect. Opposites that go so well together. Kind of like me and Toby.

  “Get some sleep, Daniels,” Tori says before walking away.

  I don’t need sleep. I need to get over my best friend’s brother.

  “Hey, Becca.”

  My heart flutters at the sound of Toby’s voice. I take a deep breath before turning around to face him. “Hi.” My face falls when I see Meredith at his side and a train of girls following behind them.

&nb
sp; Toby smiles and keeps walking. Meredith turns her head and glares at me. I do my best to hide any hint of anything more than friendship toward Toby, but if anyone is going to figure out I have a crush on him, it’ll be her.

  I don’t hear a word of what Mr. Rollar says in trig. I really should pay better attention. My last three tests were all Fs. How can I ever hope to be worthy of Toby when I’m a failure? To everyone else, he’s the star basketball player, but I’ve known him all my life. I know basketball is only part of who he is. He’s smart, sweet, and caring. When the bell rings, I gather my stuff, which is still in my messenger bag since I never even bothered to take out my textbook or notebook, and head for the door.

  “Miss Daniels, may I speak with you for a second?” Mr. Rollar says, halting me in my tracks.

  I grip the strap of my bag and brace myself for a lecture. “Yes?”

  “You seemed very distracted today. I don’t recall you having your book with you.”

  “Oh, um, I’m not feeling very well. Sorry if I was kind of spacey. I’ll be better tomorrow.”

  “I hope so. Your grades have been slipping lately.”

  Oh, please, don’t turn this into a “you’re not living up to your potential” speech. My grades were never good in this class. I just don’t understand trig. But my plummet from Cs to Fs has his attention.

  “I would hate to have to call home.”

  Even worse. “No need. I’ll make sure to do some extra reading tonight, and I’ll have my homework all ready for you tomorrow.”

  “And what is the homework? I don’t recall you writing it down.” He laces his fingers in front of him, knowing he’s got me.

  “Unit six?”

  “No, Miss Daniels. Unit six was the one we finished last week. Though it wouldn’t hurt you to review that too, considering your performance on the test. Section one of unit seven is due tomorrow. No excuses. And be prepared to show the class how to work out some of the problems on the board.”