Page 26 of A Secret Crush Valentine's

“Try me.”

She eyed him for a moment. “I was thinking about what you said earlier about liking my poetry.”

“Yeah?”

“It meant a lot to me. The articles are the newsletter’s main content; I just squeeze a couple of poems in now and then. But those poems mean more to me than the articles.”

“You don’t like writing articles?”

She shrugged. “They’re okay, I guess. I don’t mind reporting. But I’m more of a creator. I like to write. And sing,” she said as an afterthought.

His eyes widened like green pools. “You sing?”

Heat rushed into her face as she nodded.

“That’s super cool, Red. Would you could sing for me sometime?”

If she blushed any harder, her face was going to explode.

“Maybe someday. I’ve always loved writing and singing. But that sort of thing isn’t easy for people around you to accept, you know? It’s not… professional enough. Not to my parents, at least. But they were thrilled when I became chief editor.”

A part of her wondered whether she was saying too much. Somehow, in a matter of minutes—or was it an hour—she’d gotten more comfortable with him. The nervousness that had choked her earlier was slowly receding. Dear God, if she got too comfortable, she just might spill everything about her life and scare him off. The last thing she needed was for her crush to run from her because she’d told him too much. She could end up the talk of the entire school, then the entire town: the weird girl who could shift into a snow leopard.

Before long, her family would have to move.

That’s not going to happen, Julia,she told herself.Take a chill pill, will you?

“I can imagine,” he said to her surprise.

Her eyebrows rose sharply. “You… you can?”

“Yeah.” He stared at the ground as they walked. “For me, it’s football.”

“Wait, really?”

He nodded. “I mean, I used to enjoy playing. The only reason I’m still on the team is… well, I want a scholarship for college. I lost interest in football last year.”

“How come?”

Damon lifted his head. “I just did. And the guys on the team aren’t exactly the kind of people I like hanging around with. They’re knuckleheads.”

Julia stifled a giggle. “So what are you interested in if not football?

He thought for a moment. “I don’t know. But it’ll come to me soon.” Then he smiled.

They were nearing the bend in the road. She glanced up at the sky. Clouds were gathering. Julia had a feeling it was going to be a stormy night.

“We should walk faster,” she said, increasing her pace before he could respond. “I have to get home on time.”

He matched her pace with little effort. “That’s okay, Red. I know a shortcut we can take. You’ll be home before you know it. It’s just beyond those trees.”

He pointed ahead at the row of trees.

Julia followed his gaze and frowned. “You mean… Laudville Lake?”

He nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ve crossed it lots of times.”

Something about the way he said it made her wonder what he’d been doing when he crossed the lake all those times. Playing hooky or kissing cheerleaders under the cover of the trees? Was that why he wanted her to go with him to the lake? The thought made her grin, but she suppressed it before he could notice.

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