Page 8 of My Favorite Girl

“Don’t apologize. If you like him… That’s fine, Ally. It’s better than fine. You deserve to feel happy and safe after what you’ve been through.”

His approval makes me smile a little, although there’s something that’s been playing on my mind, especially after this heavy discussion. “You seriously like hanging out with me? There’s no ulterior motive? No prank?”

“No prank, Ally.”

My breath turns shallow from the warmth of his eyes upon me.

“I like you,” he says.

“But I’m not the kind of girl you normally hang around. I mean, what do you even want with me?”

“I don’t know. I like learning about all your husbands and hearing you talk about sackbuts.”

I smile, and this time, there’s no doubt holding me back. He has that amused look in his eyes again, teasing me, and I think I might be in serious trouble. I like the way he looks at me more than I’ve ever liked anything before.

Chapter 4

Ally

Three weeks later, Friday, June 15

Dan is about to become my… stepbrother?

I have a crush. My first real crush and on a guy who actually exists. A guy who texts me every day and walks me home from school. It’s been one month since we first met, and every Wednesday afternoon, we visit a 50s style diner and sit across from each other in a booth, sharing a milkshake with two straws. We laugh about TV shows and movies.

During our piano lessons, he asks me to play music for him, and lies back on my bed, watching like he’s entranced by my skill. Then he sits beside me on the stool and tries his hardest to copy everything I teach him.

When our parents aren’t looking, he teaches me the rules of poker. I’m no good at it and he teases me, yet it’s in a fun way I’ve never experienced before. I like teasing him back. I like when the left side of his mouth curls into a grin. I like the deep sound of his voice and how he speaks my name. How he hugs me each time we say goodbye.

I like everything about Dan Blackwood.

Yet, I’ll never take this crush to the next level. Not only because our parents are dating and it would be weird, but because Dan and I are friends. I’ve been so lonely and miserable for years, but now he’s come into my life and I think this is the first time I’ve ever truly been happy. I like how easy it is to talk to Dan, when normally I can’t string a sentence together in front of a guy. I’m not about to ruin any of this by letting my feelings get in the way.

“The tennis courts are down that path.” Josh points to our left, giving my mom and me a tour of his summer home in The Hamptons, which he insists is now our home since Mom got time off work and we’re spending the entire summer break here with him.

Mansionwould be a more accurate description. This is by far the biggest and fanciest place I’ve ever visited. His property is right on the beach with expansive land and a driveway a mile long. The mansion is elegant, in typical Hamptons style architecture, white with large windows and porches. There’s a five-car garage, incredible pool, and the gardens are immaculately groomed. There’s even a hedge maze Josh has advised me not to enter alone in case I get lost.

“Do you play tennis, Ally?” Josh asks as we round a corner in the garden, the three of us stopping by a water fountain.

“No. I’d love to learn.”

“We’ll have to teach you while we’re here for the summer.”

“Speaking of which, do you know when Dan will be arriving?”

It’s early evening and the sun is about to set. The school year finished today, and Josh drove the three of us up here after Mom finished her shift at the restaurant. Dan was meant to come too but was held up with a prior arrangement. As for Josh’s other sons, I still haven’t met them. Josh invited them to spend the summer with us, but they turned down the invitation.

“Dan should hopefully be arriving soon. He’s busy with his brothers,” Josh says, which is code forplaying poker. He tries to hide his displeasure of Dan’s absence, along with the reason, but I can tell he’s unhappy with Dan’s choices.

“Ah, the brothers,” Mom sighs, laughing fondly as she weaves her fingers with Josh’s.

Unlike me, she’s met Killian, Tyler, and Felix, and says they’re lovely. When Dan heard her describe them in such a way, he started choking on his drink with laughter.

Despite Dan telling me not to be nervous about meeting them, that they’ll love me, Iamnervous. I don’t do well around new people, regardless of my good intentions. My awkward tendencies get interpreted for rudeness, and that’s the last thing I want Dan’s brothers to think of me.

I dip my fingers into the fountain. “When will I meet your other sons?”

“Soon enough, honey. Are you two hungry?” Josh changes the subject quickly. I don’t pry further, curious but respecting his wishes, and instead follow him and my mom inside for dinner.

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