Read Online The Perfect Guy (Books We Love Young Adult Romance) by Ann Herrick - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ann Herrick
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night, I decided to relax and watch a little TV. But no sooner had I settled comfortably on the sofa, than Bill reminded me about his rule. "Remember, no television on school nights, Rebecca."
Anger bubbled inside me. I shot a glance at Mom, but she was so engrossed in a book that I don’t think she even heard Bill. I stormed out of the room.
I ran to my desk and grabbed the list of arguments I’d saved to use when the "no TV" situation came up again. I was about to charge back downstairs, brandishing my list, but a tiny voice of reason made me stop. Given the mood I was in, I’d only wind up in a shouting match with Bill. I thought he was being arbitrary and unfair, but I wasn’t ready to confront him. Not alone, not full blast. I should talk to Mom, but she probably wouldn’t want to say or do anything to cause conflict so early in her new marriage. Pres, it seemed, was content to live by his father’s rules.
It was a sticky situation. If Mom wasn’t prepared to contradict Bill, my chances to make him see reason were small. I had to live with him too, after all. Maybe I should wait until we’d all settled in before I talked to Mom about her trying to influence Bill.
I crumpled up my list and threw it in the wastebasket. Then I sneaked a peek at the picture I’d drawn of Bill looking like a dragon. That gave me some satisfaction.
Time, I decided, was what we all needed to get used to each other’s ways. In time I’d figure out the best way to deal with Bill. I’d learn how to talk to Mom about Bill without flying off the handle.
Of course, time was all I needed to get Pres to see me in a more-than-sisterly light. Yes, things would work themselves out in the proper fashion, if only I’d let them…
Chapter Nine
By the time I finished the outline for the 350th Celebration play, I was proud of the work I’d done. That is, the work Josh and I had done. I was really grateful for his help. He’d surprised me with his enthusiasm for research, enthusiasm I’d thought he reserved mainly for sports.
After I handed the outline to Bill I excused myself so he could read it without me hovering over his shoulder. I got busy in the yard, cutting forsythia and lilacs for a bouquet.
"Those flowers are almost as pretty as you are."
I whirled around. It was only Josh.
"You startled me," I scolded him. "What are you doing here anyway? We finished the outline yesterday."
"Can’t I come over and just visit?" Josh faked a hurt look, then grinned. "Actually, I couldn’t wait to hear the verdict on our work."
"Bill’s reading it now." I cut a white lilac and sniffed it. "Mmmm, smell this," I said, holding the flower under Josh’s nose.
"Ah." Josh smelled the lilac. Then he sniffed my neck, smacked his lips and rubbed his hands together. "Almost as nice as you, my sweet." He clicked his teeth and pretended to bite my neck.
"Watch out or I’ll get my silver stake."
"You wouldn’t do that to me." Josh dropped to his knees, clutching his heart. "Not to innocent me."
"Well ... not if you behave yourself," I said, laughing. "Come help me arrange these flowers in a vase. Bill should finish reading the outline soon."
After we’d arranged the flowers in a crystal vase and placed them on the dining room table, Bill came in with the outline in his hand.
"This is good," he said. "It’s a bit long . I’ll have to cut it. The Patch Man can be deleted, for example. But overall, it’s quite good."
The meager words of praise passed right through me. "But, Bill," I protested, "the Patch Man was one of the most interesting characters in Sandy Cove."
"I agree," Bill said. "He’d deserve an article in the newspaper maybe, but he didn’t really contribute anything significant to Sandy Cove’s history. He’s a fascinating footnote, but that’s all."
"A fascinating footnote?" I dug my fingernails into the palms of my hands. I could feel my anger rising, but I couldn’t tell if I was angry more on my own account,
Anger bubbled inside me. I shot a glance at Mom, but she was so engrossed in a book that I don’t think she even heard Bill. I stormed out of the room.
I ran to my desk and grabbed the list of arguments I’d saved to use when the "no TV" situation came up again. I was about to charge back downstairs, brandishing my list, but a tiny voice of reason made me stop. Given the mood I was in, I’d only wind up in a shouting match with Bill. I thought he was being arbitrary and unfair, but I wasn’t ready to confront him. Not alone, not full blast. I should talk to Mom, but she probably wouldn’t want to say or do anything to cause conflict so early in her new marriage. Pres, it seemed, was content to live by his father’s rules.
It was a sticky situation. If Mom wasn’t prepared to contradict Bill, my chances to make him see reason were small. I had to live with him too, after all. Maybe I should wait until we’d all settled in before I talked to Mom about her trying to influence Bill.
I crumpled up my list and threw it in the wastebasket. Then I sneaked a peek at the picture I’d drawn of Bill looking like a dragon. That gave me some satisfaction.
Time, I decided, was what we all needed to get used to each other’s ways. In time I’d figure out the best way to deal with Bill. I’d learn how to talk to Mom about Bill without flying off the handle.
Of course, time was all I needed to get Pres to see me in a more-than-sisterly light. Yes, things would work themselves out in the proper fashion, if only I’d let them…
Chapter Nine
By the time I finished the outline for the 350th Celebration play, I was proud of the work I’d done. That is, the work Josh and I had done. I was really grateful for his help. He’d surprised me with his enthusiasm for research, enthusiasm I’d thought he reserved mainly for sports.
After I handed the outline to Bill I excused myself so he could read it without me hovering over his shoulder. I got busy in the yard, cutting forsythia and lilacs for a bouquet.
"Those flowers are almost as pretty as you are."
I whirled around. It was only Josh.
"You startled me," I scolded him. "What are you doing here anyway? We finished the outline yesterday."
"Can’t I come over and just visit?" Josh faked a hurt look, then grinned. "Actually, I couldn’t wait to hear the verdict on our work."
"Bill’s reading it now." I cut a white lilac and sniffed it. "Mmmm, smell this," I said, holding the flower under Josh’s nose.
"Ah." Josh smelled the lilac. Then he sniffed my neck, smacked his lips and rubbed his hands together. "Almost as nice as you, my sweet." He clicked his teeth and pretended to bite my neck.
"Watch out or I’ll get my silver stake."
"You wouldn’t do that to me." Josh dropped to his knees, clutching his heart. "Not to innocent me."
"Well ... not if you behave yourself," I said, laughing. "Come help me arrange these flowers in a vase. Bill should finish reading the outline soon."
After we’d arranged the flowers in a crystal vase and placed them on the dining room table, Bill came in with the outline in his hand.
"This is good," he said. "It’s a bit long . I’ll have to cut it. The Patch Man can be deleted, for example. But overall, it’s quite good."
The meager words of praise passed right through me. "But, Bill," I protested, "the Patch Man was one of the most interesting characters in Sandy Cove."
"I agree," Bill said. "He’d deserve an article in the newspaper maybe, but he didn’t really contribute anything significant to Sandy Cove’s history. He’s a fascinating footnote, but that’s all."
"A fascinating footnote?" I dug my fingernails into the palms of my hands. I could feel my anger rising, but I couldn’t tell if I was angry more on my own account,
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