It Had to be Mason (Beachbreak High, #1)

by Emily Lowry

“Because that’s who you want to be compared to: an idiot who fell in lust with a girl, tore his family apart, then offed himself over a different girl a few days later,” Nina said. She shook her head. “Strong romantic role model, that one.”

There was nothing I enjoyed more than annoying Ty’s little sister. Besides football, it might have been my favorite thing to do. Plus, I liked the way she looked when she was angry. Her eyes narrow, her lips pouty. A sleek jungle cat ready to pounce.

Somehow, there were a hundred TV shows and a thousand movies, and yet there was nothing I wanted to watch.

Every guy likes to be the knight in shining armor. And knights need dragons to fight. Happy to be your dragon.

I laughed. Where had Zoe been hiding this part of herself all my life?

It was quickly becoming one of my favorite sights — and sounds — in the world. It was such a carefree, relaxed laugh.

She was the best kind of beautiful — the kind of beautiful that didn’t know she was beautiful.

Zoe had the type of personality that made you miss her, even when she was right next to you — which was why I was so excited to have her to myself on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

“I always thought calling someone jaw-droppingly beautiful was just an expression, something that didn’t actually happen. Then you opened the door.”

And you don’t want a guy going on a date thinking he needs to impress you.” “Why not?” “Because if you’re impressing somebody, or he’s impressing you, you’re both just playing pretend. Worse, you’re just pretending to be someone that you think the other person will like. The best-case scenario is that they do like you while you’re playing pretend, which means they like who you’re pretending to be, not who you really are.”

There was no misery worse than watching the person you love walk away with someone else.

“You are the most beautiful, most amazing person I’ve ever met. My cheeks hurt for hours after we’re together because I’ve been laughing so hard. And when I’m with you, all I want to do is stay awake because you’re better than anything I could dream.”

“And there’s one other thing,” Mason said. I held my breath. He stared deeply into my eyes. “I’m falling in love with you.”