Summer Seventeen & You by Sara Daniell (Stockbridge #1)

STAND-ALONE NOVELS A Life Unexpected An Unfortunate Journey Anything Goes On A Friday Night THE RIVERBEND SERIES Collide Igneous ANTHOLOGIES In Creeps The Night A Winter’s Romance

Cover, interior book design, and eBook design

by Blue Harvest Creative www.blueharvestcreative.com Edited by Kerri L. Bennett and Hannah Loomis

Summer Seventeen & You

Copyright Š 2016 Sara Daniell All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published by H2O an imprint of BHC Press Library of Congress Control Number: 2016954063 ISBN-13: 978-1-946006-08-0 ISBN-10: 1-946006-08-4

Visit the author at: www.saradaniell.com & www.bhcpress.com also available in eBook format

“She’s stuck between who she is, who she wants to be, and who she should be.” ~ Anonymous ~

Chapter One

S

tockbridge, Georgia. Home of insane heat and baseball crazed citizens.

This year was unlike last year, though. Logan was trying out for a new position — centerfielder. He’d get it. Harts always got what they wanted.

I tucked my hair behind my ears as the wind blew a few strands out of my pony-tail. I chewed on my lip and grinned as Logan’s eyes scanned the stands for me. I waved when he found me, and he winked before turning back to the coach.

It was three weeks until baseball season, and the coach was making final choices for positions. Logan liked me to be there for support, and I loved watching him play. I stood and heard a few of the guys sitting behind me start whispering. I smiled when I looked over my shoulder and saw them checking out my ass.

“You wish, but this ass belongs to Logan Hart, boys.” I winked at them and chuckled when their faces turned red.

“You are a royal bitch, Sam!” Quinn shoved my shoulder and giggled when I rolled my eyes.

“Would I sound like a horrible person if I told you I enjoyed it?”

“What?” She raised a brow. “Having all of the guys drool over you, or all of the other girls wishing they were you and under Logan’s sheets every night?”

~ 12 ~

My mouth fell open, and a half-laugh half-gasp escaped. “I am not under his—oh wait… yes, I am!” We both burst into laughter and shuffled down the bleachers.

We leaned against the fence, watching people walk through the entrance.

Parents were waiting to hear which positions their sons would have. My stomach growled, and I laughed when Quinn’s did the same. After this, we’d all be headed to Quinn’s parents’ restaurant for pizza. They owned the best place in town, named Quinn’s for obvious reasons.

“So, what are your predictions this year?”

“Logan is trying out centerfield. He’s the coaches’ fave, so, he’ll get it. I think Wyatt will get the pitching position. You?” Quinn nodded. “Same.”

We turned to watch the guys playing their mock-game. Man, did I appreciate baseball uniforms! I watched Logan bend down to lace his shoe and smiled in appreciation.

“Dammit, my guy is hot.”

“Sam, that’s not your guy,” Quinn snickered and pointed to Logan who was talking to Wyatt.

I looked back at the guy, and my mouth fell open. “W-what? Well...then… who is that?” I felt like a goof getting my Logan mixed up with some other guy who I had never seen before.

“I have no clue. New student maybe? A damn good lookin’ one, too.” She turned her head to the side a little to get a better view.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek and looked at Logan again as he eyed up the newcomer. I could tell by the look on Logan’s face he didn’t like him, so I instantly decided I would hate him, too. The coach went to the center of the field and blew his whistle.

“Positions have been decided, but we will be waiting to determine who will play centerfield. Elliot Shaw,” he said, looking at the new guy, “or Logan Hart.”

My heart ached when Logan’s mouth formed a hard line. He had been drooling over that position since the beginning of the year. Who the hell was this Elliot Shaw to think he could march into our school and take Logan’s position? The coach had to understand. This had to be illegal or something.

Logan had played for this school district for years, and Elliot, wherever he

Summer Seventeen & You

~ 13 ~

was from, had not. Plus, Logan was a Hart. His family spent tons of money sponsoring the team.

Logan looked mortified when his father stomped his way down the bleachers and made his way onto the field to give Coach Jenks a piece of his mind. We all watched the shit-show go down, and Logan, as well as the rest of the guys, left the field.

“Have I mentioned how hot Logan’s dad is when he’s all pissy?” Quinn grunted when I punched her shoulder. She smiled. “Well…he is.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed before heading to the dugout where Logan was sitting with all the guys. Elliot was packing up his things and, hopefully, got the point that he wasn’t taking Logan’s desired position. My fingers wrapped around the thin fence wire.

“Hey,” I whispered from behind Logan.

He turned and smiled a little. “This is embarrassing. My dad never lets me handle this stuff on my own. He always has to step in and take charge.”

“Quinn appreciates it,” I teased.

He raised a brow. “What?”

I shook my head and laughed. “Never mind. So, what’s Elliot’s story?”

Wyatt spoke before Logan could. “No clue. Dude just shows up like he owns the field, and Jenks acts like he expects him to rock the hell out of the game. Pretty shitty of him, I think. Last week, while we were running laps, he never mentioned a new player.”

Logan wiped sweat from his forehead and adjusted his ball cap. “Why don’t you and Quinn get out of here? I’ll meet up with you for pizza after.”

“You sure?”

He stood and clasped his muddy fingers around the wire. He kissed me through the fence. “Yeah.” He smiled when I frowned. “You want to watch the drama, don’t you?”

I nodded eagerly.

“You’re such a bitch, Sam.” He chuckled and kissed me again.

I smiled a little. “Yeah. Sam the bitch,” I mumbled.

~ 14 ~

I SAT ON my front steps waiting for Logan to pull up. He had been in a horrible mood ever since he found out that the Shaw guy had gotten his centerfield position at school today. While I waited, my cell phone buzzed in my lap. I looked at the picture mom had sent me from Hawaii. She and dad were on a year-long business trip there, and every few weeks, I’d hear from them so I’d know they were still alive. My relationship with my parents didn’t involve any emotions. It involved money, and in that aspect, I was loaded. I was seventeen and driving a brand new candy apple red Audi S5 Cabriolet and had a trust fund the size of the universe. I could’ve gone to Hawaii with them, but they told me it’d be easier for them if I just stayed home and out of their way.

I stood and smiled when Logan parked behind my car. He walked up my steps and put his hand on my lower back as we headed into my house. In the kitchen, I pulled out two Cokes, handing one to him.

He hopped on the counter and crooked his finger at me. “Come here, Sexy.”

I took a sip of my Coke and stood between his legs. He cupped the back of my head and kissed the top of it before lifting my chin so that I was looking up at him.

“You okay now?” I asked, taking his hand and kissing his palm before lacing my fingers through his.

“I would be if my dad weren’t freaking out so bad. Truth is, I’m actually okay with how things turned out. I wanted that position because my dad thought it’d look good to show the scouts my talent elsewhere besides pitching. He wants this so bad for me, Sam.” “I know he does, and I know it’s important to you too, whether you want to admit it or not. Maybe you can talk to Jenks. Maybe he’ll change his mind.”

He took a drink of his Coke and shrugged. “Doubtful. This Elliot guy is a total loner. He comes to practice and plays damn good but talks to no one.

I don’t like him.”

“Is he in any of your classes? I haven’t seen him in any of mine.”

“English, but he’s in two of Wyatt’s classes. Wyatt said the teachers are disgustingly sweet to him and bend over backwards to make sure he’s ‘okay.’

Whatever the hell that means.”

Summer Seventeen & You

~ 15 ~

I scrunched my nose. “Wonder why?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care. Let’s stop talking about him and go watch a movie or something.”

“Okay... but...”

He raised a brow. “But what?”

I grinned and started backing up slowly. “Only if you can catch me!” I shrieked and burst into laughter as I took off running only to have Logan catch me at the top of the stairs.

My head fell back against his arm as I laughed some more.

“Now, that I’ve caught you, what do we do now?” His lips trailed my neck and jawline.

“Anything you want.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” His mouth on mine silenced my laughter.

Chapter Two

I

sat on the floor painting my toenails a light shade of blue, listening to Quinn complain about having nothing to wear to the party tonight. This is how our Friday nights were always spent. She would be digging through my closet, whining over her clothes sucking, and how I didn’t have anything new. I smiled as I listened to her rant.

“You would think a girl with her very own credit card would shop more, but noooo, she actually listens to her parents and only uses it for ‘emergencies.’” She scowled at me over her shoulder before turning back to my closet to chuck out more clothes that didn’t please her.

I laughed and shook my head, wiping some paint off the side of my pinky toe. “Maybe you need to calm down. It’s just a party at my house with the same people we see every day. You act like you’re about to walk the red carpet or something.”

She found a black dress and held it to her body, looking at herself in the mirror. “I just want to look hot for Wyatt. You need to talk to him for me. He’s your cousin, and he actually listens to you.”

I put the lid on the polish and stood. “Yeah, regarding other things besides girls. You know I stay out of that stuff, Quinn. The last time I tried to play the hook-up game, I failed, and now those two people don’t even talk to each other at all. I’m bad luck or something.”

Summer Seventeen & You

~ 17 ~

She laid the dress on my bed and laughed as she walked over to my window, then looked across the street and frowned. “Ummm, what is lonerboy doing at college-hottie’s house?”

I hurried over and planted my face against the window with Quinn. My mouth fell open. “Why is he at Zach’s?”

Zach was the hot college guy who lived across the street. Every once in awhile, he’d show up at my parties, and sometimes we’d be lucky enough to be invited to one of the college parties at his house.

“A bag? What the hell, Sam? He has a car full of shit!”

I scrunched my nose and thought for a second. “Ummm, Quinn?”

We both backed up when Elliot looked up at my window. We both started cracking up as I pulled the curtains shut. We fell back on my bed and continued to laugh until I remembered that I was going to say something to Quinn before we were caught spying.

“So, what I was going to say was that Shaw is Elliot’s last name.”

“And?” Quinn turned her head to look at me, and her eyes widened. “Oh. My. Gosh. Shaw!”

I nodded. “Shaw is Zach’s last name, too.”

“College-hottie is related to Elliot? That would explain Elliot’s good looks, then.”

I smiled and nodded. “Guess so. Logan is gonna hate this.”

Quinn sat up and huffed. “Yeah...we should finish getting ready. But only after you invite Elliot.”

“What? Logan would be so pissed! That guy came into our school like he owned the place and took Logan’s position!”

She rolled her eyes. “Cut the drama, Sam. Elliot was good, and the coach had to make the best decision for the team. Not for Logan or his rich and gorgeous dad.” She licked her lips and wiggled her brows at me. “I’d totally let him-” I shoved her shoulder and shrieked. “Ewww! You’re gross, Quinn!”

She burst into laughter and hopped off the bed. “I’m going to go invite Elliot!”

~ 18 ~

I jumped off the bed and ran for the door to stop her, but she beat me out. I chased her down the stairs and out the door until we reached the front lawn. Zach and Elliot stopped taking bags from his trunk to look at us.

“Let me guess, a spider?” Zach said through laughter.

Quinn started twirling her hair and giggled. She was terrible at flirting.

“Yeah, in Sam’s bed. A big one.”

A hint of a smile fell on Elliot’s lips. Brown eyes. He has brown eyes. I looked at my bare feet. Why did I just make a mental note of his eye color?

I shook my head and held up my hands. “No spider in my bed. We were just…”

“Just?” Zach smiled as he checked out Quinn’s chest.

She giggled, and I laughed.

“Just going to invite you both to Sam’s party tonight,” Quinn said before I could cut her off.

I eyeballed her shin, thinking how great it’d be to kick her really hard.

“My little brother and I just might be there,” Zach answered.

Little brother?

“It’s at eight,” I said, looking at Elliot who’d started gathering as many bags as he could hold.

Zach looked at Elliot and then back at Quinn and me. “Maybe. We kind of have a lot going on right now.”

“Okay. No problem. Really. Just thought it would be the nice and neighborly thing to do.”

Quinn rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Sam just really wants to have a hot, steamy college boy—” I grabbed Quinn’s arm before she could say more, and we both laughed as we hurried back inside.

By the look on Elliot’s face, he was anything but interested in my party tonight, and that was a good thing. Logan would be pissed if he knew I had invited him, and I wouldn’t blame him, even if it was all Quinn’s fault.

“I’m getting in the shower. Oh, and you’re dead if Logan gets pissed,” I said before going up the stairs.

Summer Seventeen & You

~ 19 ~

I NEVER EXPECTED Zach and Elliot to show up, so when they did, I was completely shocked. I stood in the doorway, staring at them like they had six heads.

“Are you going to let us in or…” Elliot’s smile was nothing less than perfection. I hadn’t seen him without a ball cap on until now. His light brown hair was cut short and lightly gelled to create the perfect mess.

“Sorry, I was just shocked you both actually showed up. Come on in.”

I felt a hand on my lower back and closed my eyes. Logan. He was going to be majorly pissed. I moved to the side and let them in.

I watched them walk toward the kitchen and then looked at Logan.

“You’re mad.”

He smiled and shook his head. “No, I’m not. Quinn already told me she invited them, and I’m glad she did. Keep your friends close and enemies closer, right?” He winked and kissed my cheek.

I smiled a little and nodded. “Yeah.”

I followed Logan to the back patio where everyone was daring each other to jump in the pool that hadn’t been cleaned up for summer, yet. I squealed when Wyatt picked me up and threw me over his shoulders. I pounded my fists against his back, begging him not to throw me into the grimy water. He threw me in anyway.

I came up spluttering and laughing. I screamed when I felt hands on my ankles and held my breath as I was pulled under. When I came back up, I saw Logan and Wyatt cracking up. I splashed them and then swam to the ladder. I climbed out and looked at my black shorts and white tank top clinging to my skin. I bit my lip and smiled at Logan who was pulling off his shirt and wringing out the water.

The music was turned up, and everyone started jumping into the nasty pool. I laughed and reached for the towel Wyatt was bringing me. “Thanks, Cuz. For the towel, not the bath in slime.”

He chuckled and looked down at his wet clothes. “I ruined my phone, but it was so worth it.” I looked over at Quinn and saw her talking to Elliot.

She was being way too nice. Wyatt noticed and nudged my shoulder lightly. “I heard you invited him.”

“It’s Quinn’s fault.”

~ 20 ~

“Logan said he lives across the street now?”

I nodded and wrapped the towel around my shoulders. “Yeah, with Zach. Apparently, they are brothers. I just wonder why I’ve never seen Elliot there before.”

“Who knows?” Wyatt grabbed a beer out of the cooler next to us. “Have I said lately that I’m glad my aunt and uncle stay gone?”

“Once or twice.” I grabbed my own beer and smiled when Logan came over. He kissed me before I could take a drink. “Hey,” I whispered against his lips.

“Wanna go upstairs and get cleaned up?” he whispered next to my ear.

“Duh.” Wyatt laughed and shook his head. “Be safe. I don’t need my cousin getting preggo!”

My mouth fell open, and I punched his shoulder. “You’re one to talk!

Quinn tells me everything. Don’t forget that!”

He smiled against the rim of his beer and took a drink without responding.

On our way in, we passed Quinn and Elliot. Logan bumped his shoulder, purposefully making Elliot spill whatever was in his cup. Logan laughed, but Elliot didn’t do anything. Logan waited for him to retaliate, but he just stared at Logan with no emotion.

“Dammit, Logan, don’t be such a dick!” Quinn snapped.

“It was an accident,” Logan slurred. His alcohol was kicking in.

I looped my arm in Logan’s. “Come on.” I looked at Elliot over my shoulder before walking inside and up the stairs.

SARA DANIELL IS A wife and mother who spends her days teaching children and her nights loving her family, and finding time to immerse herself into her two creative passions. In her free time she not only writes unique and amazing stories, she also takes breathtaking pictures that captures her creative nature in color just like her writings capture her creative nature in print. She is an amazing woman who loves life and people.