This slow song flows into the next, requiring no reaction from us. Around us, I see couples who are already tired of each other, going to look for snacks or sneaking off to drink. But I could stay where I am all night. Shane’s arms tighten on me, and he’s gazing down into my face like he could look at me forever. A tiny thrill ripples through me.
“Sage,” he starts, just as I say, “Shane, I—”
We both stop, bemused, then I whisper, “Me first.”
“Okay.”
“I want you to know how much I love you.”
He smiles, and for me, it’s like a sunrise. I love seeing the light start in his eyes and then spread to the curve of his mouth. His teeth are white but not perfect. I love that about him, too. Every flaw makes him more perfectly Shane, more right for me. I feel like we’ve been tested, and that we can survive anything. We’re strong. We’re special. We are. And together, we’re invincible. All around us, people spin in slow circles, arms tight around each other. The DJ selects Lifehouse next, and the first strains of “You and Me” sound from the speakers. It’s an older song, but it suits this moment.
“I love you too,” he answers. “In fact, that’s what I was going to say.” He hesitates then. “I’ve never said that to anyone before.”
“Me either.”
Family doesn’t count. Everyone knows that. So we’re embarking on the next step together. Like before, I don’t know the rules. I only know that I love him. And it’s enough.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ann Aguirre is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Razorland series (Enclave, Outpost, Horde) and of Mortal Danger. She lives in Mexico with her husband and their children. Visit her website at annaguirre.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
About the Author
Copyright
A Feiwel and Friends Book
An Imprint of Macmillan
THE QUEEN OF BRIGHT AND SHINY THINGS.
Copyright © 2015 by Ann Aguirre. All rights reserved. For information, address Feiwel and Friends, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Aguirre, Ann.
The queen of bright and shiny things / Ann Aguirre.
pages cm
Summary: “Sage has learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine … until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted”—Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-250-04750-2 (hardback)—ISBN 978-1-250-07810-0 (ebook)
[1. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 2. High schools—Fiction. 3. Schools—Fiction. 4. Conduct of life—Fiction. 5. Single-parent families—Fiction. 6. Social action—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.A26877Que 2015
[Fic]—dc23
2014042423
Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto
First Edition: 2015
macteenbooks.com
eISBN: 9781250078100