Read Online Front Page Face-Off by Jo Whittemore - Free Book Online

attack.
    It would have worked, except my phone chose to blast its ringtone at that moment. I turned my back to the girls before they could see me and grabbed my things, walking toward Jenner’s Bay as fast as I could. “Hello?” I whispered into the phone before Ava could discover the identity of her seaside stalker.
    â€œDelilah?” At the sound of Ben’s voice, I almost did a face plant in the sand.
    â€œBen! Hi!” The volume of my voice shot way past normal; I cringed and cleared my throat. “I mean … what’s up?”
    â€œAva’s following some story lead, so I’m hanging out atJenner’s Bay. Did you want to grab a soda while I wait for her to get back?”
    I would have turned cartwheels if my hands hadn’t been full … and if I’d had some athletic talent. “Sure! I’m on my way now.”
    I squeezed past the crowd on the shop steps and headed for the porch, where my heart momentarily stalled. Ben was leaning against the railing, looking out at the ocean. The sun highlighted his profile like a golden aura of gorgeous.
    â€œHey!” He reached behind him and produced two glass bottles of cola with straws. “You still like these, right?”
    Old-fashioned soda was my favorite, and my skin prickled with goose bumps, knowing Ben had thought of me.
    â€œAmazing memory,” I said, taking a big swallow.
    Ben smiled even broader, and at that moment, I realized the magazine had been right. I’d paid a guy a compliment, and he’d been flattered!
    I, Delilah James, was officially flirting.
    With renewed confidence I smiled at Ben and flipped my hair over my shoulder. “I like your shirt, too. It … fits you well.”
    â€œThanks.” He looked down at himself. “I guess Ava’s pretty good at choosing sizes.”
    My right eye twitched at the mention of her name and thefact that she was dressing him, but I flipped my hair again and kept smiling.
    â€œI’m glad you’re not still upset about the newspaper thing.” He studied my eyes, and I stared into his, unblinking.
    â€œYou’re the editor,” I said, still grinning while I sipped from my straw. My cheeks were beginning to hurt from so much smiling. “You know what’s best.” I did another hair flip.
    Ben leaned away from me, and I leaned away from him, still maintaining eye contact and a winning smile. “Are you okay?” His eyes narrowed a bit while he studied me.
    I nodded and tried to touch his arm, which was difficult to do with both of us leaning away. In the end, I swatted at his wrist with my fingertips. “Of course!” I laughed heartily to prove my point, but Ben didn’t join in.
    â€œWhat did they put in this?” He grabbed my soda bottle.
    â€œHa! You are so funny!” I patted his back harder than I intended as he brought the bottle up to sniff it.
    Until that moment, I’d never known how far a straw could go up a boy’s nose.
    â€œOh, my gosh!” I could barely form the words, my jaw was so stiff from smiling. “I’m really sorry!” I tried to help him, but Ben turned his back to me and waved a dismissive hand.
    â€œIt’s okay. I’ve got it.”
    I hovered behind him, glancing over my shoulder to see how many people had witnessed my failed flirting. Judging from the stares and whispers, I guessed all of them.
    A second later, Ben turned back around, straw in hand, rubbing his nose. “Ta-da!” He faced the crowd, who clapped appreciatively. “Thank you. For my next trick, I’ll pull a French fry out of my ear.”
    Everyone laughed, except me, and Ben nudged my side. “Oh, come on. After what you just did to me, I at least deserve a smile.”
    The guy was cute, funny, and sweet. At his request, I’d stick a straw up my own nose. Plus, it was pretty amusing. So, I grinned.
    â€œNo offense, but I don’t think I want