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  He huffed a laugh. “I know.”

  “I just wish we would’ve figured it out sooner.”

  “It certainly would’ve saved us some heartache,” he admitted.

  “I’m just sorry we wasted so much time. We missed the homecoming dance, and in a few months, you’ll be at Harvard.”

  He gave me a bashful smile. “Well, I’m glad you feel strongly about making up for lost time, because I’m not going to Harvard.”

  “What?”

  “I sorta switched to Columbia to be closer to you.”

  “What? Lucas! When?”

  “A few weeks ago.”

  “We weren’t even speaking a few weeks ago.”

  “I know. I guess I didn’t want to give up on the idea that we’d work it out.”

  “But Harvard is your dream!”

  He shook his head. “It was my parents’ dream.” He kissed me slowly. “You’re my dream, Casey.” Lucas smiled, leaving me breathless yet again. “Come on. I’ve got one more surprise,” he said pulling a pair of homecoming tickets out of his pocket.

  “But?”

  “Apparently Alex grabbed them.” He flashed a grin. “I think our best friends might be a pair of hopeless romantics.”

  I laughed. “Thank God for that!”

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Casey

  Lucas and I rushed onto the dance floor to celebrate with our best friends. Grant and Alex were practically glowing when they saw us walk in hand-in-hand. And my entire softball team gave us a round of applause.

  Even Archer congratulated us. He seemed to be doing just fine without Lexy thanks to the charms of a certain Texas drama queen. All in all, it was one of the best nights I’d ever had.

  I spent the rest of the evening dancing with my boyfriend, best friend, and teammates under the fake stars strung throughout the gym. I smiled when I looked up at them, realizing maybe I didn’t need to wish upon stars anymore. I was strong enough to make my own dreams come true. And this was just the beginning.

  Epilogue

  Casey

  One year later . . .

  I cheered my heart out when Lucas caught the game ending catch. Columbia was dominating and they owed much of their success to my incredible boyfriend!

  Lucas jogged to the pitcher’s mound and celebrated with his teammates, but as always, before long his eyes wandered to the stands, seeking me out. I waved as he tilted back his catcher’s mask. Spotting me, he pointed in my direction, kissed his fingers and pressed them to his heart. I did the same, feeling my love for him swell.

  Today was our one-year anniversary and I can safely say it’s been the best year of my life. Lucas and I have grown our relationship into an unshakable bond. Once we figured out it was us versus the world, there didn’t seem to be any problem we couldn’t conquer.

  College was the first obstacle we had to tackle. I missed seeing Lucas and our best friends, Alex and Grant, in the halls. But with my softball team tearing up the field it didn’t give me much time to focus on that. Plus, Lucas and I switched off visiting each other on the weekends. But that would be coming to an end soon. Thanks to my scholarship, I’d be starting at Columbia in the fall!

  Sometimes I still couldn’t believe it.

  When I think about how I’d almost missed out on this life—one where I’d fallen for the most incredible boy who was my friend, my future, my everything—I had to thank my lucky stars for second chances . . . and thirds . . . and fourths!

  I still didn’t feel the need to wish on stars anymore. But when I saw a shooting star, I always sent up a silent thank you to my mom and the universe for finally helping me and Lucas get the timing right.

  Lucas

  My phone buzzed in my pocket as I was walking out of the locker room. I grinned when I saw Grant’s goofy mug smiling back at me. I hit accept and his face popped onto my screen, the video call was grainy at first, but slowly came into focus to reveal the sunbaked Arizona stadium behind Grant’s face.

  “Hey buddy!” I greeted. “How’s it going? Did you guys get the W today?”

  “Of course!” he replied. “What about you?”

  “You know it!”

  “Good. I’m hoping we can keep this winning streak alive,” Grant said looking over his shoulder to where I could see Alex chatting to some of Grant’s teammates.

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “Is Casey with you?” Grant asked, ignoring my question.

  “She’s walking over right now,” I said, grinning as soon as I caught sight of her.

  I motioned her over, greeting her with a massive hug and kiss.

  “Guys!” Grant yelled interrupting our reunion. “Trying to do something important here, can you guys keep it in your pants for a minute?”

  “Hey, Grant,” Casey said waving into the phone. “Nice to see you, too.”

  “Good, you’re here.” Grant blew out a nervous breath and handed the phone to someone we couldn’t see. Then his face was back in the screen, his voice low. “I wanted you guys to be here, but I can’t wait another second, so this is gonna have to do.”

  Casey and I looked at each other, neither of us understanding his cryptic words. But as we watched him walk toward Alex and bend down on one knee it became crystal clear.

  “Omigod!” Casey gasped, squeezing my hand with trembling joy. “Is he proposing?”

  I laughed. “Yep, and it’s about time.”

  As I watched my best friend pop the question to his girlfriend in a stadium full of his teammates, pure joy flooded my chest. This day was long overdue. I’d always known they were meant to be, and I was of the belief when you find a good thing you make it yours.

  When Alex said yes, I cheered along with Casey and pumped my fist in the air. Nothing could make me happier than seeing Grant and Alex get engaged.

  Except for when it was me on bended knee in front of Casey.

  I swept her up in my arms and kissed her as she cried happy tears for our friends knowing that day would be here for us before I knew it. But I’d learned not to rush things. With Casey, I cherished every moment, knowing that we didn’t have to worry about the timing anymore. We made our own time and I planned on enjoying every single moment of it with the girl of my dreams.

  Tomboys Don’t Kiss The Quarterback

  HOW TO DATE A TOMBOY (BOOK 2)

  Tomboys Don't Wear Pink

  How To Date A Tomboy

  Christina Benjamin

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Copyright © 2020 by Christina Benjamin

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Crown Atlantic Publishing

  Version 1.1

  April 2020

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter One

  Marissa

  “I’m sorry, Marissa. I’d love to help you, but it comes down to scheduling. With the athletes in the gym and the cheerleaders using the auditorium we just can’t fit a fall play into the schedule.”

  “But if you could just talk to the cheerleaders,” I said, hoping Lexy wouldn’t be quite so rude to a member of the faculty as she had been to me. She certainly couldn’t call preppy Mrs. Baker a trashy tomboy.

  “I’m sorry, dear. It just isn’t going to happen this year.”

  “But I’m a senior. This is my last year for a great high school role.”

 
“Then I suggest you focus on preparing for the spring performance.”

  “But—”

  The dismissal bell rang, cutting me off. I wanted to stay and argue for an alternative solution to my new school’s lacking theater department, but I couldn’t afford to. I thanked Mrs. Baker for her time and hurried from her office in the music wing.

  As much as I wanted to park myself in front of her until we came up with a way to squeeze in one more performance, I knew when to pick my battles. And I couldn’t afford to let my stubborn streak delay the inevitable. I had places to be today.

  The soccer field!

  Today was my first official practice with the team and I didn’t want to be late.

  It was funny how much a change of scenery had changed my life.

  Moving from Texas to Pennsylvania had been another battle I’d fought and lost.

  I guess it wasn’t that bad. I mean, I missed my friends and all. I would’ve preferred to stay at my old school, putting on countless theater productions and planning graduation parties with my classmates, but if we’re talking about preferences, I’m pretty sure my mom would’ve preferred my dad had been faithful. We don’t always get what we want in life.

  It wasn’t the end of the world. Us Munns women didn’t live in the past. The future was now. And today was the only thing we had a chance at.

  Plus, my mom was the queen of making lemonade out of lemons. When my dad left her for his secretary, she didn’t even skip a beat. She packed us up and had me in a new school twelve states away before the ink even dried on the divorce papers.

  ‘When one door closes,’ I suppose . . .

  It was one of my mom’s favorite sayings and since I wasn’t the one who’d lost a twenty-year marriage to infidelity, I decided the least I could do was try and find a way to make the best of the situation. Yeah, I still pretty much hated my dad for cheating on my mom, blowing up our family and making me move across the country as a result, but I didn’t need to burden my mom with my feelings. She had enough to deal with.

  Instead, I did what I was good at. I buried my emotions and plastered on my stage smile.

  That’s why I probably seemed like the most well-adjusted new kid Northwood had ever seen. I showed up last year and dove in with both feet.

  Of course, it hadn’t been a seamless transition. Even though I’d been at my new school a year, at times I still felt like a fish out of water. In Texas, I knew exactly who I was. A beauty pageant queen with Broadway lights in her eyes. But it turned out moving to the middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania could change a gal’s perspectives.

  Don’t get me wrong, it’s still Broadway or bust for me, but I hated being idle and even more than that I craved friendship.

  I’d been at Northwood since my junior year and I still hadn’t been able to really find my niche. Last year I decided to try my hand at sports since it seemed to be all anyone at Northwood cared about. I joined the softball team and I found out I was actually pretty good. I enjoyed the fresh air and physical activity. I’d even made some friends, too. But once the season was over, we didn’t really see each other much.

  This year I wanted things to be different. It was my senior year and I was determined to make the most of it. So far it wasn’t turning out so well thanks to Northwood’s lacking theater program, but I was never one to put all my eggs in one basket. I decide to diversify and try a new sport. This year, I’d tried out for the soccer team. And I made it!

  I was shocked and elated when I found my name on the roster last week. It turned out embracing my inner tomboy was pretty fun. It kept me in shape and as they say, ‘all the world’s a stage’.

  Sports may not be my future, but I figured every new experience was just one more thing I could add to my acting repertoire. Plus, I might even make some more friends. But the added bonus was that I was hoping my new soccer skills might finally help me catch the eye of the boy I was obsessively crushing on.

  Miller Fields.

  Yes, even his name is dreamy.

  And yes, I’ve already written his last name next to mine about a million different ways and wouldn’t you know it always sounds like a match?

  I met Miller when I started at Northwood and though we’ve had four classes together in the past year, he still doesn’t know I exist. Which is kind of difficult on account of my big ol’ Texas personality. But that changes today.

  Today I make him notice me.

  Miller played soccer—not the deciding factor for me trying out for the team, but a definite bonus. The boys’ and girls’ teams train together so I knew making the team would give us a lot more time together and I was determined to make that work to my advantage.

  I pulled my mop of brown hair up into a ponytail as I rushed out of the music wing, ready to meet my destiny head on! I was more nervous than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. But thankfully, my acting skills came in handy on the playing field. I squared my shoulders and reminded myself this was just another role.

  Archer

  I held my breath, pressing my back against the cold cement block wall as I waited for them to rush by. I unclenched my fists and exhaled in relief once I could no longer hear them giggling and calling my name. When I was sure they were gone I let my head fall back against the wall with a thud.

  Why was this still happening?

  I wasn’t really sure what it was about me that made the girls of Northwood High turn into rabid hyenas, but I needed a solution.

  It was my senior year!

  I was done being chased like a piece of meat.

  It almost made me long for the old days, when I had a girlfriend and didn’t have to waste time fending off females. But then again, learning my girlfriend was the school mean girl and had basically been cheating on me the whole time wasn’t a win either.

  Last year, my long-time girlfriend, Lexy Bale, crushed my soul in the lunchroom for all to see. After that, I’d become some kind of prize. Girls chased after me like they were on an episode of The Bachelor, hoping to be the next in line to date me.

  I’d be flattered if they were even remotely interested in me as a person. But I’d learned from experience, these girls just wanted the glory that came with kissing the quarterback.

  It sucked.

  To say I had trust issues was an understatement. Not only had I been dumped by a girl I thought I loved, but I found out she’d just been using me as a piece of arm candy to keep her spot as head cheerleader. Even though I’d found out that just about everything between us had been a lie—well, at least on her part—it was still really hard to get over Lexy.

  Heartbreak is no joke.

  When I finally thought I was ready to get back out there, the first few girls I dated were just as shallow as Lexy had been. It really killed my inner romantic.

  I’d always been a pretty happy-go-lucky guy. But being burned so many times made me rethink my whole attitude. If I wanted to date in high school, my only option was to hide my nice guy persona to protect my heart. But acting like most of the Alpha hotheads on my football team didn’t appeal to me.

  So, I’d come to the conclusion that I was done with dating. All I wanted to do now was run out the clock and survive my senior year unscathed by the girls trying to claw their way into my orbit.

  Thankfully, I had football to focus on.

  Speaking of . . . I needed to get to practice or Coach was going to make me run laps. He seemed to be the only one at Northwood unimpressed by my full ride scholarship to play football at Rutgers next year.

  Sometimes I still couldn’t believe it was real. Football was all I’d ever wanted. And getting to play at Rutgers? Well it didn’t get any better. Thanks to my tutor, Casey, I’d gotten my grades up and earned a scholarship. I still pinched myself each morning to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

  I grinned as I stepped out from the shadowed hallway I’d ducked into. Hiding from a bunch of cannibalistic cheerleaders was a drag, but I’d be playing college ball this time next year. Every time
I thought about it my chest swelled with excitement.

  My head was in the clouds as I imagined calling plays at the collegiate level. That would make all of this fade away like some distant nightmare. I was still imagining how great my life would be when I slammed smack into a brunette tornado.

  Chapter Two

  Archer

  “I’m so sorry!” I said untangling myself from the long limbs I was most likely crushing.

  As I climbed to my feet and helped her up, panic speared me. My immediate reaction to tackling a random girl in the hall was intense fear. I’d probably hurt her. I’m not a small guy.

  At 6’5, 210 lbs. I was built to take a hit. And I’d learned how to deliver them, too. Though I tried to refrain from tackling people not on a football field. Especially unsuspecting girls.

  Thankfully, the pretty brunette seemed to be okay. But, upon realizing she was somehow unscathed, my heart began to pound as I wondered if this was just another scheme. It wouldn’t be the first time a girl had thrown herself in harm’s way to get my attention.

  I clenched my jaw, determined not to fall for it again. “Are you okay?” I asked leerily.

  She waved me off. “Oh, I’m fine. What about you? It would be just my luck to take out the star quarterback before the season even starts,” she said staring up at me with a pair of big brown eyes.

  Wait, I knew those eyes!

  “Marissa?”

  Marissa Munns was one of the few girls at Northwood who hadn’t tried to snare me after Lexy’s Dump-ageddon. Truthfully, when we’d first met, I’d thought maybe something would happen between me and Marissa. She was really nice, and she had the cutest southern accent. We’d even danced briefly at homecoming last year.