Page 55 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

Billie lets out a snort before slapping a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh—”

“Just you wait until it’s you who’s dating,” I tease. “I’ll make sure Walker is oh-so-conveniently there each time, watching you like a grump…”

“Nope.” She shakes her head seriously. “Not happening.”

“We’ll wear her down yet,” Tally says, wrapping an arm around Billie.

The door jangles again and I brace myself, fluttering my eyes closed in a silent prayer—please God, don’t let it be the Liberty Ladies.

“Oh, look how handsome he looks,” my mom croons.

I open my eyes, and when I spot the man walking toward me, my face splits into a big goofy grin.

“What are you wearing?” I say through a laugh.

Monty looks hot. His T-shirt hugs his chest and his beautiful tattoos are on display. The ripped jeans and black Vans almost make him look too cool for me. And of course those glasses I’m a total sucker for, and he’s wearing an indecent smirk that makes his green eyes twinkle in delight.

But none of that is why I’m laughing. It’s because the shirt that hugs his body so perfectly reads, I like big books and I cannot lie. Monty tugs on the front of it and grins.

“Remember how you said, ‘Create the date that the person you’re seeing will want to go on’? Well, this is me knowing my audience.”

I snort.

“Wait, why are you telling him how to date?” Rosie asks.

My cheeks flush, but before I can even fathom a lie, Monty chooses the truth. “Pen is helping me write a book with romance in it.”

“Oh, that’s so smart. Penny knows everything about romance,” Tally declares.

“She does,” he agrees. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a date to get to.”

“Don’t have her back too late!” Tally calls as my mother shushes her.

“Keep her out all night long!” Rosie cackles.

“Oh my God,” Billie says, incredulous. She’s going to have to grow a thicker skin if she’s working for Rosie.

“Bye, girls!” I wave at them and press a kiss to my mom’s cheek.

She wraps a quick arm around me. “Proud of you for taking a chance again, Penny.”

I force a smile—I hate lying to Mom. But when Monty holds out a hand to me, leaning in and whispering, “You look gorgeous, Xuxuzinho,” this doesn’t feel like a lie at all.

Outside, Monty guides me to his father’s old blue Volkswagen.

“Well, this is a blast from the last decade,” I mumble as he opens the passenger door for me.

He chuckles. “Blast from the past, you mean.”

I roll my eyes as I settle in the car and wait for him to take the seat beside me. He starts the engine up and grabs my hand, squeezing it tight.

“I’m so excited for today. Thank you for coming with me.”

I expect him to pull away as we drive, but instead, he guides my hand into his lap and holds it there. It’s not exactly comfortable because I have to lean across him to really reach, but there’s absolutely no way I’m telling him that. I’d lose feeling in my arm before I gave up the chance to have Monty holding my hand. Sitting in this car, holding hands with this man, is my teenage fantasy come to life.

Of course, said fantasy would probably also include kissing and some seriously heavy petting. But there’s still time for that—in the name of research, obviously.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I say, scooching closer to Monty in an attempt to make this position comfier. “So where are we going?”