Let It Be Me by Becky Wade (top young adult novels .TXT) 📕

Tonight’s date had gratified the homely, unpopular nine-year-old inside her to a surprising degree. Until this evening, she hadn’t understood how much that nine-year-old wanted to experience at least one successful, fairy-tale-esque night out.

Dylan’s friends’ cars lined the street outside her house, so Sebastian pulled onto her steep driveway and killed the engine. She stepped out of the car and waited for him on the wide steps that ran parallel to the driveway.

Cool weather wrapped her in a strange stillness. She could see light and vague movement inside her house. But outside, no wind at all. No animal sounds. Even the stars were few tonight, and distant. It was as if God had turned a giant glass bowl upside down and placed it over Misty River.

He stopped a few feet away from her, hands in his pockets, illuminated by the exterior lights mounted on the garage.

She wanted to drown in a Jacuzzi of the feelings he produced in her. Why had she stipulated that they would not kiss tonight? That may have been rash.

“Tell me what I need to do to convince you to see me again tomorrow,” he said.

Tilting her head, she considered how to reply. She’d agreed to go out with him to stop the flood of gifts, but this evening hadn’t felt like a means to an end. It had felt like a luxurious little vacation dropped in the center of her day-to-day life.

She’d do well to recall that her day-to-day life was her real life. Luxurious little vacations were, by nature, short-lived. “As you know, I’ve never been interested in acquiring a boyfriend. So, in order for you to convince me to see you tomorrow, I simply need you to assure me that you won’t be foisting any nonsensical romantic notions upon me.”

“I will not foist.”

“We are not”—she used air quotes—“dating.”

“Agreed. You’re not commiting to anything except spending more time with me.”

“Spending more time with you doesn’t sound completely repulsive,” she said primly, interlacing her hands in front of her waist.

“Let’s negotiate terms for tomorrow. Where should I take you?”

“Nowhere. Tonight was plenty extravagant enough, thank you.”

“Dinner at my house, then?”

“That’s acceptable.”

“I’ll have food delivered.”

“No, we’ll cook dinner together. It’ll be less expensive, and it’ll give us something to do.”

He gave her a scorching look. “I can think of plenty of things for us to do.”

“We’ll cook together,” she said firmly.

He stepped closer. Her abdomen contracted with longing.

“What kind of dinner should we make?” he asked.

“The easy kind.”

“Baked lobster tails?”

“Goodness no. Stir-fry?”

“Shrimp curry?” he suggested.

“Hamburgers?”

“Enchiladas.”

Her shoulders relaxed a few degrees. “I love enchiladas.”

“With ground beef and red sauce?”

“With chicken and salsa verde, plus sour cream and white cheese.”

“Additional terms?”

“I request 1980s background music.”

“I’ll agree to a playlist containing three-fourths eighties music and one-fourth Sinatra.”

“Fine.” She was warming to her subject. “I also request a mowed lawn, clusters of red grapes for snacking, flattering lighting—”

“A disco ball, perhaps?” he suggested dryly.

“Why not? And an indoor temperature of seventy degrees—”

“I’ll compromise at sixty-nine degrees.”

“Very well. Additionally, I’ll require a cheesecake from Tart Bakery.”

“Done.”

“Oh, and no flowers or gifts.”

“Spoilsport. Anything else?”

“No. The items aforementioned will be sufficient.” She retreated backward toward her door. “Thank you for dinner.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Good night.”

“Good night, Professor.”

Sebastian watched Leah walk inside, then returned to his Misty River house. He prowled the rooms, too preoccupied to sit or to concentrate on anything except her.

She’d told him she would not become his girlfriend, which, in light of his inability to commit, was amazingly convenient. A relief. So why was his brain taking him down wild tunnels of thought that all ended in things he wanted to do for her? Give her gifts. Take her places. Lift some of the weight of caring for her brother. Do whatever was necessary to ensure that she got her PhD.

He stopped in his foyer and shoved both hands through his hair with a sound of irritation. Get ahold of yourself.

As usual with her, his reaction was too much. He’d gone out with her one time.

Get ahold of yourself.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

At two o’clock the following day, Sebastian approached the Colemans’ house carrying a wrapped birthday present.

All year long, he received a steady stream of reminder texts from CeCe and Ben’s sisters. Don’t forget to send flowers for Great-Aunt Clarice’s funeral, poor dear. Just don’t send roses. She hated roses, remember. Or Cousin Drew got a promotion at work so you might want to shoot him a congratulations text. We’re trying to give him lots of positive reinforcement because we all feared he’d never amount to anything.

Almost every week the Colemans gathered to celebrate someone’s birthday, anniversary, or accomplishment. It was more than he could keep up with. He attended only when he was in town and when they were meeting for a reason he cared about even slightly.

He cared more than slightly about today’s party, which was in honor of Hadley Jane’s fourth birthday.

Ben’s dad greeted Sebastian with a hug. “Love you, man. Glad you’re here.”

“Is that you, Sebastian?” CeCe yelled from the direction of the dining room.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Get in here right now. We’re about to sing.”

He set his present on a coffee table full of gifts, then he and Hersh jammed themselves into the dining room. The family welcomed him with an assortment of hugs, fist bumps, and smiles. Ben, seated across the table from him, gave Sebastian a friendly nod.

Guilt pulled at him.

Sebastian had been making an extra effort to communicate with Ben in their usual ways. Even so, their friendship wasn’t normal right now. Again this morning, he’d asked Ben if it really was okay with him if Sebastian went out with Leah. Ben had said that it was, but then he’d said, “Can you do me a favor, man, and not talk to me about her for a while?”

CeCe walked in carrying a Barbie doll standing in the center of a dome of cake and frosting. The doll wore a silver top and crown. Pink candles stuck out of