The Perfect Guy (Books We Love Young Adult Romance) (16 page)

"Yes." Celeste shrugged. "But I don’t know
where—"

"That’s okay." I gave her a quick hug. "I think I have a good idea." I turned and ran, pausing for a second to wave goodbye. "See you later."

"You’d better." Celeste grinned. "I want to hear all the details."

I waved again and ran down the street.
My heart pounded, not from running, but at the thought of finding Josh. Spots of dappled sunlight danced at my feet as I dashed along the sidewalk. I smiled when I ran past a cocker spaniel sniffing the grass as I cut across a corner of his yard.

I turned down
Wharf Lane. Surely that’s where I’d find Josh. That’s where he would go to think.

I slowed to a trot as I neared the park overlooking the beach. I scanned the area for Josh, but I didn’t see him. If he wasn’t there, I didn’t know where else to start looking. Then I noticed a patch of blue in the grass. It was Josh’s jacket. I saw him sitting under a tree where he had a good view of the water.

I took a deep breath, crossed my fingers, and walked toward him. I moved slowly enough, I hoped, that my stomach would stop doing somersaults by the time I reached him. He was staring out at the water, so he didn’t notice me until I was standing next to him. He gave me a slight scowl.

"Hi," I said too cheerfully. "Mind if I pull up a spot of grass and sit down?"

"Suit yourself." He leaned back on his elbows. "How did you know where I was?"

"I asked Celeste."

"I didn’t tell her where I was going."

"She said you went somewhere to think. So naturally I headed for the park." I paused, hoping I wasn’t about to make a fool of myself. "Just what do you know about a big pink box of candy that I got for Valentine’s Day this year?"

"How did you ...?" Josh blushed. "I guess you know I sent it to you."

"I’m a little slow. It only took me the past few months to figure it out. In fact, Gramma spilled the beans when she found me in the attic last night and spotted the box. Of course, she thought I already knew all about it. What I don’t know is why you sent it."

He turned away, as if he was guarding a secret.

"I hope you sent it because you liked me." I held my breath, waiting for Josh’s response.

"Yes." He turned back. His mouth eased into a smile. "I liked you then. I like you now. A lot."

"Then
why
didn’t you sign the card that came with the Valentine candy?"

"I’d planned to give you the candy in person and tell you how I felt. Then I started thinking. We’ve always been such good friends," Josh explained. "I worried that our friendship would be ruined if I tried to inject a little romance and then you might want no part of it." He paused, then
continued. "I guess I hoped you’d somehow
realize
I’d sent it, if you felt the same way about me."

"Oh, Josh." I threw my arms around him. It was time to stop dropping hints, and show him how I felt.

"Could this possibly mean you
do
feel the same way about me?" He took hold of shoulders, held me at arm’s length and looked into my eyes.

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!"

"Redundant, but enthusiastic. I like that." He pulled me close again. I snuggled in his arms.

"I like this too," Josh said.

"So do I." I sighed. "To think how much time I wasted."

"What do you mean?"

"All along, when I could have had you, I wasted my time over a figment of my imagination."

"Oh?"

"I think you know." I looked up at Josh. "I could kick myself when I think how I wished and dreamed about love, when I could have been experiencing it."

"Maybe you did what was right for you. Maybe you weren’t ready for boyfriends and dates. Everybody’s different." He smiled. "Not everyone is cut out to emerge as a full-blown flirt by the age of twelve."

"I still think my timing was a little slow. If I hadn’t waited so long to realize my feelings about you, I would’ve been able to spend more time with you before I had to watch you graduate and fly off to Oregon."

"Whoa," said Josh. "I’m graduating, but who said anything about flying off to
Oregon? I’m headed for New Haven. Remember—New Haven—it’s about a half hour drive along the turnpike?"

"But—but
I thought when you talked to Brady Bailey—"

"All I did was talk to him. He didn’t make any offers."

"He didn’t?" I exclaimed. "Why on earth not?"

"Are you anxious to get rid of me?"

"Of —of course not," I sputtered. "But you’re so good at baseball."

"Yes." Josh laughed. "Me and a few thousand other guys. Brady Bailey was just taking a look at me. He didn’t cross me off his list, but he didn’t offer me a million dollar bonus to sign anything either. Especially after we talked and I emphasized how I was going to Southern and would also play American Legion baseball here each summer. He thought that was a good idea. He promised to look me up again."

"I see." I was glad Josh would be close by after he graduated, but still incensed that Mr. Bailey had been so blind to Josh’s abilities. "Surely he knows you could always postpone college."

"I don’t want to." Josh brushed a lock of hair off my face. "I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about the minor leagues, things like low salaries, decrepit stadiums, crummy hotels, seven-hour bus rides. It could be the road to oblivion instead of the major leagues."

"I could see why you wouldn’t want that," I said.

"Oh, I’m willing to face it some day when I’m older and have my college degree. Whether I make it to the major leagues or not, I’ll have several years to do something else with my life."

"Then staying in Connecticut and going to Southern is what you really want?" I asked.

"Yes. Actually, I hope to be a teacher someday. I was pretty good at teaching you to dance, if you recall."

"Oh, yes." I blushed. "Speaking of dancing, I’m sorry I ran off last night when you were dancing with Alicia. I was upset and confused, but it was still rude." I was surprised at how easily my bruised feelings had healed now that I was in Josh’s arms.

"No apologies necessary," Josh said. "But speaking of dancing, we should polish up our act for the graduation party. It’s only a couple of weeks away." Josh stood up and hummed in my ear and pulled me close as we gently swayed.

"The graduation party?" I’d actually forgotten all about it. Undoubtedly Pres would be there with Celeste. But that was all right. That was just fine.

"Yes, the graduation party."

"Oh, Josh." I sighed.

"Is that an acceptance?" Josh stopped swaying and bent me back as if we were Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dipping in a grand finale
in one of those classic movies.

I nodded, and closed my eyes as my lips met Josh’s in a long kiss. I practically swooned. After all, I’d finally found my
almost
perfect guy.

The End

Ann Herrick grew up in
Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart. Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix. While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard. In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her web site: 
http://annherrickauthor.com

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