That Boy: A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers Romance (That Boy Series Book 1)

Phillip basically ignored me for the final day of the trip, so I was pleasantly surprised when we got back home, and he was true to his word.

He acted like it’d never happened.

I guess what happens in Mexico really does stay in Mexico.

We still talk every night on the phone. It felt a little forced at first, but we slowly worked our way back to normal.

I moved to Omaha where I have a job with an engineering firm. Phillip is living at his parents’ house for now and working at his dad’s company.

My romantic life is, well, not exactly going the way I’d like it to, mostly because I haven’t figured out what to do about Phillip.

So, I’m sort of dating this cute guy who’s in a band.

It’s a perfectly mindless fling.

And perfectly mindless is perfect right now.

The summer flew by with work and the move and the guitar player. Soon, there is a chill in the air at night, and even though the days are still hot, you can practically feel fall. More importantly, football season in the air.

I haven’t gotten to see much of Danny lately. He went to Wisconsin for training camp and was named backup quarterback. I try to talk to Lori and him every few days and am just thinking about calling them actually when my phone rings.

I look at the caller ID and am happy to see Danny’s name.

“So, you’re still coming down for the game on the eleventh?” he says without even saying hello.

“Hello, Danny, and it depends on how good my seats are.”

“Oh, they’re very good, Jay baby. You’re sitting next to Phillip.”

I’m not sure what has happened to Danny since he started playing professional ball, but he says baby a lot. He and I have spent a lot of our time on the phone, discussing the fact that I might very well be in love with Phillip. Actually, we have determined that I am in love with Phillip and what my possible options are. I swore to him that I would talk to Phillip about how I feel tonight while we get ready for the game-day party we’re having.

The party is an annual event celebrating the first game of the season. We’ve done it since high school. The venue has changed a lot—sometimes tailgates in Lincoln, sometimes at different houses—but the guest list stays pretty much the same. It’s a fun way to keep up with old friends, and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but did you know that Phillip is going out with Monica again? I think it’s getting serious.”

“Really?” I’m surprised by this news because I got the distinct impression from Phillip that she was just bugging him again. “It doesn’t sound serious to me.”

“Well, I think Phillip might be afraid to tell you.”

“Why? I’m dating someone, too.”

“Jay, a drummer—”

“Guitar player,” I interrupt and correct him.

“Does not count. I’m just trying to impress upon you the importance of your doing something this weekend.”

“I know, Danny. I know what I have to do. It’s still just a bit scary to me.”

“I understand that, but I’m afraid, if you don’t, you’ll lose him for good and to someone like Monica.”

“My life sucks.”

“Well, I expect to hear a progress report on Sunday night. And, Jay?”

“Yeah?”

“There had better be some progress,” he stresses and hangs up.