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And most importantly of all—never fall for each other.
If I didn’t get my act together, I was going to be in trouble.
As I stumbled back inside the prom, my head was spinning so fast I nearly collided with my own sister. Mandy took advantage of my momentary confusion and wrapped her arm around my waist, steering me toward the beverage table.
“Perfect timing, little sis. I’ve been looking for you all night. We’ve got a proposal for you. Actually, it’s for all three of you.”
She stopped short of the three-tiered punch bowl and pointed to the two sophomores helping fill cups with sparkling pink liquid. The one with the curly brown hair and red lips curled in a suspicious expression was Lexi, Audrey’s little sister. The girl next to her with the long, blonde curly hair and green eyes was Trina‘s little sister, Beth. She looked sl
ightly less suspicious and more amused as Mandy shot them a beaming smile that dripped with excitement. I’d never really hung out with either of them before, but I knew Lexi ran with a popular crowd of kids and Beth typically stuck with the gaming geeks.
“The girls and I have been talking,” Mandy said, leaning her hip on the table. “When we’re gone at school next year, you three are going to have to look after each other.”
“Seriously?” I glanced over at Lexi and Beth. Neither of them seemed too willing to jump right into making friendship bracelets and braiding each other’s hair. “This isn’t some weird version of Fiddler on the Roof. We don’t need a matchmaker. I think we’re all okay on our own.”
“Nope. Call this a friend-tervention,” Audrey said, appearing by my side. “You’re going to be besties whether you like it or not.”
Lexi scoffed and crossed her arms. I couldn’t help but mimic her pose. My best friend was already moving back home in a few weeks. I wasn’t a charity case in need of people who didn’t want me around. I didn’t have much, but I had my pride.
“Come on, ladies.” Trina showed up on Mandy’s other side in a delicate sparkling orange dress that poofed at the waist. She held Mason’s hand, who was looking at her like she’d just handed him front row tickets for the Mets. “We’re not saying you guys have to drop the friends you have. Just think of these as bonus sisters. Someone you can go to when you feel like you have no one else around. Dare you to at least give it a try.”
Trina’s words had a soothing effect. As my outrage began to fade, my gaze darted to each of the girls. They were looking at me with a similar helpless acceptance of our big sisters’ plans. Bonus sisters. I supposed that didn’t sound so bad.
I seriously doubted either of them needed extra help in the friends department, but I guess it didn’t hurt in my situation. I’d been floundering without Hunter this year. And after our quick and slightly alarming meeting in the moonlight outside, it seemed like I could use all the friends I could get.
“Fine, whatever,” I said, taking a glass of punch and holding it up. “I never turn down a dare. Let’s see how this goes.”
“I think I can live with it,” Beth replied, holding a glass up as well.
Lexi’s eyes narrowed for a moment, a million thoughts going on behind her calculating stare. But then she grabbed a third cup and held it up as well. “If only to get Audrey off my back.”
It wasn’t exactly the start of something magical, but as we clinked our cups together and then downed the sugary sweet raspberry drink, I couldn’t help but wonder where it would lead us in the next year.
Hot cowboys and reluctant new friends.
It sounded like I had quite the future in front of me. Too bad I’d promised myself to have a drama-free year, because it sounded like summer in Rock Valley was about to heat up in a way I hadn’t seen coming.
Maybe I’d find where I belonged after all.
***
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Make sure to check out the next in the series, Charlotte’s story – Dare You to Resist the Bull Rider – and order it here before it returns to full price.
Excerpt of Dare You to Resist the Bull Rider
Book 4 in the Rock Valley High Series
Chapter One
Charlotte Hale wasn’t a rhinestones and leather kind of girl. A mere whiff of hay made me sneeze. And fifteen minutes in the sun had me roasting like a marshmallow held too close to a flame. Still, when my best friend since seventh grade finally moved back after a year away and wanted to have our big reunion at the Rock Valley fairgrounds arena so he could give me a surprise, I couldn’t say no.
