Dylan steps in front of me, blocking my way. "Okay, spill. What's the deal with you and Football-Guy?"
Confession: Dylan isn't only my best friend, he's also (secretly) my heart's desire. So, having him so close -- with his eyes glued on me like they are -- Mmm, I'm having a little trouble concentrating. And breathing. I tear my eyes away from his to scan the empty school hallway -- and, yano, breathe. Then in a low voice I explain "The Arrangement" I had to make with Mackay.
Dylan frowns, "That's messed up."
His unhappy expression derangedly makes my heart flicker with deranged happiness, so I lie a little. Maybe. I tell him, "But Dylan, it's not like you think. I think I might actually like him -- maybe. And we've barely kissed, so it's not as sleazy as it sounds, obviously. He just wants -- well, no strings. He even said I can see other guys."
Dylan scratches his chin, narrowing his eyes. "And you're okay with that?"
I shrug, though I have a demented plan forming in my demented brain. Poor Dylan, he's so nice he might actually go along with it.
Though I'm overcome with guilt, I lie to him anyway (hey, a demented girl has got to do what a demented girl's gotta do), "I was thinking maybe I could get Mackay to re-think the no-strings thing. I was thinking maybe I should get him jealous." I peek at Dylan. "By fake-dating another boy."
Dylan says with a playful smile, "Hey, I'm a boy."
"No," I mock gasp, "Really?"
"I am, I swear. Ask my many girlfriends."
"You've had like, two."
"But many times."
"True."
I sigh. "But it would be too weird," I tell him, acting like I think it might be a bad idea. "I mean, I was thinking of trying to make it look real. So, you'd have to, uh... kiss me and stuff."
Dylan wiggles his eyebrows. "What's the 'and stuff?'"
"Okay, well -- no 'and stuff.' But you'd have to kiss me and act in love with me."
Dylan smirks. "Twist my arm."
"No, I mean it."
"Me too. I can act in love with you. I love you, Emery."
Awww. Sprarky tingles wash through me.
I clear my throat, trying to come back down to the real world. "But I mean, you know -- 'into me' kind of love."
Dylan grins. "Well, we're gonna kiss, so."
He says it so matter-of-factly. Yet just thinking about it has me about to burst into confetti and rainbows. But he sounds totally onboard to do it, so though I feel a little guilty tricking him; yeah -- confetti and rainbows are filling my heart.
Dylan grins about my 'into me' appearance dilemma, like I'm a little kid -- or slow, though he's just playing around. "When I kiss you, it will most likely seem I'm into you." He looks me in the eye and tells me mock confidential-like, "Emery, that's why most people kiss."
He says it total deadpan, like he's bestowing pearls of grown-up wisdom to a small child.
I do a groan, like I'm torn by wanting Mackay so bad I'll do anything, yet at the same time worried that it will be too weird with him -- Dylan -- the guy I've been in the "Friend Zone" with my entire life.
But secretly I'm hoping: Maybe this will finally get me out of the friend-zone.

*Another excerpt from the book:
Right before I put the note into Dylan's locker, I freeze. What am I doing? He has a girlfriend. You don't write love-letters to other girl's boyfriends. Even if the boy is your best friend that you've known forever. Even if you love the boy with all your heart.
Determined, I whirl away from Dylan's locker without putting the note inside. But whoa! As I whip around -- there's Dylan. Watching me.
He juts his chin. "What's with the note?"
I stuff it in my pocket. "Uh, nothing. Homework. Ready for lunch?"
**Standalone teen romance novel
No swearing
By Melanie Marks, author of His Kiss; and The Boyfriend Contract

Melanie Marks newest books:
*Ew, I Like You
*The Boyfriend Contract
*She's Not Mine... But I Want Her
*Blackmailed Kisses
*Promises To Patrick
They are all standalone stories; each only a buck right now. (They are also available in unlimited if you have that.)

• We started tracking this book on May 29, 2018.
• This book was $0.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 16 times in the past 2,158 days.
• The current price of this book is $0.99 last checked one day ago.
• This book is at its lowest price in the past 90 days.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is FREE.
• The lowest price to date was FREE last reached on April 20, 2019.
• This book has been FREE 8 times since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $0.99 last reached on April 21, 2019.
• This book has been $0.99 9 times since we started tracking it.
• This book is currently at its highest price since we started tracking it.

• Teen & Young Adult

• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• File Size: 1,227 KB