The Secret Life of a Dream Girl (Creative HeArts) by Tracy Deebs Page B

doing is making me freak out more.”
    “Don’t freak out,” Jacen told him as they started to circle again. “We can still fix this.”
    “And how exactly are we going to fix it?”
    “Easy. You need to make sure she doesn’t get on that plane with Prince Finn. Otherwise you’re not the only one who’s going to get screwed. ”
    Like he didn’t already know that? And like the thought of Dahlia with Finn didn’t turn him crazy? “You make it sound so easy. Just stop her from getting on a plane.”
    “It is easy.”
    “Oh, yeah? What am I supposed to do?”
    Jacen looked at him like he was an idiot. “Seduce her, obviously.”
    “Seriously? That’s your big plan? For me to seduce her?” Which was like wooing, right? Just with more sex.
    “Why do you look so shocked? It’s simple, elegant, and it’s not like she’ll be the first girl you’ve gotten into bed.”
    “No, but—”
    “But what?”
    But she would be the first who made him feel this way. Not that there had been that many—only three since he lost his virginity freshman year. And he’d been in relationships with all three of them. But he’d never lain awake at night staring at his ceiling and going over every word they’d said to him. He’d never freaked out at the thought of blowing his shot with any of them. And he sure as hell had never lost his confidence with any of them so badly that he was getting advice from not one, but two people on how to win her over.
    The fact that one of the people he was getting advice from was also the girl he wanted to win was an irony he had no interest in discussing.
    “Nothing,” he told Jacen after a minute. “I’m just being an idiot.”
    “Yeah, you are.”
    They didn’t say anything else about Dahlia as they finished working through the blocking. But right before the bell rang, Keegan asked, “So you think I should just suck it up and ask her out?”
    Jacen gave him a no-shit stare. “Yeah. Obviously.”
    “Okay. I’m going to do it.”
    “You’re going to do it?”
    “You don’t have to sound so skeptical, you know.”
    “Sorry, but you’ve been kind of a wimp about this whole thing. I think I can be forgiven for doubting you.” But he clapped Keegan on the back anyway. “So when are you going to ask her out?”
    “Right now.”
    “Right now? Like right now?”
    “Yeah. I figure I’ll catch her near her car in the parking lot, and I’ll do it then.”
    “Do you even know what she drives?”
    “Of course I do. She drives a sapphire-blue BMW.” He only knew because she parked next to him once, but still. It counted.
    “Wow.” Jacen whistled. “Nice car. And, by the way, stalk much?”
    Keegan flipped him off. “Like you have room to talk? I’m pretty sure you knew Himesh’s underwear size before you ever got up the nerve to make a play for him.”
    “Maybe, but look how well that worked out.” Jacen preened. “Fortune favors the bold, man. So be bold.”
    “I’m going to try.”
    “Don’t try, do.” The bell rang just as he finished speaking. “And do fast, otherwise you’re going to lose your shot.”
    He gave Keegan a shove toward the parking lot at the front of the school.
    Because he was already outside, he made it to Dahlia’s car before she did. Of course, it helped that he’d spotted it when they’d been walking to his car at lunch. Not that he’d been actively looking for it or anything. He wasn’t a stalker, no matter what Jacen thought.
    Thankfully, he had to wait only a couple of minutes before Dahlia showed up—otherwise he might have lost his nerve. Plus, she smiled as soon as she saw him, which was also a good sign. Or so he told himself.
    “So, how’d the rest of your day go?” she asked as she pulled her keys out of her backpack. “Did you decide what present you’re going to get Dream Girl?”
    “I did.” He forced a grin despite the way his stomach was churning. Seriously, who knew asking a girl out could be this freaking