Ali & the Too Hot, Up-to-No Good, Very Beastly Boy: A Standalone Sweet YA Romance (Jackson High Series Book 1)

by M. L. Collins

  I hurried down the bleachers to meet him.

  When we stood only feet apart, the crowd disappeared and it was only Dax and me and electrified air between us.

  “I…I don’t even know where to start,” I said. There was the bouquet of flowers, Paige’s public confession, the whole game—that amazing fourth quarter!—and the win.

  “I do. Right here.” He cupped my face and kissed me.

  He was hot, sweaty, and covered in dirt and it was perfect. It was a long, slow kiss that said I’m sorry and never again, and he wrapped his arm around me tight saying that’s my girl. I threw my arms around his neck because Dax DeLeon was my guy and I wanted everyone to know.

  When we pulled apart, I stood breathless and lightheaded, gazing up into his eyes. We both started talking at once.

  “I’m sorry—”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “You go first,” he said.

  “I’m sorry about the whole mess. I wish I’d figured out some other plan, but…well, I didn’t.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you—” The look of sincere pain in his eyes got to me.

  “Stop it. You already apologized. I know some girls love a good grovel, but not me.”

  “Have I told you I’m crazy about you?” He pressed a kiss to my temple. The warmth from his lips rippled through me. “I’m sorry I missed your bowling meet. Dang, Ali, a perfect game!”

  “It’s okay. We’ve got more meets in the spring. Hey… Thank you,” I said, pulling back a little to look into his eyes. “For Paige’s confession. It was amazing and unexpected. I was prepared to handle the kids hating me, but—”

  “—but now you don’t have to.”

  “I have to admit, I like your way better.” I felt so free. Like Dobby-free.

  “Me too. There was no way I was going to stand by and let you take the fall.”

  “How did you get her to confess? On video, no less?”

  He smiled his crooked smile. “A little bad boy charm. Rowena helped us with the video. She said, and I quote, ‘No one messes with a bowling teammate and gets away with it.’”

  “I’m blessed with amazing friends.” My life was richer because of my friends and Dax. It was weird that my most painful experience had brought my greatest gift. Like it was meant to be. I would never in a million years have wanted my dad to go through the pain he did. But maybe—once he got back to living a real life again—maybe he’d find something wonderful and perfect too.

  “Your friends are very cool.”

  “How did you find out Turk was the one?”

  He arched an eyebrow at me. “How do you know we found out?”

  “Oh please. At first I was confused when the offensive line shuffled around every play.” I shook my head and laughed. “Then I realized it was so everyone got a turn at Turk. Heck, you even tackled him!”

  “You bet your ass I did. He was dumb enough to tell us. Proof that Paige was the brains behind the plot because Turk would volunteer to be goalie for the dart team.”

  “Dax!” Dad joined us. “Great game, son. That was some play calling in the fourth quarter.”

  “Thanks, Coach.” Dax wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side. “Your plays made that happen.”

  “The plays helped, but your execution was the key.” Dad gave him one of his “I’m impressed” nods. “I was afraid you’d lose momentum after the interception, but you came back stronger.”

  “A little trick Ali taught me.” He winked at me.

  “Gutsy move, Dax.” My dad laughed. “The last time you winked at her you almost lost a body part.”

  “We’ve worked it out.” I turned my face up to Dax, loving the way his gaze ate me up. “I can put up with his winks.”

  He grinned. “Thanks, babe.”

  “Whoa. I’m drawing the line at babe. That’s still a no.”

  “Gotcha, gummy bear.” He winked again.

  “Okaaay, well, this got weird, so I’ll head out now.” Dad shook Dax’s hand and turned to go, only to turn back. “I sat next to Zeke Poppe, the recruiter for Texas Tech. He was impressed. Just thought I’d mention it. G’night.”

  I grabbed Dax’s hand in mine and squeezed. “Dax, that’s fantastic—”

  He cut me off when he pulled me up against him, face to face. “If I get a scholarship, great. But I’ll be okay if I don’t. Want to know why?”

  “Why?” I whispered, my heart beating faster than a bee’s wing.

  “Because I’ve got a backup plan,” he said, smoothing the hair from my face. “And a girl who likes me for who I am even if I’m not a football star.”

  This time, I kissed him.

  “Okay you two, stop with the sucking face,” TJ said. I had no idea how long he’d been standing there. “We’re trying to make plans. There’s a bonfire at the lake or there’s a party at Whelan’s place. What do you want to do?”

  “Actually, I’m in the mood for some midnight bowling,” Dax said, raising his eyebrows at me. “What do you think? Girls against the guys? Bowlers versus the football players?”

  “Absolutely, but you guys are going down,” I said.

  “Righteous.” TJ pointed at us. “I’ll tell the gang. Sorry, Ali, but we won’t go easy on you because you’re girls.”

  “Oh, TJ.” I shook my head at the poor, unsuspecting jock. “If anyone’s going to be crying for mercy, it’ll be you namby-pamby football players. Me and my girls are sort of badass bowlers.”

  We all met up at Bowl-O-Rama after Dax and the guys had showered and changed. Dax and I arrived first with a gaggle of at least twenty kids not far behind us. Along with our group of bowlers and football players, there were also cheerleaders (not Paige and her posse), some lacrosse players, Lacey, Nathan Baker, and Kev.

  Mr. J took one look at me and rolled his eyes. “Get out of here, Ali. I hate seeing you alone on a Friday night. Go. Skedaddle. Scram.”

  “I’m not alone. I’m with friends. And my…” Heat rushed into my cheeks, unsure of how to introduce Dax.

  “She’s with me, sir. Dax DeLeon.” Dax stuck his hand out to shake Mr. J’s. “I’m Ali’s boyfriend.”

  “Well, okay then.” Mr. J grabbed Dax’s extended hand and pulled him close—as close as you could with a counter between them. “Son, you hurt her and I’ll—”

  “Ahem. Stand down, Mr. J.” I shot him a warning look. Sure, I’d pretty much grown up here at Bowl-O-Rama, but I already had one overprotective father.

  “You’d have to get in line behind me anyway, Mr. J,” Shani said with a grin in Dax’s direction.

  “You guys can have lanes one through four,” Mr. J said.

  We spent the next hour bowling, talking and laughing, and even a little dancing behind the ball rack. Everyone was still rehashing tonight’s game and getting geared up for the championship next week. There was some serious smack talk between the girls and guys teams.

  At one point, TJ ended up standing next to me while everyone else watched Josh attempt to down an order of tater tots in thirty seconds.

  “You look good in his jersey,” he said. “Dax has had a couple girlfriends in high school, but you’re the first girl who’s worn his jersey. I thought you might like to know.”

  “Thanks, TJ.” That knowledge melted me into a puddle of love-struck goo. Wow. The first and only girl to wear Dax’s jersey.

  Turned out all that couple stuff I’d rejected before felt…really, really good.

  Was it only ten weeks ago that I’d stood in this alley and wished I could have rushed through senior year? Crazy how fast things can change. Future-me and past-me could kiss my grits, because I didn’t want to be anywhere else than right here.

  I didn’t need—or want—to be anchored in a safe harbor anymore, waiting for a new life to start. I was sailing by starlight and I was my own North Star. My dad, my friends, and Dax were bright, beautiful constellations in my universe to help me find my way.

  I glanced around at m
y friends. No longer alone. My gaze slid over to Dax, and he must have felt it because he turned away from the football conversation and smiled at me with his bad-boy smile and hot eyes. No longer invisible.

  “Hey, it’s a close battle but the girls are ahead,” Bhakti announced.

  “Ali and Dax, you two are up,” Mari said.

  “You’ve got this.” Gaby and Ro both fist bumped me.

  “Dude, don’t go easy on her because she’s your girlfriend,” Grady warned.

  Dax and I moved up to the lanes, the ball return between us.

  “You ready for this, gummy bear?” He grinned and threw in a wink for good measure.

  “If you’re trying to distract me, it won’t work,” I lied, extending my right hand over the air vent.

  Dax put his hand next to mine, the cool air hitting both our palms. And then he wrapped his hand around mine, holding it tight.

  Epilogue

  Ali

  May 21st aka Last day of Senior Year

  “Hey, hi. It’s been a while.” Recording into my phone, I realized I hadn’t updated my video diary since December. “Almost five months! I guess I’ve been busy. There’s almost too much to talk about. But since this is going to be my last entry, I should give this chapter of my life closure.

  “The Jackalopes made it into the championship game—and won! Yep. State Champs! Thanks to Dax and Rowena, everyone in school stopped blaming me for the playbook mess. Turk and his friend were suspended. Paige and Gwen were kicked off the cheerleading squad and no one talks to them. Not even Kev.

  “Gah! There’s too much to cover. Anxiety level: a zero and a ten. Zero anxiety in this moment, but a ten for all the changes ahead.”

  Exciting changes, but still…

  “Today’s objective: enjoy—”

  “Enjoy hanging out with me,” Dax said, jumping up next to me on the tailgate of his truck. He wrapped his arm around me and winked into the phone. “Hey, Ali. When you watch this in ten years, you should know you were wild about me.”

  “Stop.” I laughed and bumped his shoulder with mine. “I’m trying to record my last diary entry for high school.”

  “Make sure you mention you won the girl’s state finals and you’re competing in the National Championship next month.” Dax pointed into the phone. “You’ve got this, Ali Frost.”

  “Oh, Dax got a scholarship to his dream school. So, yeah, I’m dating a college quarterback.”

  Dax winced. “Yeah, like third string. Don’t get excited until I’m the starter.”

  “I did not get a scholarship,” I said. “Which, remember when I said a scholarship was the only way I’d be able to go away to college? Turns out there’s another way. My dad went back to coaching.”

  “Man, the bidding war over him was crazy,” Dax said. “He had, what, at least ten job offers? High school and college.”

  “Yep. He chose West Texas A&M University because I got accepted there. Which means…”

  “Free tuition.” Dax kissed my temple. “You’ll only be two hours away from me at Tech. We’re going to make this work.”

  “It’ll be challenging, but I think you’re worth it,” I said.

  “Ha! I wink at a challenge,” he joked, but then his face went serious and intense. He wrapped my face in his hands. “Hey, I believe in us.”

  I smiled up into Dax’s face, loving exactly where I was in this moment.

  Dax leaned in and kissed me, leaving me breathless.

  “I think you’re still recording us,” he whispered against my lips. Dax turned his face toward the camera. “Hey, Ali’s diary. I told you that you were wild about me, Ali Frost. But that works out, because I’m wild about you too. Okay, let’s wrap up, gummy bear. We’ve got graduation parties to get to.”

  “Yeah we do. So, that’s a wrap.” I stopped recording.

  “And I was hoping to fit in a little stargazing… Think we still need to tell your dad we’ll be at the observatory?”

  “I think he trusts you, so no.”

  Dax jumped down from the tailgate, lifted me up, and spun me around.

  “Whoa, getting dizzy up here!”

  “Yeah, me too.” He set me down gently. “Being around you has that effect.”

  Oh, yeah. This hot, crazy-good, not-very-beastly boy went right to my head.

  “Ready?” His dark gaze—hot and fierce—locked on me as his hand wrapped firmly around mine telling me he was talking about more than parties and stargazing.

  “More than ready. Oh! Hold on—I forgot one thing.” Without breaking eye contact, I brought up my phone one more time. “Positive affirmation: The road is wide open and wonderful things are waiting ahead.”

  A Note from M.L.

  Thank you for taking the time to read Ali & the Too Hot, Up-to-No Good, Very Beastly Boy. If you enjoyed it, I would sincerely appreciate it if you would leave a review on Amazon. Just one sentence or two is all it takes. Reviews from readers make a huge difference and help other readers find their way to good books. Thank you! ♥ M.L.

  A Sneak Peek: Where the Wild Boyfriends Are

  Lacey Trueheart is excellent at math.

  That’s how she knows her senior year is adding up to trouble.

  1 Good Girl trying to be perfect.

  1 Bad Boy who doesn’t give a f*%! about school.

  2 17-year-olds who cannot be more different.

  1 shared advice column = Lacey’s final grade.

  1 broken guitar that changes everything.

  Is Grady Burnet about to ruin Lacey’s perfect record? Again?

  Click here to preorder now!

  Chapter 1

  Lacey

  “Grady Burnett?” Mr. Garrison called from his desk.

  No one even looked around the classroom, although someone in the back row snickered. I didn’t snicker.

  “No Grady Burnett? Again?” Mr. G frowned and made a notation on his roll sheet while he mumbled about the joy Mr. Burnett would have sitting in detention.

  I heard him from my front row seat even though I was concentrating on holding back the eye roll my brain was doing. Everyone in the Jackson High senior class knew Grady rarely made it to first period on time. If he made it at all. He was the epitome of “too cool for school.” Well, lots of kids at school—girls especially—thought Grady was cool. I wasn’t one of them. I guess the nicest way to put it was I wasn’t a card-carrying member of the Grady Burnett Fan Club. And he did have a fan club.

  “Pretty sure Grady’s a vampire. He can’t be out much during daylight hours,” Josh Radnor called out from two seats behind me.

  “Forget Team Edward and Team Jacob.” Gwen Itzlrab giggled from the back corner. “I’m Team Grady, all the way.”

  “Right?” Jody Ball released a sigh full of unfettered awe. “I’d let that boy make me a vampire any day of the week.”

  “Jody, we’ve discussed this. I have dibs,” Gwen warned. “Besides, I have a nicer neck. See how you can see my veins.”

  Cheese. And. Crackers. They were talking like he was an actual vampire. Some days Gwen made me wonder about the future of the human race, but then I’d realize that wasn’t a nice thought on my part. Good thing Gwen was… She was… That is to say, she has… Huh. I tried to live by the Mr. Roger’s motto: “Find something good in everyone you meet.” Only I hadn’t come up with something good about Gwen yet. But I’d keep trying.

  “That’s enough, ladies,” Mr. G said, sliding from behind his desk, he stood in front of the long whiteboard which took up most of front wall. “As you all know, the senior journalism class is responsible for our school newspaper, the Jackson Journal. We’ve spent the last few weeks learning about the departments and positions at a newspaper. It’s time to assign jobs.

  “Think about what part of journalism piques your interest. Challenge yourselves. Volunteer for a job a bit outside your comfort zone. Keep in mind, not only will you have this job all semester…there are no quizzes and tests in here. Your grade is solely de
pendent on how you perform your job.”

  He assigned a photographer, editors, and a couple students to handle production and layout. Next came the reporting assignments for the headline news column, the faculty spotlight column, and the community connection column.

  “I’ll take sports reporter,” Josh called out.

  “You’re on the football team, is that right, Mr. Radnor?” Mr. G peered over his glasses at him.

  “Yes, sir. I know everything there is to know about football.”

  “I’m sure you do. That’s why I’m giving you the food column.” He wrote Josh’s name and assignment on the whiteboard in bold black letters.

  “But—”

  “Would you rather take the fashion and style column, Mr. Radnor?” Oooh, Mr. G was good.

  “No, sir,” Josh said.

  I raised my hand. “I’ll volunteer for the fashion and style column.” I put a lot of effort into looking majorly cute and pulled together for school every day. And I did it on a budget, so I knew all the cool second-hand stores in town.

  Mr. G lowered his glasses and gave my outfit—a super cute pink romper with long sleeves and a piece of pink velvet trim at the neck and cuffs I added myself and a pair of adorable cowgirl boots covered in pink cabbage roses—a long look. “I think not, Ms. Trueheart.”

  “She does know fashion,” Jody said, looking at my outfit with covetous eyes. (I told you it was cute.)

  “It’s true,” Gwen added. “Which is weird since she’s not on the cheerleading squad, but, like, look at her boots, Mr. G. Those boots are bangin’.”

  “I’ll take your word for it. Ms. Trueheart, I’m putting you on the advice column.” He wrote my name on the whiteboard. “Last year’s end-of-the-year survey showed the advice column is the least read and least liked column in the paper. Students said it was boring. Maybe you can make it…bangin’.”

  “The advice column?” I could work with that. The “Ask Mr. and Ms. Jackalope” column had been a little lackluster the last couple semesters. We were the Jackson High Jackalopes. Yes, it’s a mythical creature, but that’s what made it so fun to my mind. Although, our mascots, Mr. and Ms. Jackalope, were actually long-eared rabbits. With a little hard work and creativity, I was sure I could turn the column around. “Sounds like a challenge, but I’m up for it.”