Wild Cards (32 page)
Authors: Simone Elkeles
“Because I’m nervous and my heart is beating like crazy.”
The side of his mouth quirks up.
I take in the football player in front of me. But he’s not a football player. Maybe he was in the past, but that was before his mom died. I’m not going to push him into playing again. He told me his decision not to play was final, so . . . “What are you doing wearing that jersey and all that equipment, Derek? Why are you here?”
“I joined the team.” He shrugs. “I figure that’s the only way I can spend time with my girlfriend. She’s the kicker for Fremont, you know. And she’s a damn good one at that.”
I reach up and touch his gorgeous face. “Thank you for making the highlight reel. And for finding Katie Calhoun. I have no clue how you did it.”
“Let’s just say your teammates like their captain a lot.” He stills my hand with his own. “What about the letter?”
“The letter?” I fish it out of my pocket and hold it up. “I haven’t read it yet.” Finding Derek was more important than anything.
He motions for me to open it. I rip open the envelope and slide the letter out. When I read the words on the paper, the realization of what he did this past week hits me.
I lower the letter and look up at Derek. “You got me an offer from a Division I school.”
“No.
You
got an offer from a Division I school. I just sent the highlight reel.” He kicks the ground. “And made a couple of calls.”
“You did it for me?”
“Ashtyn Parker, I’d do anythin’ for you.” He cups my head in his hands and leans in close. “I love you.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?”
“What?”
“That you have to fight to be first string. Right now Brandon Butter’s got the top spot. I can’t be dating the second-string quarterback. I have a reputation to protect, you know.”
“Don’t you have faith in me?”
“Oh, I have no doubt you can do it. After all, Cowboy, you did the impossible and made me fall in love with you.”
“The impossible, huh?”
“Yeah.”
He laughs. “From what I remember, you melted the first time you laid eyes on me in the shed.”
“You’re rewriting history, Derek. I seem to remember that I stabbed you the first time I laid eyes on you.”
“That’s because you were struck by The Fitz’s good looks and charm.”
“Get over yourself. I thought you looked like a thug. And if you refer to yourself in third person as The Fitz again, we’re through.” I scan him up and down. “Even if you are the sexiest boy alive in that uniform, and if we were at home I’d . . . I’d . . .”
“Do what?” he says, leaning down closer so his lips are touching mine.
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.
When we come up for air, he says, “The Fitz is back.”
“Yeah, well, tell him that his girlfriend is counting on a winning season.”
He flashes me one of his irresistible grins and says, “He already won.”
Thank you to Emily Easton and the entire staff at Walker Books for Young Readers for braving the storm as I rewrote this book numerous times. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to my agent, Kristin Nelson, who really held my hand when I needed her unconditional support and encouragement. I am probably responsible for more than a few gray hairs on both your ends—sorry about that!
Karen Harris and Ruth Kaufman are not only great friends but amazing critique partners, as well. Without you two, Derek and Ashtyn would never have fallen in love. Seriously, words cannot express how thankful I am for your unconditional friendship and help. You both are selfless and amazing people who will remain lifelong friends.
My assistant, Melissa Jolly, helped me brainstorm ideas and acted as my sounding board and my additional critique partner
when I needed it. Thank you a million times over for keeping me sane these past four years.
I can’t forget Rob Adelman, who continues to show me that life is not about what you know, who you know, or what you look like. It’s about how you can make fun of family members and the people whom you love most—Rob, I don’t have to tell you that you are the epitome of greatness, because you remind me of that all the time. I love you.
My family definitely deserves a shout-out! Thank you to Moshe, Samantha (who is allergic to purple dye, like Ashtyn), Brett, and Frances—we are a crazy bunch, but I wouldn’t want to ride this roller coaster of life with anyone else.
Finally I want to thank all my fans, teachers, and librarians who have supported me and my books—you are the reason I continue writing! I wouldn’t be where I am today without you spreading the word to your friends, students, and colleagues.
As always, you can find me on Facebook and Twitter—see you there!
Perfect Chemistry
Rules of Attraction
Chain Reaction
Copyright © 2013 by Simone Elkeles
All rights reserved.
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce, or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
First published in the United States of America in October 2013
by Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
E-book edition published in October 2013
www.bloomsbury.com
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request
ISBN: 978-0-8027-3456-3 (e-book)
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