Falling for Ben & Other Impossible Things (Garcia Brothers Book 1)

by Yesenia Vargas

  With everything that had happened to me already, because of my Dad passing away out of nowhere…I wanted to make sure that I didn’t live life on the sidelines.

  Dad had truly lived life every single day. Going after his dreams, living life to the fullest and bringing us along for the ride.

  I knew that he would want me to do the same.

  I still had no idea if I’d be at Jefferson High my senior year. I told Mom that I’d let her know for sure by the summer.

  But I had a feeling we might end up staying.

  I had made friends. I had Ben, and I was happier than I’d been in a long time, even if I missed visiting Dad.

  Mom’s schedule was tough, but she was learning to manage it all. Besides, she had a feeling she might get that promotion she’d been hoping for.

  It would mean more money and more time together. Time to maybe travel and explore the world.

  Dad had always wanted to do that, and we wanted to do it for him since he was gone.

  So as much as I really liked Ben, I knew there was a good chance of me leaving sooner or later.

  But that was true for both of us anyway.

  High school wasn’t forever.

  College was around the corner. He had big dreams too.

  But we’d talked about it, and we were determined to take this amazing thing called life one day at a time and no more.

  Besides, that was all we could really count on, right?

  I’d made my peace with that.

  No more playing it safe. No more waiting for tomorrow.

  The song ended and an upbeat song began playing.

  Ben came in close. “Want something to drink?” he asked loudly.

  I nodded. “That would be great.”

  As he walked off in search of the punch bowl, I looked for Rachel.

  There she was. Standing on the sidelines. Arms crossed, looking not so happy despite looking like a freakin’ model in her sequined navy blue dress and long romantic waves.

  I had to find out why. “Why aren’t you out there dancing?” I demanded.

  She opened her mouth to say something but then deflated like a balloon. “It’s…complicated.”

  I shrugged. “Why does it have to be complicated?” I asked. “Make it uncomplicated.”

  She glanced away. Aaron was over there, looking just as not happy as Rachel.

  We were going to have to do something about this. That I knew.

  I walked over there.

  “Scarlett!” Rachel called after me, but I kept going anyway.

  I went up to Aaron, who looked just as handsome as Ben in a super nice suit. What was it in the genes of the Garcia brothers? “Hey,” I told him. “Why haven’t you asked Rachel to dance?”

  He exhaled and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Did she tell you to come over here and ask me that? Is she mad at me?”

  I eased up on him a little. “She’s not mad. Promise,” I said. “But it’s sooo obvious you’re dying to dance with her, and she with you. So why not go over there?”

  Aaron’s gaze went to the floor. After a minute, he looked up and said, “You know, I’ve never seen Ben this happy before. Ever. We have you to thank for that.”

  He’d caught me off guard with those words so I had no idea what to say.

  “He’s always put so much pressure on himself to be the perfect son, the perfect football player, even the perfect employee. But I’m glad he’s finally seeing that his own happiness comes first,” Aaron went on. “That’s what’s really important.”

  Before he could say anything else, Ben came up to us, two plastic glasses full of punch in his hands. “Want to get some fresh air?” he asked. Then he gave his brother a quick wave and grin.

  “Sure,” I said. Before I followed him toward the garden outside, I looked back at Aaron. “This conversation isn’t done.”

  He smiled. “Okay.”

  If anyone deserved to be happy, it was Ben and Scarlett. They were absolutely adorable together, and I was going to make it my mission to bring them together, no matter what.

  But first, I had a very cute boy to dance with all evening.

  We finished our drinks and stared up at the stars together for a few minutes.

  As Ben stood behind me, his arms wrapped around me, I couldn’t help but think that I never wanted to forget this moment. No matter what happened tomorrow or next year.

  I just wanted to take everything in and savor it.

  From Ben’s sweet kisses to his perfect smile to the way his touch felt on the small of my back.

  Nothing was impossible. Not the good or the bad.

  And I was okay with that.

  We would be okay.

  36

  Rachel looked stunning tonight.

  My brain battled between going up to her, taking her hand, and leading her onto the dance floor…and staying put.

  I stayed put.

  Ben led Scarlett outside, his hand in hers.

  I’d meant what I’d said to her earlier. I’d never seen him so happy before.

  Ever.

  And more than anyone, he deserved it.

  Always working to help Mom cover the bills, killing it on the football field, and taking care of the rest of us since we’d been kids, even though he was hardly older than the rest of us.

  He’d always seemed older.

  But he was just a kid who deserved to have fun and make the most of life. I was glad Scarlett was the kind of girl who would teach him just that.

  The sight of one of the linebackers going up to Rachel had my attention back on her.

  Was he seriously going to ask her to dance?

  Anger surged through me, and for a second, I wished I was the one with the courage to ask her for a dance.

  But I just couldn’t.

  There were times when I wished that I didn’t feel the way I did about her, but it was impossible.

  Rachel paused and flashed her gaze at me. I immediately looked away.

  When I looked at her again, she was on the dance floor with said linebacker.

  And me? I wanted to punch something.

  I hated the way she had her arms on his shoulders, how his hands were on her waist.

  That was supposed to be us.

  But thanks to fate and friendship, it never could be.

  Drake came up to me, his gaze immediately going to where mine was. He laughed a little. “I told you. You need to get over her, once and for all. Either ask her out or get rid of the puppy love.”

  Unlike Ben and me, Drake was in black jeans and a slightly ripped t-shirt. He purposely went against the grain, and he liked to tell things how he saw them.

  He was right. I needed to get over Rachel, especially if I was too chicken to even ask her for a dance.

  Drake left, and as soon as he did, I saw why.

  Rachel’s brother, David, came up to me. Like Drake, his gaze followed mine.

  David was also my best friend. And had been since preschool.

  He frowned and did a double take. “I know that’s not Kenneth with my sister.”

  The thing about David was that, according to him, no guy within a thousand miles would ever be good enough for his sister.

  And he had a point.

  She’d been hurt in the past, and he was determined to protect her at all costs.

  Rachel, though… she was everything you could want in a girl.

  Beautiful and hot. Charming and smart. A good girl overall but sassy at times.

  She drove me wild.

  But she was the one girl I could never ask out.

  David would never go for it. And if there was one thing that hurt more than the idea of never being with Rachel, it was losing David as a friend.

  Not after everything.

  So I stood on the sidelines and watched Rachel dance with someone else.

  Her and me? It just wasn’t in the cards.

  Author’s Note

  This particular book means a lot to me.

&n
bsp; It’s April 2020 as I write this. The last time I wrote and published a book was in June/July 2019.

  Since then, my life has changed completely. I’ve gone through things I never thought I’d have to face, and it took a toll on me for a while.

  For months, I couldn’t write, couldn’t create.

  In January, I finally felt ready again. Made myself sit down and do it.

  I wrote this book. And I also made it through everything life came at me with.

  There have been incredibly hard moments, but I came out on the other side stronger and more determined than ever to reach my biggest goals.

  More committed than ever to keep creating.

  I want to take a moment to thank my readers for being patient, asking how I was doing, and supporting me and my work.

  I can’t tell you how much it means.

  Thank you.

  I’m so excited for this new series. It’s an idea that I began hatching almost a year ago, and I’m incredibly happy that the first book is finally out.

  But mostly, I’m ecstatic to be writing again.

  I can’t wait to hear what you guys think of this one.

  Let me know :)

  You can email me and say hi at hello@yeseniavargas.com

  Thanks so much for reading…

  Yesenia

  P.S. A fun fact about Ben’s jersey number, 28: it’s age I am now. I chose that number as a symbol of everything I’ve gone through up until now. I don’t think things should’ve happened any other way. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for all of it <3

  P.P.S. Don’t miss Aaron’s story! Preorder Dating Aaron & Other Forbidden Things here: https://amzn.to/3bVjRtx

  Acknowledgments

  I couldn’t have written this book without the love of my daughters. Thank you. I love you guys more every day that goes by.

  A big thank you to Sally for tearing this book apart for me and helping me make it the best it can be. I really appreciate it.

  Another huge thank you to Jenny at Seedlings for creating this beautiful book cover.

  Thank you to my friends, for listening and making me laugh.

  And, of course, last but certainly not least, a huge heartfelt thank you to you. I couldn’t do what I love if it weren’t for awesome readers like you :)

  About the Author

  Yesenia Vargas is the author of several young adult romance books. Her love for writing stories was born from her love of reading and books. She has her third grade teacher to thank for that.

  In addition to writing and reading, she spends her time hanging out with her family, working out, and binge-watching Netflix. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Georgia, the first in her family to go to college.

  Yesenia lives in Georgia with her two daughters. She also blogs at writermom.net.

  Check out what she’s up to at yeseniavargas.com.

  Also by Yesenia Vargas

  #BestFriendsForever Series

  #TheRealCinderella

  #LoveToHateThatBoy

  #GoodGirlBadBoy

  #TheBoyfriendDare

  #AllIWantForChristmas

  #BreakingTheRules

  #MeantToBe

  Boys of Summer

  Falling for the Rich Boy

  Find all the download links as well as a complete list of my most recent books at yeseniavargas.com/books/