Praise for
Katie McGarry
bestselling author of
PUSHING THE LIMITS
âThe love story of the yearâ âTeen Now
âA real page-turnerâ âMizz
âA romance with a differenceâ âBliss
âMcGarry details the sexy highs, the devastating lows, and the real work it takes to build true loveâ
âJennifer Echols
âA riveting and emotional rideâ
âSimone Elkeles
âHighly recommend to fans of hard-hitting, edgy, contemporary and to anyone who loves a smouldering, sexy, consuming love story to boot!â
âJess Hearts Books Blog
âMcGarry is definitely a YA author to keep an eye out for.â
âChoose YA Blog
DARE YOU TO
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear.
âDance with me, Beth.â
âNo.â Iâm definitely learning-impaired. I whispered the reply. I might as well have screamed yes. This is a mistake, Beth. A huge, glaring mistake. Just run!
Ryan places his other hand on the small of my back and moulds his strong body to mine. I inhale and welcome the scent of warm earth and summer rain. Ryan smells ⦠delicious.
âThis works better if you touch me,â he says.
I loosely lay my hands on his shoulders. Sort of like what I saw Echo do once when Noah swept her off the bed to dance. My skin tingles. Touching Ryan, oh God, itâs too much ⦠too intimate. âIâm only doing this because I owe you.â
âThatâs okay.â On rhythm, Ryan moves his hips from side to side. His hand slides an inch lower and the gentle pressure he exerts on my thigh stirs my body to sway in time with his. Our feet never leave the ground, but, I swear, Iâm flying.
KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.
Also available
PUSHING THE LIMITS
CROSSING THE LINE (ebook novella)
Coming soon
CRASH INTO ME
Find out more about Katie McGarry at www.miraink.co.uk and join the conversation on Twitter @MIRAInk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MIRAInk
âIt is the beautiful bird which gets caged.â
âOld Chinese Proverb
IâM NOT INTERESTED in second place. Never have been. Never will be. Itâs not the style of anyone who wants to play in the majors. And because of my personal philosophy, this moment sucks. My best friend is seconds from scoring a phone number from the chick working the Taco Bell counter, placing him in the lead.
What started as a simple dare twisted into a night-long game. First, Chris dared me to ask the girl in line at the movies for her number. Then I dared him to ask the girl at the batting cages for her number. The more we succeeded, the more momentum the game gained. Too bad Chris owns a grin that melts the hearts of all girls, including the ones with boyfriends.
I hate losing.
Taco Bell Chick blushes when Chris winks at her. Come on. I chose her because she called us redneck losers when we ordered. Chris rests his arms on the counter, inching closer to the girl, as I sit at the table and watch the tragedy unfold. Shouldnât she be having an epiphany right about now? If not, can she find some self-respect and tell Chris to beat it?
Every single muscle on the back of my neck tenses as Taco Bell Chick giggles, writes something on a piece of paper, and slides it over to him. Dammit. The rest of our group howls with laughter and someone pats me on the back.
Tonight isnât about phone numbers or girls. Itâs about enjoying our last Friday night before school begins. Iâve tasted everythingâthe freedom of hot summer air in the Jeep with the panels down, the peace of dark country roads leading to the interstate, the exciting glow of city lights as we took the thirty-minute drive into Louisville, and, lastly, the mouthwatering taste of a greasy fast-food taco at midnight.
Chris raises the phone number like a referee holding up the glove of the prize champion. âItâs on, Ryan.â
âBring it.â Thereâs no way Iâve gotten this far to have Chris outdo me.
He slouches in his seat, tosses the paper into the pile of numbers weâve collected over the evening, and tugs his Bullitt County High baseball cap over his brown hair. âLetâs see. These things have to be thought through. The girl chosen carefully. Attractive enough so she wonât fall for you. Not a dog because sheâll be excited someone gave her a bone.â
Mimicking him, I shift back in the chair, extend my legs, and fold my hands over my stomach. âTake your time. Iâve got forever.â
But we donât. After this weekend, life changesâmy life and Chrisâs. On Monday, Chris and I will be seniors starting our last fall baseball league. I only have a few more months to impress the professional baseball scouts or the dream Iâve been working toward my entire life will dissolve into ashes.