(And it was everything I dreamed it would be.)
Smith grins at me, probably because I’m all red and wobbly. He keeps hold of my shoulders to keep me steady and from collapsing at his feet. His eyes twinkling, he stares into my starry gaze, “As good as with Grady?”
“Grady who?” I murmur.
He chuckles. “That’s a good answer.”
He ruffles my hair as he says it, but he does it softer than he used to, more like caressing it. His eyes caress me too. My heart explodes.
He keeps his hands in my hair. “Do you want to get pizza again? Do some more commiserating?” He leans closer to me so his warm breath tickles my ear, “We could add some kissing too—get my full hundred’s worth … though I feel like I already got it. That was some kiss.” He looks into my eyes, raising his brow, “Grady was an idiot for letting you go.”
His words send sparks through my body.
But deep down I know he’s only doing this because he’s trying to help me get over Grady—as usual. I mean, first I faint and wet myself in front of him, then I puke and spill my guts out to him about how much I ache for Grady. Yeah, real romantic stuff.
Still, I can’t bear to turn him down. I mean, it’s Smith. The guy I’ve adored forever, and now, for whatever reason—guilt, compassion, loyalty, affection—whatever—he’s wanting to plant me in his life. And I want to be there, obviously. I do. I just have to keep a firm grasp on reality. I mean, the dude almost did my aunt because he was hurting over his long-time (well, long for Smith) relationship with his girlfriend. I mean, the dude is not used to being cheated on. Obviously. And I still have the sinking suspicion he only took his sudden romantic interest in me, and even went through with this kiss-thing, because he was subconsciously trying to follow-through with what he told Chloe—that he was going to do “racy” things with me. Not that kissing is exactly racy…. But with Smith it had been. Big time. My heart is racing, and my knees are weak—and his lingering stare is making me woozy.
I exhale slowly, then just spill it all out—all the tangled thoughts swimming around in my head.
Smith just listens to me, his lips parting slightly as I go on and on, then he shakes his head. “I’ve explained all this to you, Mandy. All of it. You’re just coming up with excuses.”
He stares into my eyes, then goads me softly, “I think you were with Grady so long you’re terrified to like another guy.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, if that was just the case.”
“I think you’re terrified of getting together with me. I’m your fantasy. Your comic book hero. But really, I swear Mandy, I’m just a guy. A guy that likes a weird, quirky, amazing, beautiful girl.”
He grins at my puzzled and slightly dumbfounded expression. “You, Mandy. I like you. In fact, if I didn’t worry that it would make you wet yourself or faint or something kooky, I’d even say I love you.”
“W-what are you saying?”
His grin quirks with amusement. “Well, I already said it. I love you, Mandy. I think I might have kind of loved you even back in middle school too. Only I didn’t really feel like a hero back then. I was bewildered and confused and felt more like a creep for causing girls to fight over me. It didn’t really feel like a super power. It felt like a big responsibility that I wasn’t ready for. I liked girls. I didn’t like them turning vicious and fighting over me—or stop being my friend because I made them think I was different than I was—I was just a guy. Not a superhero.”
“But you saved me.”
He shrugs. “I’m glad I did.”
He runs his hands through my hair and adds softly, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have my Wonder Woman. The only girl I’ve ever loved.”
The world kind of spins, and my heart melts. But it’s also doing alarming, violent things. Scary things.
I gulp. “I—I need to—um … I’ll be right back.”
His eyebrows quirk as I scurry away from him.
My plan was to splash cold water on my face—that was it. But when I come out of the bathroom, there’s Grady.
I haven’t answered a single text from him since the mustard incident. Not when they are all about us—as in “us” getting together and being “friends.”
He stares into my eyes, looking haunted. Maybe even tortured.
“It hurt seeing you kiss the guy,” he says.
Then he adds softly, “I knew it would.”
He looks away a moment, then back into my eyes. “Look, I need you in my life. You seem to be doing okay now without me. But Mandy, I need you.”
There’s a wary, tense silence. He closes his eyes. “Look, when we broke up? I wasn’t ready for that.”
Frustration laces in his voice. “We had no closure. It just ended and I wasn’t ready.”
I try to swallow down the golf ball in my throat. “Grady, we can’t be like we used to be—you seem to want that, but we can’t. But I hope we can be friends again. In time. But you’re going to have to give me time, Grady. You stir up bittersweet memories for me. Bittersweet feelings—that hurt. So, time—give me time.”
That’s all I tell him. Then I try to run from him—run to Smith.
But he puts his familiar gentle Grady hand on my shoulder, making me freeze and wince. Stay. “Mandy, I’m not over you. I’ll never be ‘over’ you. I know I once said that I didn’t have a favorite. That neither of you are better than the other—you’re better, Mandy. You’re better than everyone. You’ll always be my favorite. And always be in my heart.”
I draw in a ragged breath. “You’ll always be in mine too, Grady.”
But I realized I had a favorite too. And it wasn’t him. Not anymore. It was the guy that was always coming to my rescue. The guy that saw me as Wonder Woman.
***
When I find Smith, his curious eyes light up when he sees me, and full-on shine as I take his hand.
“Come on,” I whisper to him. “I have something in my locker I think I’m ready to share with you.” I look into his adoring eyes. “In fact, I know I am.”
Then I share my candy bar with him. The one Grady had left in my locker when we first broke up. The one that I had deemed would show me that I’ve made progress in getting over Grady. The one I had doubted I could ever eat because it would hurt too much.
However, the candy bar is easy and delicious to swallow. Cake. Because I’m in love.
Finally, I whisper it to Smith, “I love you too, Superman.”
He immediately ditches the candy bar and takes me in his arms, kissing me passionately.
Racy and wild.
Mmm.
Chapter 87
Epilogue
Epilogue
After Smith and I had been together for only two short, perfect, glorious, beautiful, heavenly months I heard Grady broke up with Becca.
Not long after that, we run into each—literally—in the school hallway.
Grady steadies me with his warm, Grady grin. “Nice running into you, stranger.”
I rub my injured head and smile, “Yeah, pure delight.”
His eyes wash over me, drinking me in. “I heard you play in Smith’s band the other night at Jimmy North’s party. You’re really awesome.”
Yeah, I’d seen him at the party. With Becca.
“Thanks. Yeah. It’s fun.”
He looks at me kind of guarded. “I guess you heard Becca and I broke up?”
I nod awkwardly, not sure what to say. I mean, what can I say?
He sounds rueful, his voice soft, “Look, you were basically the only girlfriend I ever had.”
“You had Chloe.”
He squeezes his eyes shut and shudders. “I don’t count her.”
He pauses, then slowly goes on, “I just felt like I should see what it was like—being with a different person/girl.”
“Was it everything you dreamed of?” I ask bitterly.
“No. But few things are, Mandy.”
Well, Smith is, I’d like to tell him. But that would be mean. Right n
ow I don’t feel like being mean. I feel happy, so I’m able to be generous. “Well, like you said—we weren’t married. No long-term damage done.”
He gives me a tiny look. “That’s good.”
“It’s great actually.”
He nods. “Okay. I’m happy for you … not so much for me. But I’ll survive,” he grimaces sardonically, “—I guess.”
And probably not faint or stalk or do anything else embarrassing. Because that’s not him.
We stare at each other a long moment in silence. My heart squeezes a little. I guess it always will when I gaze at Grady. But then I see Smith round the corner and my heart soars.
“Well, I’ll see you,” I tell Grady.
Then I skip away from him to jump into my boyfriend’s arms.
My superman.
**********
Note about Ex-Boyfriend: Mandy’s best friends, Nicole and Sara, are from the standalone novel, High School Boys. (Where Nicole gets her boyfriend, Matt.) They are also in the author’s new book, The Player. (Sara gets her guy in that standalone novel, and the book also includes, as a bonus, the story: “Ally Has Amnesia.”) The books are available now. (Note: High School Boys also includes as a bonus book #2 to His Kiss.)
Mandy’s friend and coworker, Kayla, is from Melanie Marks’ book, My Brother’s Best Friend. (It’s only a dollar right now.)
Summary of:
My Brother’s Best Friend By Melanie Marks
Kayla has loved sweet, gorgeous Ben since elementary school. Since he become her brother’s best friend, and helped her build her tree fort, and unplug the toilet … and do all the stuff she couldn’t get her brother to do. In fact, the only thing she couldn’t seem to get hot, yummy Ben to do was notice that she was more than his best friend’s little sister. THEN, in high school, right when it seems Ben might actually finally be noticing (maybe) that Kayla is a girl (and face it, adorable), Kayla’s beautiful, cheerleading, best friend, Sabrina, decides SHE wants Ben. UGH!!! Sabrina always gets what she wants … but what does BEN want???—the cheerleader, or his best friend’s forbidden little sister?
He’s dating Sabrina, but more and more his lingering stare is on Kayla. (!!!)
**The book is available now.
Note From the Author, Melanie Marks:
I hope you liked the book.
There will be more to their story in the future.
If you would like to receive email notifications of my newest books, email me at:
[email protected]
My website is:
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
Link to My Brother’s Best Friend
(About Kayla)
(It’s a dollar right now)
http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Friend-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B00ZQ0ZXYW
Summary of the Novel:
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS
(About Mandy’s friend Nicole)
Nicole and Matt have been best friends forever. Sure Nicole has always fantasized about being more than friends, but Matt goes through girlfriends like lightning. So, Nicole figures her heart is safer if they just stay buds. But then—gasp!—one night Matt kisses her. And it’s everything Nicole dreamed it would be—everything—hot, tender, perfect, everything … except now it seems their friendship is ruined. Nicole desperately wants things to go back to the way they were. But the kiss changed everything.
***
Besides the standalone novel about Matt and Nicole, the book also contains, as a bonus, book #2 to the His Kiss series—with Ally and Griffin and what happens with them right after they first start dating.
High School Boys is available now
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Boys-Plus-More-ebook/dp/B00AT4BH0Y
BOOKS By Melanie Marks
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
Heartbreaker Hanson
Love Liam
Kissing Kade
The Tough Boy’s Tender Kiss
The Player
The New Boy
My Brother’s Best Friend
Dearest (Hot) Enemy
My Forbidden Heartthrob
Beck Bait
Little Dancer
Louder Than Words
The Dating Deal
Slumber Party Wars
The Stranger Inside
When Kyle Came Back
I Remember You
Fall For Me
Griffin
His Kiss
HER Kiss
High School Boys
(It has book #2 of His Kiss; plus Nicole and Matt in high school—their first kiss)
http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Boys-Plus-More-ebook/dp/B00AT4BH0Y
Louder Than Words:
http://www.amazon.com/Louder-Than-Words-Fall-Me-ebook/dp/B00I3OX6IS
The Player (plus: Ally Has Amnesia)
http://www.amazon.com/Player-PLUS-Ally-Has-Amnesia-ebook/dp/B019YZT8OU/ref
Newest novel:
HER Kiss (Griffin)
(It’s Griffin’s version of the book, His Kiss)
(It’s available now)
http://www.amazon.com/Her-Kiss-Griffin-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B00KR0UHW4
For a full list of Melanie’s books visit her website:
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
Check often for updates as she’s always writing new books.
To contact Melanie or if you would like to receive email notifications of her newest books email her at:
[email protected]
Books that are only a dollar right now:
His Kiss
http://www.amazon.com/His-Kiss-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B00631JXEO
Fall For Me
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-For-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B005GYEF4M
Slumber Party Wars
http://www.amazon.com/Slumber-Party-Wars-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B005FCVU02
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Accidental-Kiss-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01F4YB4I8
Heartbreaker Hanson
https://www.amazon.com/Heartbreaker-Hanson-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01GFNFKK0
Summary of
Melanie Marks’ newest book
Melanie Marks’ NEWEST book:
Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss
Okay, I’m just going to start by saying I did NOT mean to make-out with my total enemy’s (smokin’ hot) boyfriend. I swear! I mean, I know it sounds like the perfect revenge, since my total enemy BECAME my total enemy by making out with my boyfriend (who, you know, became my ex boyfriend after that) (After totally making-out with the witch.)
Still, even so—I did NOT make out with my enemy’s (hot) boyfriend on purpose. Really!! TRULY!!!
Not gonna lie, though—Mmmm. Oh man! That kiss … I can’t get it out of my head. Or dreams. Smokin’ hot Sutter Sinclair, that boy can kiss!
http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Accidental-Kiss-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01F4YB4I8
Summary of
Melanie Marks’ newest book
HEARTBREAKER HANSON
Three hot guys, one girl. Sounds dreamy, right? … Well, not if you’re one of the hot guys.
*Brooke Watts: To be fair, there are only TWO hot guys. And they are both off limits. One of them is my friend’s ex-boyfriend, and the other is a heartbreaker (I call him Heartbreaker Hanson—but his name is Rider Hanson). He was my kindergarten boyfriend. He dumped me and broke my heart … and then went on to make a career of it—breaking girls’ hearts.
*What Rider Hanson says: Hey, I’m NOT a heartbreaker. When beautiful Brooke owes me a favor she offers to help convince the girl of my dreams that I’m not really a heartbreaker (though apparently it’s written on the girls’ bathroom walls that I am) (Brooke wrote it). But sure, I’ll let Brooke help me get my dream girl. Brooke just doesn’t realize SHE’S that girl. Definitely Brooke, help me out.
https://www.amazon.com/Heartbreaker-Hanson-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01GFNFKK0
Author Bio:
Melanie Marks was born and raised in California. She is married to a naval nuclear submarine officer and blessed with three amazingly terrific kids.
Melanie has had over sixty stories published in magazines such as Highlights and Teen Magazine as well as in various anthologies, many being Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She’s had nine children’s books published and fourteen teen novels, THE DATING DEAL; Ex-BOYFRIEND; I REMEMBER YOU; THE PLAYER; HIGH SCHOOL BOYS; DEAREST (HOT) ENEMY; THE STRANGER INSIDE; WHEN KYLE CAME BACK; HIS KISS; HER KISS; GRIFFIN; GRIFFIN #2; FALL FOR ME; FALL FOREVER; FINN’S FALL; LOUDER THAN WORDS; LITTLE DANCER and A DEMON’S KISS. More teen novels are forthcoming this summer, 2016.
Melanie enjoys reading in the bathtub, writing in bed, and living in a house longer than two years. Visit her website at http://www.byMelanieMarks.com or email her: [email protected]
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