My cheeks flamed. Of course I’d forgotten the underwear was on the top. I struggled with the zipper, but a pair of the underwear was caught in the teeth. Now I had no desire for anything but to get away from this person as fast as I could. “You’re funny, I can see that. Hilarious, actually.” I yanked at the zipper again.
“It’s one of my special talents. Here, let me.” The boy pulled hard at the zipper and raked it up to the top.
I exhaled. “Thanks. Anyway. Nice to meet you.” A little trickle of sweat ran down my chest, but at least my underwear was safely out of sight again. Without looking at him, I grabbed my bag and marched away toward the glass exit doors.
“Hey, what’s your name?” he called after me.
“Private McKinley,” I yelled back over my shoulder. Then, just as I turned around again—bam. I slammed into the clear glass door.
“Ooh,” I moaned, holding my forehead, letting my bag slide from my shoulder. Something dripped from my fingers, and I looked down to see bright blood splotching the floor at my feet.
“Was that on purpose, Private McKinley?” The guy was suddenly beside me, prying my fingers from my numb face. He smelled like peppermint gum. “Because it’s cool about the bag and all. You don’t have to bleed to make a point.”
“I’m fine,” I managed, trying to wipe my face but succeeding only in smearing the blood. “Okay? Thanks for your help. This happens to me all the time.”
“Nice. Have you ever considered a helmet?” The guy was waving at one of the airport security guards, who came hurrying over.
“Oh now, miss, why don’t you come with me to first aid?” The burly man was leaning over me. Then a ticket agent appeared, holding a towel.
“Poor little girl! We have to get you downstairs. . . .”
Another agent strode over. “She might need stitches. . . .”
I pressed the white towel to my brow and looked around. The boy was gone.
A. DESTINY is the coauthor of the Flirt series. She spends her time reading books, writing, and watching sweet romance movies. She will always remember her first kiss.
CATHERINE HAPKA has written more than one hundred books for children and adults, as a ghostwriter for series as well as original titles. She lives in Pennsylvania.
Simon & Schuster, New York
authors.simonandschuster.com/A-Destiny
authors.simonandschuster.com/Catherine-Hapka
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Lessons in Love
Never Too Late
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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This Simon Pulse edition May 2014
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Library of Congress Control Number 2014931412
ISBN 978-1-4814-0517-1 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0516-4 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0519-5 (eBook)