All Last Summer (Love on Summer Break, #1)

by Stephanie J. Scott

They stood there, still joined at the arms like a united force against me. Like I was the problem here.

My older sister, Lenora, now out of the house in college, spent most of her teen years creatively bending their orders or outright defying them. Me? I was the kid who learned compliance made life easier. Just do the thing. Way less lecturing.

Making friends never came as easily to me as it had for my sister Lenora. She had charm and charisma. At each school, the inevitable would happen. I would try to make friends, but eventually get branded a dork and ignored. My very existence repelled sleepover invitations. I defaulted to loner status. Every time.

He gestured with is coffee mug at the newspaper on the table. “Lila, we’re serious. Find a job.”

Literally who still uses a newspaper to find a job??

Then again, if I hadn’t gone to the party, I’d be halfway to Brazil with a cheating boyfriend. That had never been part of the plan.

I wonder how she would've found out if she hadn't ...

Today, I’d hit the road to look for jobs the way, as Dad said, they did in pre-historic times. Before the internet.

Don't forget about the newspaper!

He ran a hand through his brown hair. Flecks of copper glinted from the sun now peeking out from the clouds.

“Let’s get your ride fixed up. That’s what you kids call it—your ride?” I shook my head. “No. Just…no.”

“These days we push kids too hard,” Grandpa said. ”Back in my day, we ran the streets until dark. My folks called us in for dinner. They’d shoo us out if we came home early.”

“I’m telling you, I think Aidan has his eye on ya.”

His grin. Oh my goodness, his grin was…not terrible. I tore myself away from staring at his lips. And his white and very much imperfect teeth that were possibly endearing in their slight crookedness.

”Are

The " are the wrong direction... How do you even do that?!

“It’s always off-putting to see a teacher outside of class. When I was little, it totally confused me. I thought teachers lived at the school.”

“I should tell you I’m sorry. I’m sorry about the party and how things played out. I’m sorry about a lot, but mostly how I’ve been…unfair to you. I took sides with Matt when I didn’t have to. I didn’t want to.”

He cared. About me. Aidan cared about me.

“It felt like things might be changing between us and I liked it. I like seeing you here. You’re…different.”

“You deserve better than him.”

“You deserve better. I wish you could see it.”

When I came into view of Aidan, my breath caught. He wore a weathered gray vest with black leather clasps over a faded white peasant shirt. It was…well, it was pretty hot. If you were into dudes wearing vests from historical eras.

Well, thanks for thinking of me.” “Kind of a trend lately.” “Oh?” I managed in a nonchalant tone. He grinned. “Yeah. I think about you a lot.”

Closing the gap, it all happened at once. Our hands connected as a magnet force drew us closer and our lips made contact. Warm and cool together, his taste melted into me. A lightness that felt bright as Fourth of July fireworks. Aidan was kissing me on a perfect summer night.

”One

Again with the backwards "

“Brayden get

Comma

Grandpa

Shouldn't be capitalized

I never cared about dimples before, but his face, the way it transformed from the scowl into something so bright and genuine, he was not the same Aidan I used to know. I hadn’t known him at all.

”I know what’s up. Real men sew hair bows.”

The " are backwards... again.

It was one of those words that sounded like its meaning. Filthy tasted grimy and dirt-filled on the tongue.

I wanted a fake sword, a giant turkey leg, and a seat at the joust. I wanted enchanted fairy folke to braid my hair. I wanted a guy in tights to say to me, “Good morn, M’Lady.”