Her Book Boyfriend
The Awkward Duckling Series
by K.R. Grace
Release Date: August 25th 2017
Cover Designer: Okay Creations, LLC
Genre: Mature YA Romantic Comedy
She believes the secret to love is in the tropes of her favorite romance novels. He’s the best friend prepared to prove her wrong.
Then comes the bet.
If she can’t land a boyfriend for prom by recreating the ten popular tropes in her favorite romance author’s books, she has to go to the prom with her.
The glitch?
They’ve been close their entire lives. He’s the rock god and school legend, while she’s the brainy sidekick who does all his dirty breakups. Thus, finding a guy who doesn’t think they’re already an item is going to be a lot harder than she thinks.
Will she land the book boyfriend of her dreams? Or will she be forced to go to prom with her best friend?
The truth is in the pages.
“Are we going to talk about whatever is really bothering you or do I have to stare at you like this for the rest of the day? We both know I can.”
He could. When we were seven, we’d had a staring contest. First one to look away had to eat a refrigerator concoction. I got distracted within fifteen seconds…he’d followed me around for the rest of the day, staring at me just to prove a point. And the refrigerator concoction…I still got cold chills when I thought about it. Yuck!
“There’s nothing to talk about. I had an idea. You think it’s stupid. I’m still doing it. End of story.”
“I didn’t say it was stupid. I said it was unnecessary.”
Appetite lost, I shoved the remainder of my sandwich into my lunch bag. “You know what, I don’t expect you to ever understand why I would need to resort to a book for dating advice.”
I occupied myself with searching for my iPad in the bottomless pit that was my backpack.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he demanded.
I shoved my hair out of my face as I looked him dead in the eye. “It means you, oh great one, don’t know what it’s like to be rejected. All you have to do is wink and girls throw themselves at you.”
“That’s not true.”
“I just broke up with a girl for you because you were already too preoccupied with the new girl you were dry humping in the parking lot, for crying out loud!” I’d hit “drama queen” mode: arms flailing, voice at falsetto levels, spit flying, and face flaming red.
He blinked once before taking in a deep breath. “I don’t want to see you get hurt, Mace.”
“I can’t go through life only known as someone’s friend or someone’s daughter. I need to be someone’s world. It might be a foreign concept to you, but I crave it.”
“But a romance novel, Mace? Those things are nothing but unrealistic fantasies.”
I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see the truth in his. He didn’t think I could pull it off. Was I really that undesirable?
He took in a deep breath and let it out. “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll let you prove me wrong, but if I’m right, you have to be my date to prom.”
“What?” My eyes flung open. “Why do you want to go to prom with me?”
“Because, like you said, prom isn’t supposed to be spent with someone you don’t know.”
“I figured you had an orgy extravaganza in the works for prom night.” I snorted.
He pulled the green pick from his pocket and began twirling it across his knuckles. “Nah, too wild for me. I don’t want to go down in high school history as the guy who banged a girl on prom night. Too cliché.”
~~~~~~~~~~
“Slow down!” I whined. “My feet are killing me.”
“I can fix that!” Cam called before he scooped me up into his arms. I squealed as I went airborne and settled hard against his chest. On instinct, I wrapped my arm around his neck for support.
“Put me down, Cam. I’m too heavy.”
He did a few arm curls and rolled his eyes. “You’re a featherweight, Mace. Don’t insult me.”
It did feel good to be carried.
“You spoil me,” I said softly so the others couldn’t hear.
He swallowed hard before his carefree smile returned. “What else are best friends good for?”
Since Bruce and Wen Li piled into Morgan’s car, I was forced to ride with Cam in the Land Rover. Not that it took much persuading. I loved riding in the car with Cam. He always sang along to every song, gifting me with my own private concert.
We drove down the road with the windows rolled down and classic rock blaring over the surround sound system. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of the wind weaving its calming fingers through my hair. The song ended, but another didn’t pick up shortly after. I cracked my eyes to see Cam’s jaw set as he glared at the road.
“Something bothering you?” I asked, giving him my full attention.
I didn’t think he was going to respond, but he finally answered, “Don’t be like me, Mace.”
My head jerked back as if I’d been slapped. “What the heck does that mean?”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel so hard the leather cracked in protest. “Don’t date mindlessly. It’ll lead you down a road you’ll regret.”
“Says the guy who went to second base on the hood of a car in front of the whole school?” I tossed back. Who the hell did he think he was trying to give me relationship advice?
“Exactly. Don’t be like me, Mace. You’re so much better than that.”
“Where is this coming from? What makes you think you have the right to tell me how to live my life?”
His jaw flexed as he struggled with his words. “I saw the list, and I know what’s next.”
As a child, K.R. Grace had an overactive imagination. When it was obvious she wasn’t going to change anytime soon, her mom shoved a pen and paper in her hand and said, “Write it down.” So, at the age of eight, her first story was born, and the writing hasn’t stopped since. When she’s not running with wolves, sleeping with bears, or flying with falcons, she can be found checking out local bands or watching movies about things that go “boo” in the night. She lives in East Tennessee with a dog that is afraid of his own shadow and a cat that was a mob leader in a former life.
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