I'm So Sure (30 page)
“We met in the hall,” Dolly whispers. “No big deal.” She rests a hip on my bed. “How are you, hon?”
“I’m alive, and none of my friends were blown up. What more could a girl ask for?”
All heads turn at the knock on the door.
I see the flowers first. Then Luke.
“Hey.” He smiles and speaks to everyone in the room.
“Let’s go get some lunch.” Mom stands up and grabs her purse. “I could use something to eat.”
“Bring me something back. They tried to feed me mashed peas a while ago. I need a burger.” I
deserve
a burger.
Everyone files out, with Robbie trailing behind. He runs to my bed, crawls up, and plants a big one on my cheek. “You’re my hero,” he says and scampers out.
My eyes grow blurry, and I blink it away. Just fatigue, I’m sure.
Luke wears a dashing smile as he walks to my bedside and brushes the hair away from a bandage. He stares deeply into my eyes, and I wait for his sweet words.
“Kirkwood, you look awful.”
Okay. That ain’t it.
“Wow, Chief. Words like that just make my insides tingle.”
He pulls a chair beside me. “So how are those broken ribs?”
“Bound tighter than a Victorian corset.”
“I should’ve never let you out of my sight,” he says.
Now these words I like. “Because you’re crazy about me?”
“Because every time I do, you wind up in the hospital.” He laughs. “Because the ER doctors know you by name.”
“That’s not true.”
“They probably send you birthday cards.”
“No, they don’t.” Just Christmas greetings.
“We’re a pretty good team.” Luke holds out his hand. I place mine in his palm.
“We saved the world.” I smile into his eyes.
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an ice cream bar. “For my fellow crime-fighter. It’s not from the Truman Dairy Barn, but it was the best I could do.”
I unwrap it in one tear. “You’re pretty good for me, I guess.” I take a bite and sigh. “And face it, my coming on the newspaper staff was the best thing that ever happened to you.”
He grabs my hand, drags the ice cream to his mouth, and takes a bite. “Since knowing you, I’ve been shot at, attacked, and nearly blown apart.”
“Is this your way of asking me out?”
“Is it working?”
“I’ll go out with you, Luke.” I grab my ice cream back. “But just because you
obviously
need protecting.”
He laughs. “You are pretty scrappy.” His hand disappears into his coat again and pulls out two envelopes. “Recognize these?”
I take another bite. “No.”
“Lindy apparently saved our Match-and-Catch results. She thought we might want to look at them.” He hands mine over. “Time to see if you’re my fated true love.”
We both open the white envelopes.
I read the results and smile so big my bruised face hurts. “I’m afraid I must devote the rest of my life to Brian McPhearson. Maybe with my love, he will learn to blow his nose and wear his shoes on the right feet.”
Luke nods. “And it looks like I’ll be getting to know Tracey Sniveley and her thirty cats.”
“I’m sorry. I guess there’s just no chance for us.” I reach for his hand and give it a friendly squeeze. “But we should totally double-date.” “Let’s talk when you don’t have a concussion.” Luke leans close and presses a kiss on my forehead. “Oh, wait. That’s never.” And with a wink, he walks out of my room.
Sure. He talks big now.
But one day Luke Sullivan will need saving again.
And I think I’m just the girl for the job.
A
s usual, I have a million people to thank. It is with a grateful heart that I acknowledge:
My Facebook friends. I owe you a lot for helping me name and rename (and name and rename) Luke Sullivan. I still don’t see why Otis Sprinkledink is such a bad pick. To me it just reeks of hotness.
Editor Jamie Chavez. Book four together and you haven’t kicked me to the curb yet! Thank you for your friendship, humor, intimidating intelligence, as well as your juicing tips. Please know I will never drink beets. Never.
Editor Natalie Hanemann. It’s been a joy to get to know you and work with you. I can’t wait to hang out and talk books even more.
Everyone at Thomas Nelson. To quote Queen Tina, “You’re simply the best.” It’s an honor to be a Nelson author and see what loving care you give your books.
My blog family. Thank you for stopping by three times a week and reading, as if my insanity is entertainment . . . instead of proof I need heavy medication.
Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary. For traveling this road with me and for all the funny, encouraging e-mails along the way.
Erin Valentine. I couldn’t do any of this without you, and so appreciate your friendship, support, edits, and “you can do it” advice. Are you
sure
you weren’t a cheerleader?
Leslie and Kim. For putting up with me during “deadline lock-downs,” when I turn into something a little less friendly and a lot more
Nightmare on Elm Street
-ish.
Mom, Kent, Michael, Laura, Hardy, and Katie Beth. I appreciate the love, support, and occasional meals-to-go. (You can’t have too much of any of those.)
My readers, whose e-mails make my day. Thank you for giving up hours of your life to read my books, my blog, and the occasional witty line on airport bathroom walls. ( Just kidding. I would never do that . . . and admit it.)
My students, who have to put up with a lot as I juggle teaching and writing. Forgive me for the times I stare right through you as a plot enters my head or scribble down your words verbatim because I want to steal them for a book. And I’m sorry for that one review game we did that drew blood. Okay, no. I’m not. That was funny.
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I don’t know that anything has stretched me more spiritually than being chained to a keyboard. Thank you for giving me a dream and blessing me indeed. Now as to those extra five pounds I’ve gained writing . . . we
totally
need to talk about that . . .
1. If
I’m So Sure
was made into a movie, who would you cast as the characters?
2. A reoccurring theme in the book is that things aren’t always what they seem. Where was this theme evident?
3. In your own life, have you been in a situation where something or someone didn’t match the first impression?
4. Bella Kirkwood really struggles in her relationship with her dad. Is she justified in her bitterness? What advice would you give her?
5. What would the perks be of living your life on a reality show? The drawbacks? Why is America so in love with reality TV?
6. What are some issues Bella has as a result of her parents’ divorce? Describe some difficulties of being a child of divorce—either from a personal experience or from what you’ve seen a friend go through.
7. In what ways do Bella and other characters have a hard time with honesty—either in blatant lying or just not being able to share his/her heart? Why do you think it’s so difficult to tell people how we really feel?
8. Bella’s made a few mistakes in the boyfriend department. What advice would you give her? Can you think of a Bible verse that would apply?
9. Bella is learning to rely on family and friends in
I’m So Sure
. Describe the moments she needed them the most.
10. The character of Callie got so obsessed with winning the prom queen contest, she made some really bad decisions. Have you ever gotten so focused on something (one particular friend, a boy, a job, a test) that other things or relationships suffered?
11. How did Bella’s “gift” of nosiness lead her into trouble? Do you have a dominant flaw that sometimes lands you in hot water?
12. Bella splits her time between Manhattan and Truman, Oklahoma. What are the perks of each? The downsides? What do you think God is trying to teach Bella with this contrast?
13. What do you believe the title
I’m So Sure
means? When you are making a decision or have a problem, how do you know for certain what the right answer is?
New York's social darling just woke up in a nightmare:
Oklahoma.
Problem is, it's right where God wants her.
VISIT JENNYBJONES.COM
Follow Bella as she trades her Manolos for clown shoes to unravel the secrets of the big top in . . .
So
OVER MY
Head
the next installment in
The Charmed Life
Series
In Stores
May 2010
Visit jennybjones.com
an excerpt from
So Over My Head
I
f my love life was the knife toss at a circus, I’d have Luke Sullivan speared to the wall with an apple in his mouth.
“Ladies and gentlemen! The Fritz Family welcomes you to the greatest show on earth!” A man in a top hat stands in the center of a giant tent, his curlicue mustache as delicate as his voice is strong.
“Prepare to be amazed. Prepare to be wowed. Allow us to entertain you with sights you’ve never seen, horses whose feats will astound you, and death-defying acrobatics!”
On this first night open to the public, the crowd stands in a swarm of shouts and applause.
I stay seated and jot down some quick notes for the
Truman High Tribune
. Or at least that’s what I’m pretending to do. In actuality, it’s taking all my energy just to be civil.
“I just don’t see why you had to invite her.”
From his standing position, Luke glances down. “Are we back to that again?”
“You and I are working on the carnival story. Not Ashley.” Ashley Timmons, a new girl who joined the newspaper staff last week, has become my least favorite person on the planet. She’s not quite as awful as those on the top of that list—namely the handful of people who’ve tried to do me bodily harm over the last year. But icky nonetheless. Fresh from Kansas City with her brother, Ashley thinks she is to journalism what Tiger Woods is to golf. She’s disgustingly cute, and worst of all, she’s Luke’s ex-girlfriend. She only moved away for two years, but I can tell she’s ready to rekindle anything they used to have. It doesn’t take a keen reporter’s intuition to see that. Just anyone with at least one working eyeball.
“We’ve hung out with them all week, Luke.”
“I haven’t seen Kyle in a long time, and he’ll be leaving soon for college.” Luke searches my face. “I’ve included you in everything.
Have you felt left out?”
“No.” I just want
her
left out. I don’t mind the return of his friend Kyle at all. But where Kyle is . . . there you’ll find his sister.
“Tonight isn’t about hanging out with your friend though. He’s not even here. You invited Ashley for the paper.”
“You’ve been ticked at me ever since your last article. But it was weak on verbs and lacked your usual creativity.” He sits down and trains those intense eyes on mine.
“Yeah, and then you proceeded to show me some piece of writing wonderment your new recruit produced.” Ashley came with glowing recommendations from her former journalism teachers.
Everyone on our staff thinks she is, like, the greatest thing to writing since the delete key. Everyone but me.