Dare You to Kiss the Quarterback (Rock Valley High 1)

“What is it?” Trina asked, watching me closely. “Was it a text from your dad?”

“No, worse.” I held it up for them to see. “Collin freaking Preston.”

How in the world did Collin get my number? And more importantly, what did he want from me?

Mandy snorted and emptied the last of her icee, slurping the very last drop. “Does that boy have some kind of sick sixth sense? It’s like he knew we were talking about him.”

I eyed the food court around us, taking time to account for every single table and its occupants. No jocks in sight. Just a handful of shoppers, three toddlers running wild on sugar highs, and a couple of band geeks on the opposite side. He couldn’t have known what we were talking about.

My phone dinged again.

Collin: Ready to talk about our song?

Or are you still going to pretend I don’t exist?

I know you can’t resist this face.

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I choked on my icee, coughing and sputtering it up. Pausing only long enough to glare at the phone, I typed a reply so fast I thought my fingers would break.

Me: How does that motorcycle of yours manage to carry your ego around? I thought those things had weight limits.

Collin: Funny, raccoon girl.

Uttering a groan, I ground the palm of my hand into my forehead. He was impossible.

Me: I realize you think you’re irresistible, but if we have to work together, do me a favor and take the ego down a notch.

There was a long pause before he replied again.

Collin: Not possible. But I’ll keep the muscles under wraps. Just for you.

I sighed and rolled my eyes big time. Was this how this entire project was going to go? Him joking about everything? Never taking anything seriously? If that’s what was going to happen, then I was just going to have to write the song myself. If he didn’t like it, he could quit.

“See? He’s insufferable,” I complained, holding my phone out for Trina and Mandy to read. “How am I supposed to work with that?”

“Actually, I think he’s kind of funny,” Trina replied, her eyes sparkling.

Mandy shrugged, tossing her empty cup in a nearby waste basket. “And you can’t deny, he’s pretty hot. Two thirds of the girls in school want to date him. And the other third would probably go for it if they weren’t already attached.”

I could absolutely deny it to the moon and back. They weren’t getting anything out of me. He might have been hot, but he was messing with my big plan, as if it were all a joke. With a grimace, I typed into my phone again.

Me: Fine.

When and where?

Collin: Kenwood Park. Tomorrow. 6 pm.

My stomach jolted. Kenwood Park was the infamous place for couples to park at midnight. I’d never been there myself, of course, but I’d heard plenty about it. Lexi was always talking about people who’d been spotted at Kenwood Park, as if it were something to strive toward. A badge of honor. I’d scoffed about it, but secretly, had always wondered what it would be like to have a boy take me there.

“Guys, he wants me to meet him at Kenwood Park tomorrow after practice,” I said shakily, looking up at them. “Should I do it?”

Mandy and Trina exchanged looks again. I got the sudden desire to shake them both.

“Yes!” they exclaimed at the same time.

“All right, all right.” I waved a hand at them. “Don’t freak out.”