That Boy (That Boy, #1)

by Jillian Dodd

Phillip Mackenzie lives across the street from me. We have been friends forever. I mean it. Since birth.

Our parents hope that Phillip and I will get married when we grow up. I totally laugh at that. I have told them so many times that I can’t marry Phillip because I’m going to marry a prince. I blame my obsession with wanting to marry a prince on Disney and Phillip’s sister, Ashley.

when it’s just us, he calls me Princess. And he’s the only person I’d let get away with it!

How come a boy can be so stupid, but a daddy, who actually used to be a boy himself, can be so wonderful?

“So, are you secretly in love with me, or were you just trying to break up the game, so you wouldn’t have to kiss Mary Beth?” I whisper. “Oh, I am definitely in love with you,” he replies with a big smile on his face

Now, I know everyone gets all hyped up over Danny, but Phillip, who is his workout partner, is a few inches taller than Danny and carries more weight. Quite honestly, Phillip’s muscles are bigger, and I kinda like them even better.

You know, being friends with cute boys does have its benefits.

“Princess, there’s no one I’d rather hang out with more than you. You know that.”

“Walk into the place like you own it, JJ, and people will think that you do.” Of course, he also said, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.”

with Danny, I might very well burst into flames.”

‘Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?’

Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute? The quote is Elizabeth’s way of saying we should put more emphasis on the value of daily life. After dying, she finds out that life’s not just about special events or occasions. It’s about seeing the wonder in daily life and not wasting opportunities.

I think they lived life fully. I make a promise to myself to try to always do the same.

I don’t know how he does it, but Phillip always seems to know exactly what I need.

“Here’s a thought,” he adds seriously. “Yeah?” “You’d be good with Phillip.” And, with that, he leaves. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

And he is adorable. I mean, Phillip has always been a very cute boy, but he seems to be getting even better-looking, the older he gets. He’s leapfrogged the line separating cute from hot and has landed deeply into hot territory. I swear, if he keeps this up, I might just have to keep him for myself.

College is so awesome! It’s really too bad they try to ruin it with classes!

I always tease him and tell him he needs to marry a girl just like Phillip—someone calm, organized, and responsible. Of course, that’s when he tells me, “You need to marry Phillip.” And, if I am really being truthful, I sometimes wish Phillip would kiss me.

“You are pretty tough to handle,” he replies while bumping his shoulder into mine. “Yeah. Well, you and Danny are the only ones who can seem to do it, and darn it, now, it’s official; Danny’s off the market.” “I guess it’s back to just you and me, Princess.” “Yeah,” I say, wondering if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

What can I say?” He rolls his eyes at me. “You’ve made me play your knight in shining armor for so long that I just can’t seem to get it out of my system.”

What if we kissed and then we dated and then you got mad at me and ended up hating me like most of my other boyfriends? I couldn’t stand to lose my best friend. I’m going to bed,” I decide suddenly, getting up off the couch and walking quickly toward my room.

I realize what I was about to say and think back to yesterday’s conversation with Danny. The kite thing. Oh. My. Gosh. Does Phillip fly me? Is he just like Lori, hanging on and letting me do my thing, all the while keeping me safe and close by? Is he perfect for me?

“No, Princess, you don’t like me; you are totally in love with me. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”

“I’ve been here for you all along. I’ve listened to you cry about other guys. I rescue you, take care of you when you’re sick, hug you when you’re sad, tell you you’re beautiful when you look terrible.” He looks me straight in the eyes and

is dead serious when he says, “Princess, I’ve always been the one.”

Phillip stops and kisses me, and it’s really wonderful. When I kiss Phillip, I feel like I’m home, like I’m exactly where I belong. It’s a weird and wonderful and very scary feeling. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am in love with him. If only I wasn’t so afraid of losing him.

Danny gave me a cute magnet for Christmas last year. It said, The trouble with trouble is it always starts out as fun. That pretty much sums up our relationship.

“You know, JJ, you girls today have it rough. Back in my day, if you really wanted to get a man to marry you, you just seduced him and got yourself pregnant.”

After being with Phillip, I can tell you that I could put absolutely anything on in my closet, and it would look perfect.

I’m telling you, this is something they should teach you in school. I’m a college graduate, and I didn’t even know that I had been walking around all this time, slightly defective. But I don’t care anymore because I know it to be true. With Phillip, I am complete. I yawn, snuggle up closer to him, and fall into a blissful sleep.

I think I might have found my prince. I always knew I would, and I know, technically, he’s not a prince, but I don’t think you necessarily have to be royal to be a prince. I mean, he acts like a prince, and he treats me like a princess. He always has. What more could a girl ask for?

‘Will you marry me someday?’” I smile big at everyone as I remember this, and tears start streaming down my face. “And I yelled back to him, ‘YES!’ And so he said that, if people asked, I could tell them that we’d been secretly engaged for the past twelve years. And so”—I close my eyes for a second and think, Here goes nothing. I open them and look straight at Phillip—“you will probably all think I am very crazy, but I had to say YES again tonight!”