Fumbled (The Girls of Beachmont #1) by T. K. Rapp

I get to see
you again. So Tabor-1 Dani-0
    Me: I think it’s more
like 1-1
    Tabor: I like my odds
here. Goodnight Dani

 
    I didn’t respond to his
last text. I didn’t know how to answer. Tabor had given me something to think
about, and I was going to have to weigh out the pros and cons. But that kiss…it
made the pro list.
    Without another thought,
I dialed Viola’s number. That girl kept insane hours and I knew she’d be up. Vi
and Will had married before we graduated and she had been by his side ever
since. They were the perfect couple, both creative and madly in love. I think
what I admired most about their relationship was how supportive she was of his
dream of becoming a rock star.

 
    “Danielle! What’s up?”
Will asked when he answered Vi’s phone. I laughed when he used my full name.
Aside from my parents, he was the only person that called me Danielle, but I
didn’t mind.
    “Hey Will. Is Vi there?
I need some advice.”
    “She’s in the shower.
What’s up?”
    “You two heading to the
bar?” I asked, trying to change the subject. Will’s band played the local bar
scene, including the one where he worked.
    “In a little.”
    “Can you just tell her I
called?” I asked as I prepared to hang up the call.
    “Why can’t you talk to
me about whatever’s up?”
    “Who said anything’s
up?”
    “It’s almost one in the
morning,” he fired back. “Why else would you be calling?”
    “It’s no big.”
    “Why can’t you tell me?”
    “Because…you’re Will,” I
answered with a laugh.
    “Ah, c’mon, hit me,” he
said.
    I could hear Viola somewhere
in the background and figured she was finishing up. It was only a matter of
time before the story made its way through our circle of friends and Will heard
about it anyway. I went ahead and told him all about meeting Tabor, our date,
and my current dilemma.
    “So what’s the problem?
He likes you. You like him,” Will said.
    Okay, sure, it made
sense in theory, but there was so much more to consider. “But he’s famous and
shit.”
    “So?”
    “Valid argument,” I
muttered, throwing myself onto my bed with a huff.
    “I’m being serious.
You’re wondering why he likes you…plain old Danielle.”
    “Thanks,” I said,
rolling my eyes.
    “But he does. Maybe he
likes that he doesn’t have to be someone when he’s with you. Are you really just going to hide because of who he is?”
    I was quiet for a moment
and then I heard him tsk.
    “I always thought you
were cooler than that, Danielle.”
    “If it doesn’t work out,
do you realize the level of public humiliation I’d be subjected to?”
    “Damn girl, I can’t even
talk to you. Here’s Vi,” he said, handing the phone over. I heard him mutter
something about me being chickenshit, but I was too wrapped up on the cons of
dating Tabor to be irritated.
    “You went out with JT
Hunter?” Viola asked without so much as a hello .
    “Yes. And he wants to
see me again,” I told her.
    “And the problem is?”
    “Did you not hear the name—JT Hunter,” I
said sarcastically.
    “Oh,” she said and I
heard her call out to Will, “You’re right babe. Total chickenshit!”
    “You know me, Vi. I
don’t like attention. If I were to go out with him, I’d basically be inviting
the entire city to scrutinize my every move.”
    Right then, I heard
Viola’s laugh that I knew so well. It was loud and made me smile, but I found
myself rolling my eyes.
    “Get over yourself.
Trust me, they’re way more interest in him than the junior high school teacher.
If anything, you’re just going to have thousands of women jealous that he’s
with you.”
    The line was quiet after
she spoke as I considered her words.
    She was right…and so was
Will. Millie had already told me to go for it, but my stupid fears kept me from
giving in. It’s not like I was going to marry the guy. He wanted to get to know
me better and I felt the same. He was no different from any other man I’d
dated, and