“Your love story is different though,” I said in almost a whisper.

I thought my parents’ love story was one of a kind.

I’d figured out that all guys just wanted one thing. I’d had a crush on Nelson Wells for so long, and once he’d asked me out, I’d thought I was in heaven. Of course, it was right before we’d moved. Nelson and I had gone to see a movie with a bunch of friends. When he’d started sliding his hand up my dress, I’d quickly learned his idea of true love was nothing like mine.

Jerk. He’s lucky I never told my father about what he tried.

My mother gave me a very serious look. “Why do you say that, Emma Rose?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. It just seems your love with Daddy is one of a kind.”

“Your father and I have a true love, a strong and wonderful love.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “You do. I know this. It’s just…well, it seems like all boys are just interested in making out.”

My mother put her hand up to her chest and let out a gasp. She quickly looked around and then back at me. “Emma Rose! Do not let your father hear you say that. If you want to have somewhat of a normal life, don’t ever tell him that, or he will never allow you to even think of dating.”

I let out a laugh as my father walked into the kitchen.

“Hello, my two beautiful loves. Maria, my love, I missed you.” He kissed my mother first on the lips, and then he reached across and kissed me on the forehead.

I loved that my parents showed affection in front of me. My father wasn’t afraid to take my mother into his arms and passionately kiss her. That was what I wanted—someone to passionately love me and not just in a sexual way. I wanted to be romanced. I wanted to be swept off my feet. I wanted to feel like I was walking on a cloud.

I’d felt that way when Garrett Mathews smiled that stupid crooked smile at me. My heart had melted and then slammed over and over in my chest. I closed my eyes and could picture him perfectly. He’d tried to play it cool, but I’d seen the way his eyes couldn’t get enough of me. It’d caused a sensation in my lower stomach that I’d never felt before. It had felt so strong that I almost needed to touch myself to ease it. I’d told Margie about it after we left the drugstore. She’d told me that a boy she really liked affected her the same way, and when she’d been alone, she had given herself an orgasm with her hand. The thought of it had intrigued me more than I wanted to admit.

Then, there was the way Billy had talked to me. He hadn’t ignored me like Garrett had when he was talking to Margie the whole time. Billy was handsome and funny. Something about him had made me smile, but I hadn’t gotten the same feeling I had when I looked at Garrett…or talked to Garrett…or thought about Garrett.

There goes that feeling.

“You are off in a faraway land, Emma.”

I snapped my eyes open to my father’s voice. “What?”

He raised his eyebrow and looked at me.

“I mean, excuse me?” I jumped up and began helping my mother with dinner.

My father chuckled. “Ladies, do you need any help?”

My mother smiled and shook her head. “Go relax. It’s not often you are home early.”

As my father turned to leave, I mustered up the courage and got ready to give him my puppy-dog eyes. “Daddy?”

He turned around and looked at me.

“Margie is going to the drive-in this evening with a bunch of her friends. Girls and boys will be there. They’ve invited me to go along, and I’d really like to, so I can make new friends and all.”

My father smiled and nodded his head as he glanced over at my mother. “I don’t have a problem with it since they are Margie’s friends. Let’s keep it to an early evening though. No staying out too late. Your mother and I have to head to the country tomorrow. Some friends of hers have invited us out to welcome your mother home and to introduce me to some other folks. I think it’s their way of getting to know the doc.”

I wanted to jump up and down. I was so happy. My father was usually much stricter, but I was guessing that he didn’t mind because I’d mentioned Margie would be there.

I nodded my head. “Yes, Daddy. I won’t be out too late. Margie is picking me up in about two hours.”

My father smiled. Then, he turned and headed into the living room. I peeked back toward my mother.

She was smiling at me. “By that smile on your face, I’m going to guess that this has something to do with a certain young man with the last name of Mathews?”

I felt the blush on my cheeks as I quickly looked away. “Nope. I actually kind of like this guy named Billy. At least he talked to me while Mr. Mathews talked to Margie. Margie said they are best friends, but clearly, I think he likes her.” I tried to sound convincing, but I had a feeling I failed.

“So, this Billy…you like him then?” Mother asked as she dropped the beef in the pan.

The sizzling sound caused me to look at the pan and then back at her.

Do I really like Billy? He is no Garrett Mathews. I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. He’s okay. I just really want to hang out and meet some new friends. The last thing I want to do is get involved with a boy. I just want to focus on my last year of high school and get ready for college.”

My mother smiled. “I like your thinking. Schoolwork first. You will have plenty of time to date.”

I nodded my head and noticed the uneasy feeling moving through my body. I pushed it aside as I continued helping my mother with dinner.

The moment I got out of Margie’s car, I started scanning the whole area. We had stopped and picked up Margie’s friend Peggy on the way. Now, Peggy and Anna were whispering about some boy who had walked by. Anna was already making plans to sneak off with him.

“Of course, if I happen to get lucky with Garrett again, I won’t need that cowboy.”

I spun around and looked at her. “Get lucky with Garrett?” I asked.

Anna gave me a wicked grin. “Yeah, you know, have sex, do the deed, swap spit…and other bodily fluids.”

“Knock it off, Anna. That’s gross, and we don’t want to hear about how you have a problem with keeping your legs together,” Margie said as she hooked her arm with mine and started walking.

“Eat your heart out, Marg. Your cherry won’t ever get popped at the rate you’re going,” Anna called out.

Peggy started laughing.