Crushing On The Wrong Joshua (Crushing on You 3)

“So like two o'clock at the library then?” he asked.

“Sounds like a plan,” Amber said, “I hate to eat and run, but I want to be back at the library before Dad shows up.”

“I'll see you tomorrow,” he said.

“Yeah, see you then,” Amber said and sprinted out of the restaurant

Her dad's truck was already parked in front of the library. The engine was still on so Amber reasoned he hadn't been waiting too long. Whenever, she kept him waiting too long, he killed the engine and called her.

“Where've you been?” he asked when she climbed into the truck.

“Joshua took me out to dinner across the street. We hadn't planned it and I thought I'd be back before you got here,” Amber admitted.

“You really like this new Josh kid, don't you?” he asked.

“I'm starting to, yeah,” Amber said.

“Good, is he taking you to the dance?” he asked.

Amber hesitated. She wasn't sure how things were going to play out.

“That's the plan,” she said, hoping it didn't count as a lie.

“Good to hear. I was worried about you there for awhile, Amber,” he said.

“I'm okay, Dad, I'm over the other Joshua now. He was just the wrong Joshua,” Amber laughed.

“Well, I'm glad you're over it and you're happy now. You are happy now, aren't you?” he asked.

“For the most part,” Amber shrugged, “I mean I still have to go to school and stuff.”

“Ahhh, the woes of being a teenager. The prison of the spirit: high school.”

“You're a dork, Dad, do you know that?” Amber asked.

“Yep, and I'm proud of it too,” he laughed.

Chapter Ten

The Thursday Before the Dance

Amber and Joshua had spent most of the weekend at the library and Monday afternoon too. Tuesday and Wednesday Amber searched alone, but nothing had come of their work. It was the day before the dance and so far Amber had successfully avoided Joshua Kirk, whom she had now kissed a total of twelve times, not that she was counting.

Amber was attempting to sneak through the lunch line when she felt familiar arms wrap around her waist.

“Hey,” Joshua said.

“Hey,” she smiled up at him.

They were both quiet for a moment. Amber's heart raced and her fingers trembled. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him sh

e couldn't be his date to the dance. This had to end.

“I can't live a lie produced by magic,” Amber sighed and pulled away from him so she could see his face.

“And we're not, Amber, I promise,” Joshua frowned.

Amber could hear Tamara's voice in the back of her head telling her to quit being a fool.