Page 23 of The Re-Proposal

And I don’t want it with just anyone.

I want it with Clarissa.

If my shy, sensitive nephew can bravely set up an extravagant party just to impress the girl he likes, I can get out of my comfort zone too.

But first, I have to find a way to get Clarissa in the same room without wanting to choke me to death.

At that moment, the screen door swings open and, as if I willed her here with a wish, a harried voice rings out, “I hope I’m not late.”

My eyes widen.

I turn slowly, my heart skittering out of my chest when I find the object of my thoughts standing in the doorway, looking right back at me.

3

THE PAST

CLARISSA

“Isn’the that guy who landed Mauler International as a freshman?” My roommate’s excited whisper jars me out of my economics textbook.

“Who?” I mumble, not bothering to glance up. I have a test tomorrow that I’m not ready for thanks to pulling extra shifts at the diner and helping mom at the soup kitchen.

“You’re not looking,” my roommate hisses.

Because I don’t care. But I keep that thought to myself. The girls in my roommate’s circle have no problems partying, skipping class and chasing boys, but I don’t have that privilege. I could lose my scholarship if I don’t keep my grades up.

“Look now or you’ll miss him.” My roommate smacks me on the shoulder. “Oh crap. He’s getting up. Clarissa, hurry!”

I sigh and lift my head. For a moment, all I see is blinding light from the library’s many windows.

And then I spot him.

He’s golden. Shiny. Like a Disney prince come to life. His lips are full and pink and his dark blond hair is long, brushing the collar of his shirt.

He senses us staring and his eyes sweep up. They’re green, like emeralds. Like that magical kingdom in theWizard of Oz.

I watched the movie once. It was playing at the homeless shelter that first night mom and I stumbled in, dripping wet from the rain. The movie took me to another world, and I can see that world in his eyes—eyes that are watching me curiously across the room.

I dig my fingers into my economics book.

“He’s looking at me! He’s looking at me!” My roommate throws her hair over her shoulder and sticks out her chest. I’ve seen boys drop like flies when she does that. “Should I go talk to him?”

A chorus of ‘yes girl’ and ‘go get him’ erupt from her friends.

I blink and drag my eyes away from Golden Boy’s. It doesn’t matter who he is. Princes like him go on to marry a princess.

Not a pauper like me.

4

THE CHOCOLATE PRINCE

CLARISSA

Cody isthe last person I expect to see when I enter Darrel and Sunny Hastings’ farmhouse. The sun flashes against his face as he turns to look at me. The shine transforms his dark blonde hair into gold.

I freeze, my heart stalling.

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