A Shot with Prince Charming: A YA Romance Prequel Novella Read online

  You really see me.

  I swallowed. This was coming out all wrong.

  She tilted her head to the side as she studied me. “I thought we’d agreed that I was blind.”

  I laughed. “We agreed you have a blindspot when it comes to seeing past what people want you to see.” I’d given this more than a little thought ever since we left the bouncy castle, and so many things about Ruby fell into place. “But I also think that’s because you’re not like that, so you don’t recognize it in others. You don’t put up pretenses or pretend to be anything that you’re not. And that’s...amazing.”

  “Amazing, huh?” She gave me this little smile that made my insides clench.

  I nodded, moving closer and loving the way her lips parted as the space between us narrowed to inches. “Amazing,” I repeated.

  Her eyes were deliciously dazed, her lips parting as she sucked in a deep breath. Suddenly, what she’d said before came back to me with a jolt. “Wait, have you really never been kissed before?”

  Her lips clamped shut as she shook her head. There was that blush again, so sweet and so vulnerable.

  “I only told you that because...because…” Her throat worked as she swallowed. “I kind of overreacted to the whole Prince Charming kissing Cinderella thing, and I didn’t want you to think it was because of you. It was me. I didn’t want my first kiss to go down in history as part of some weird children’s cosplay.” She bit her lip. “You know?”

  I nodded, and for a second, my chest was too tight to speak. “Then I’m glad I didn’t kiss you in the bouncy castle.”

  Her eyes widened, and I caught a flash of hurt. Oh crap, that came out wrong. I moved even closer and rested my hands on her waist. She blinked a few times but didn’t pull away.

  “I don’t want to disrespect your hiding place or anything, but I’m glad your first kiss won’t be in a bouncy castle, either. That seems…not very romantic.”

  Her sudden grin was blinding and so freakin’ sweet it hurt. “I don’t know. Prince Charming kissing me in a castle? It’s kind of like a real life fairytale.”

  “It was a castle that wiggled and smelled like plastic,” I reminded her.

  She laughed, and I wasn’t Prince Charming. I was the king of the freakin’ world.

  Her smile faded, and her gaze grew softer. “Actually, this whole thing feels like a fairy tale.”

  I arched a brow. “In a good way?”

  She nodded quickly. “Yeah, but also...maybe a little too good to be true?”

  “Yeah, I get that.” I was definitely feeling the same way. Like we were in some weird new world. A weird new world where it was just the two of us, just this thing that was between us, growing and spreading with each heartbeat.

  “Not that I’m complaining,” she added.

  I grinned. “Good. Glad to hear it. Because Ruby…?” My heart was in my throat like it was trying to make an escape.

  “Yeah?” Her voice was breathless and sweet.

  I leaned down closer. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

  Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she blinked up at me. “Oh.”

  I took that ‘oh’ to be an ‘okay.’

  Her eyes closed, and my smile grew as I leaned down to finally, finally kiss the girl of my dreams.

  Seven

  Ruby

  Up until that moment, I’d thought I’d known what a kiss would be like.

  It wasn’t too difficult to imagine what lips crushing together would feel like, and my imagination was nothing if not vivid. So, yeah, I thought I knew what was coming.

  I was wrong.

  In reality, a kiss was something entirely different and totally new. Warmth spread through my veins like honey at the first touch. His lips were warm and firm, gentle and patient, hungry and teasing all at once. His hands moved from my waist to my back as he drew me in closer so the world came down to just the two of us.

  It was heady. It was delicious. And it was...well, it was like something out of a fairy tale.

  It was official. My imagination might have been vivid, but it totally underestimated Jackson Messner.

  He pulled back after what could have been hours or seconds—time had lost all meaning the moment Jackson’s lips touched mine. All I knew was, I could have happily kept kissing him all night long.

  “So?” I could feel that smile I loved so much curving his lips as he trailed kisses on my cheeks before dropping a light kiss on the tip of my nose like putting a cherry on top of the kissing sundae. “What do you think of kissing?”

  “I’m a big fan.” I opened my eyes to find him gazing down at me with such warmth, such affection...and just a hint of laughter.

  Would I ever take this for granted? If he and I were to kiss like this often—look at me, getting ahead of myself—would it always feel like Christmas morning when I opened my eyes to see that look?

  “Does that mean…?” His gaze flickered as if he was trying to read something in my eyes. “Does that mean you feel the same way too?”

  I stared at him in stunned silence because...was he kidding? “Are you kidding?”

  Yeah. Not the best response. I realized that the moment he started to pull away. I latched my hands tighter around his neck and held on. “No, I meant...you can’t be serious. Of course I like you.”

  His eyes lit up with a glow that made my heart leap in his direction. “Of course? There’s no ‘of course’ about it.” There was laughter in his voice as he added, “I was starting to think maybe I’d done something to offend you because you always seemed like you were trying to avoid me.”

  Heat crept up my neck at the totally accurate assessment. “Probably because I was trying to avoid you. But,” I added quickly. “Not because I didn’t like you. Because I did.”

  Understanding gave that glow in his eyes a slightly cocky glow.

  Good thing cocky looked amazing on him.

  “So you were nervous?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Yeah. Nervous and intimidated and, as we’ve already established, completely blind to the fact that you had, um...feelings.”

  He chuckled softly at my awkward ending. I supposed it was a good thing he found my weirdness to be compelling. Who would have thought that what I’d thought was my fatal flaw was actually attractive to someone?

  The thought made me grin, and he pulled back with a swift inhale that startled me.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He shook his head, looking slightly dazed. “Nothing, just...you ought to give a guy warning before you smile like that. It’s freakin’ incredible.”

  His compliment was like kindling to the fire inside me that had started the very moment he’d admitted that he liked me. This warmth in my chest burned so bright it was hard to breathe. It was impossible to think. And coherent sentences? Forget about it.

  I went up on my tiptoes instead and tried my hand at initiating a kiss.

  By the way he growled and held me tight, I’d say my first attempt at starting a kiss was a success. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss. I wasn’t sure how long we were out there—exploring, tasting, exchanging little confessions in between. He told me how he was pretty sure he’d fallen head over heels the very first time we met when I snapped a picture of him before saying hello. I told him how I’d taken on the sports photography for the school paper just because it gave me an excuse to watch him play. He reminded me that no one actually needed an excuse to attend football games. We agreed to disagree on that point.

  At some point, we were interrupted by a handful of friends who decided to come outside and harass us.

  Jackson very sweetly tucked me behind him and took the brunt of the teasing before we all found seats around the table on that inviting back deck.

  “Enjoy it, kids,” Savannah said with a sigh as she sank back in her cushioned seat and tipped her head back to gaze up at the night sky. “Summer’s almost over, and school’s about to begin.”

  “Must you rain on my pa
rade?” Callie said with a sigh. It was no secret that Callie struggled in school. Not in the popularity department like me, but with the actual school part.

  “You two are so lucky you’re out of here,” Flynn said to me and Jackson.

  We shared a grin that was admittedly goofy. I’d been excited to head off to college before, but now, knowing that Jackson would be in the same city and that this was really happening…?

  “What are you thinking?” Jackson asked, his expression so openly affectionate that Callie sighed and Savannah groaned.

  “Just that…” I paused. Everyone was listening. “Just that I wish I’d started coming to these after-birthday party parties earlier.”

  He reached for my hand under the table and squeezed.

  “Check it out, Flynn,” Callie teased. “You’re the last loner standing.”

  Flynn shot me a lopsided grin as he clapped a hand over his heart. “Et tu, Brute?”

  Willow laughed. “Did Flynn Masterson really just crack a joke?”

  Savannah reached over to mess up Flynn’s permanently mussed hair. “Take a picture, Ruby. We need to capture this moment.”

  He smirked down into his drink.

  “Well, I’m happy for you guys,” Willow said to me and Jackson. “But we’re going to miss you.”

  Callie nodded. Even Savannah and Flynn looked a little bummed. They were genuine. I was going to be missed. And that was kind of...nice.

  It was better than nice.

  To think, all this time I’d thought I hadn’t fit in and here was a group of people who were going to miss me when I was gone.

  And I’d miss them too.

  I linked my fingers through Jackson’s, and he rested our entwined hands on his knee.

  “It’s just not going to be the same next year,” Willow said with a sigh.

  “Yeah, we’ll be seniors.” Callie grinned. “Finally.”

  “But without Kara and Edgar, or Jackson and Ruby,” Willow continued.

  She looked so sad that I leaned over to pat her arm. “We’ll all be back during breaks.”

  “Yeah, but it’s still not the same.”

  “No, it’s better,” Savannah said. Her grin held more than a little mischief. “We’ll be seniors. Plus, we’ll get the best roles in the troupe, so more money for us.”

  I watched Savannah closely. She’d always seemed so confident. So enviably sure of herself and her worth.

  What Jackson had said earlier came back to me about my blindspot when it came to people and the masks they wore. Now I had to wonder just how much had I been missing right in front of my face?

  Savannah caught me staring, and whatever she saw in my expression had her arching her brows. “Don’t you start getting all weepy on us too, Ruby.”

  Jackson turned to me with concern. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, of course.” The others started talking amongst themselves, and I leaned forward. He met me in the middle. “I’m better than okay.”

  He grinned as he reached out to cup the back of my head and kiss me soundly.

  “Ugh, okay. Enough, you two,” Savannah said.

  “Give ‘em a break. They’re in looove,” Callie said, her tone ridiculously sing-songy and childish.

  My cheeks were on fire. No one had said the L-word. But neither of us were protesting either.

  Was this what love was? Was this how it started? I pressed my lips together to hold back a squeal of sheer happiness.

  For the record, I’d never squealed before in my life, as far as I knew. Out of happiness or any other emotion.

  “So, how’s this going to work?” Willow asked.

  We all looked to her to explain. Willow had a tendency to speak as though everyone knew what she was thinking.

  No one ever did.

  “How’s what going to work?” Flynn asked for all of us.

  “We lost half the troupe this year,” she said. “And with college prep and all the senior year activities for the rest of us, how’s the Princess Troupe going to manage?”

  Jackson smiled. “Don’t worry, Willow, my mom’s got it handled. She’s been setting up interviews and auditions. And she’s already hired some girl who’s moving to town next week.”

  “Ooh, a new girl.” Callie wiggled in her seat. The girl loved her gossip. “What’s her deal?”

  Jackson shrugged. “No idea. But apparently she has some acting experience, so she’s as good as hired. She’s already lined up for the Garners’ annual back-to-school party.”

  Everyone groaned. The Garners’ were richer than rich, but they had the worst taste imaginable and even worse attitudes. They expected a full-scale Broadway production whenever they hired the troupe, and their back-to-school party was always some tacky mashup of every children’s book character known to man.

  Savannah’s head fell back with what could only be called a cackle. “A newbie. Sweet.” She looked over to Callie. “Finally, we’re moving up and some new chick can take the crappy roles.”

  “Yesss,” Callie moaned. “Mrs. Messner had better make her Dorothy. I’m not doing the Wizard of Oz routine again this year. I refuse.”

  “Dorothy does get the worst tips,” Willow agreed.

  I winced. “Poor thing.”

  Callie’s eyes widened in innocence. “What? We’ve earned our seniority. It’s time somebody else sings the freakin’ rainbow song.” She scowled as she reached for a bag of chips in the middle of the table and muttered, “Let her deal with the kids wailing because they’re bored.”

  “No, I know you’ve earned it,” I said quickly. And they had. These three had been with the troupe for years now, and no one could deny they’d paid their dues. “I just meant ‘poor girl’ because she’ll be new.”

  They all stared at me blankly. Of course. All of these girls had lived here their whole lives, as far as I knew. They had no idea how hard it could be. “Trust me, guys. Being the new girl isn’t fun.”

  Jackson squeezed my hand again and ran a thumb over the back of my hand like he could comfort me now for all the pain and heartache I’d gone through two years ago.

  Too little too late, obviously, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. I shot him a grateful look and enjoyed the crazy electricity that shot through me at the simple touch.

  “Don’t worry, Ruby,” Willow said with a kind smile. “We’ll make sure this new girl feels included.”

  Callie nodded vigorously. “Oh yeah. Of course!”

  Savannah smirked when I looked her way. “What do you want me to do? Hold her hand on the first day of school?”

  I laughed, and Jackson rolled his eyes. “You’re such a sweetheart, Savannah.”

  Savannah tossed her head back with a laugh. “I know, right?”

  I turned my gaze to Flynn, and his brows hitched up slightly. “What? Why are you looking at me?” I didn’t say anything, and he slouched down in his seat. “I promise to be friendly, okay?”

  We all stared at him and his obvious lie. He shrugged. “Fine. I won’t be outright mean. But if she’s got an attitude, I reserve the right to ignore her entirely like I do everyone else I don’t like.”

  I sighed. “Fair enough.”

  Flynn grumbled something teasingly about liking me better when I was afraid of him. I exchanged a quick look with Jackson, who was grinning at me. “This is new. A bossy Ruby.” He tugged me closer and whispered, “I like it.”

  I laughed. “I’m not being bossy, just concerned for a fellow newcomer.”

  “You’re not a newcomer,” Callie said, her tone offended on my behalf.

  “Not anymore,” Willow added.

  “We’ll miss you, Ruby,” Savannah said with a grin. “And your photos.” She winked. “You make us look good.”

  “Yeah, Mrs. Messner is going to have to find a new photographer,” Callie said. “I refuse to let your mother chop my head off in photos again.”

  We all laughed as one by one we told our favorite stories from disastrous birthday parties. As th
e night wound down and our stories faded away with exhaustion, Willow sighed. “You guys, I’m gonna miss this.” She looked around the table at all of us. “I feel like this is the end of an era.”

  Jackson had scooted over so he could wrap an arm around my shoulders, and now he held me tight. “Nah. I think you’ve got it wrong, Willow.” He turned his face down to give me that sweet, loveable smile I adored so much. “This is just the beginning.”

  I leaned in to kiss him gently and whispered so only he could hear, “I think this is the start of something great.”

  Thanks for reading! Come hang out with Maggie and talk all things teen romance in her Facebook reader group and/or snag a free, exclusive novella when you join her newsletter!

  Be sure to check out Flynn’s story next in No Place Like Homecoming. Turn the page for a sneak peek…

  Play the part. Win the guy. Be back in time for homecoming.

  I've been banished to hell. Well, my aunt's small town in the middle of nowhere might as well be hell. There's nothing to do, the people are lame, and the only part-time job my aunt can find for me is with the Princess Troupe—a company that hires girls like me to play the part of beloved princesses and children's book characters for spoiled brats' birthday parties.

  They've cast me as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Oh joy.

  The worst part of all? My parents sent me away 'for my own good' right when I'd finally scored a date to the dance with my dream guy. But I'm not about to let that stand. I'll follow that stupid yellow brick road right home in time for homecoming.

  The plan is simple. Earn some cash and convince the school's bad boy loner that he wants to give me a ride....thousands of miles away. Yeah, it's a big ask. Especially since it's hate at first sight for both of us. But trust me. I got this. I've been playing people for years. If I can play Dorothy from Kansas for a bunch of little twerps, I can absolutely convince Flynn that I'm his dream girl. It's all one big act. Or at least it is...until it isn't.