Read Online A Valentine's Wish by Betsy St. Amant - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Betsy St. Amant
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over the place?”
No. Lori fought the urge to grab another piece of chocolate. “I’m a bigger dork than I thought.”
“Don’t feel bad. It could have happened to anyone.” Summer brushed her hands on her back pockets. “Guys like Monny are just that way. They don’t think about how we interpret things. There’s a dude in my psych class who did the same thing to my best friend. Chatted her up like he was interested, then went out with someone else in the class days later.”
“But Monny has a fiancée. That’s not a date—that’s a serious commitment.” But even as the words left her lips, Lori realized she’d made his flirtations into something more than he intended. She was so desperate to get Andy to notice her she’d invented a fill-in for Mr. Right in her own mind.
Poor Monny.
Lori scowled at the dying flower bouquet. Probably the heat from the kitchen had wilted them faster than usual. It figured that she couldn’t even enjoy them longer. But now their presence was more annoying than pleasant. If it hadn’t been for those gifts arriving, she would have never taken things so far in her mind with Monny. But if not him, then who? The bouquet was real. So was the silly little Hershey’s Kiss stuffed in her purse under the counter. Speaking of which, she should probably burn the thing. Every time she saw it, she’d remember the achingly awkward moment when Monny had looked at her with stark confusion in his eyes. Her face flamed with the memory.
“Forget about Monny. He won’t hold it against you. It’s embarrassing, but at least you were turning him down and not throwing yourself at him.” Summer touched the brittle petals of the arrangement, wincing as one broke off onto the counter.
True. If Lori had been accepting Monny’s offer—well, imaginary offer—she would have been a lot more embarrassed.
“You should focus on whoever out there is your secret admirer. It’s still pretty cool to have one.” Summer shrugged.
“You’re right.” Lori stood, the legs of the stool screeching against the tile floor. The awkward moment of the past was over, and someone out there actually did have a thing for her. She could still enjoy the gifts even if she didn’t intend on reciprocating. The mystery of “what if” was pretty romantic—and for a girl destined to be alone like her, it was probably as good as it was going to get.
One thing was certain: she’d be absolutely positive next time before accusing any more unsuspecting men of loving her.
Summer slapped her palm against the countertop. “No more moping around. I think we should do a little detective work and try to figure out who’s behind the gifts. What do you say?”
Lori picked up the display key Summer had left on the register and shot her new friend a grin. “I say, who wants more chocolate?”
His genius plan apparently wasn’t quite as genius as he first imagined.
Andy tossed the basketball toward the goal at the end of the gym. It bounced off the rim—figured. Sort of like it figured Lori hadn’t called yet. And why should she—because he sent her a stuffed piece of candy and some chocolate? If she believed her secret admirer to be that foreign baker, he might as well give up now. Who was Andy compared to a suave Italian who could whip up her dream dessert in minutes? No wonder she was practically shoving him out the door when he stopped by. She wanted to be alone with the chef.
He shot again and missed. Definitely not on his game today.
“It’s all in the wrist, Pastor.” Jeremy held out his hands for the ball. “Watch a pro.”
Andy bounced the ball across the wooden floor to him, and Jeremy easily nailed a three-pointer. “Come on now—I thought you were a football player.”
“I’m an athlete. ” Jeremy dribbled twice before shooting again. “We’re naturals at all sports.”
“My mistake.” Andy shot and missed a second time. “I’m too old for this.” And distracted. But that was
No. Lori fought the urge to grab another piece of chocolate. “I’m a bigger dork than I thought.”
“Don’t feel bad. It could have happened to anyone.” Summer brushed her hands on her back pockets. “Guys like Monny are just that way. They don’t think about how we interpret things. There’s a dude in my psych class who did the same thing to my best friend. Chatted her up like he was interested, then went out with someone else in the class days later.”
“But Monny has a fiancée. That’s not a date—that’s a serious commitment.” But even as the words left her lips, Lori realized she’d made his flirtations into something more than he intended. She was so desperate to get Andy to notice her she’d invented a fill-in for Mr. Right in her own mind.
Poor Monny.
Lori scowled at the dying flower bouquet. Probably the heat from the kitchen had wilted them faster than usual. It figured that she couldn’t even enjoy them longer. But now their presence was more annoying than pleasant. If it hadn’t been for those gifts arriving, she would have never taken things so far in her mind with Monny. But if not him, then who? The bouquet was real. So was the silly little Hershey’s Kiss stuffed in her purse under the counter. Speaking of which, she should probably burn the thing. Every time she saw it, she’d remember the achingly awkward moment when Monny had looked at her with stark confusion in his eyes. Her face flamed with the memory.
“Forget about Monny. He won’t hold it against you. It’s embarrassing, but at least you were turning him down and not throwing yourself at him.” Summer touched the brittle petals of the arrangement, wincing as one broke off onto the counter.
True. If Lori had been accepting Monny’s offer—well, imaginary offer—she would have been a lot more embarrassed.
“You should focus on whoever out there is your secret admirer. It’s still pretty cool to have one.” Summer shrugged.
“You’re right.” Lori stood, the legs of the stool screeching against the tile floor. The awkward moment of the past was over, and someone out there actually did have a thing for her. She could still enjoy the gifts even if she didn’t intend on reciprocating. The mystery of “what if” was pretty romantic—and for a girl destined to be alone like her, it was probably as good as it was going to get.
One thing was certain: she’d be absolutely positive next time before accusing any more unsuspecting men of loving her.
Summer slapped her palm against the countertop. “No more moping around. I think we should do a little detective work and try to figure out who’s behind the gifts. What do you say?”
Lori picked up the display key Summer had left on the register and shot her new friend a grin. “I say, who wants more chocolate?”
His genius plan apparently wasn’t quite as genius as he first imagined.
Andy tossed the basketball toward the goal at the end of the gym. It bounced off the rim—figured. Sort of like it figured Lori hadn’t called yet. And why should she—because he sent her a stuffed piece of candy and some chocolate? If she believed her secret admirer to be that foreign baker, he might as well give up now. Who was Andy compared to a suave Italian who could whip up her dream dessert in minutes? No wonder she was practically shoving him out the door when he stopped by. She wanted to be alone with the chef.
He shot again and missed. Definitely not on his game today.
“It’s all in the wrist, Pastor.” Jeremy held out his hands for the ball. “Watch a pro.”
Andy bounced the ball across the wooden floor to him, and Jeremy easily nailed a three-pointer. “Come on now—I thought you were a football player.”
“I’m an athlete. ” Jeremy dribbled twice before shooting again. “We’re naturals at all sports.”
“My mistake.” Andy shot and missed a second time. “I’m too old for this.” And distracted. But that was
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