18 Things (37 page)

I couldn’t help myself. This was my Achilles’ heel—I couldn’t stand to have anyone angry with me, so I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “You’re right. And I do want to date you, okay?”

On her tiptoes, Julia pressed her forehead into mine and we saw eye to eye, literally and figuratively. I’d become that good at lying—able to look someone in the eye and still bear false testimony. Our lips touched briefly, and as we hugged, I promised myself I’d truly focus on Julia. I’d focused all my thoughts on Olga, and it was time to get them back… because she wasn’t coming back.

“Oh, looks like we have an audience, honey.”

I twisted to get a look at what she saw behind me.

“Olga?” I whispered. I dropped my hands from around Julia and turned to face Olga completely.

“Olga?” I repeated, this time at a regular volume but my voice cracking. Then I shouted, “Olga!” and ran to her.

It turned out that my first impulse wasn’t to drop down to my knees and propose. Instead, I touched her. I wanted to make sure she was real. Lifting her off the ground, I swung her around and around again.

Truth: God, if this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.

Available Wherever Books Are Sold

Jamie Ayres
writes young adult paranormal love stories by night and teaches young adults as a public school teacher by day.

When not at home on her laptop or at school, she can often be found at a local book store grabbing random children and reading to them. So far, she has not been arrested for this.

She lives in southwest Florida with her prince charming, two children (sometimes three based on how Mr. Ayres is acting), and a basset hound. She spent her youthful summers in Grand Haven, Michigan and this setting provided the inspiration for her debut novel, 18 Things.

She really does have grandmothers named Olga and Gay but unlike her heroine, she’s thankfully not named after either one of them. She loves lazy pajama days, the first page of a good book, stupid funny movies, and sharing stories with fantastic people like you.

Visit her website at:
www.jamieayres.com

I’d like to thank:

First and foremost, Jesus, my Savior, for his boundless love, amazing grace, and perfect timing. My whole family for your zany sense of humor and forcing me to not take myself too seriously. Dan the Man, the offer you made me fifteen years ago to marry you is still & always will be the best offer I ever accepted. It’s because of you that I can’t seem to stop myself from constantly reading and writing love stories. Kaylee, for harnessing your formidable intelligence and passion into making me a better person. I know we’re just a pit stop on your path to world domination. Ashley, for your random insights that make me laugh and your extra hugs that warm me from the inside.Where my heart is, you three will always be.

My A*W*E*S*O*M*E friends for their enduring prayers and much-needed support, including: my Sisterhood of the Traveling Journal (what God brought together nothing can separate! Our friendship is so special because it’s centered around our love for Jesus and it’s the reason we’ve been together as long as my marriage—I love you all so dearly), all my blogging buddies (who I cannot possibly all name, but you know who you are, and especially The Bookshelf Muse blog for being such a wonderful resource with their dazzling know-how ),my SWFRW group (an extra heartfelt thanks to Marisa Cleveland, who read so many versions of this story she got whiplash, and for Jaime Rush for being a “bad writer” but good friend when she basically told me to rewrite my whole story after reading my three page synopsis, and for the gracious Nicole Resciniti for all her sound advice and for 1,432 hits on my little ole blog in one day), my Vineyard peeps (of whom there is no EGR cases except for Pastor Jamie Stilson—thank you for showing me the power of ugly), my LCPS Family (who inspires me to be the best version of myself every day), my GNO crew (special shout out to Amy Carver for inviting me to the first MOOK’s club and getting me reading again—saved me “the trip” of dropping kid #2 off at the fire station at the time), my Homie for cheering me on and chasing shiny objects with me (Ooooh Squirrel!), Blake for inspiring this novel in its beginning stages (so glad you kicked cancer’s butt and I hope you complete all the items on your life list someday),  my new extended family who I will never dump, the Heidi’s (when the zombie apocalypse arrives, I promise to share ammo and Bennett’s coffee and donuts with you), and John Breedlove.

There is a quote by Emerson that states, “Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn from him.” To name every person I’ve learned from during my thirty-three years would prove an impossible task, but please know that your spirit lives in the voices in my head and in this book—so a special thanks to you, too.

Several people at Curiosity Quills came together in a rather short amount of time to make
18 Things
possible. It started with Sharon Bayliss, who hosted the contest that led Krystal Wade to my novel. Publishing a book was one of those dreams I only dreamed about, and you, Krystal, turned them into reality. Thank you for keeping insane working hours and always answering every little email in record time. I’m convinced you figured out how to clone yourself, or you really are Super Woman. You are for sure the BEE this side of the galaxy! And muchos gracias to
everyone
at Curiosity Quills. Our FB chats are something I look forward to each day, mostly for your rollicking and sinister humor!

My parents—Julie Myers and Jeff Reynolds—my steadfast fans. I hope you celebrate my successes as if they were your own, because none of it would be possible without you. Dad, I’m sure you will hand-sell my books to half the population of the United States at truck stops and Mom, your clients will no doubt roll their eyes after you ask them for the third time if they knew your daughter has a book published. Also, to my sisters, Dawn and Misty, for the pictures and putting up with me and offering support because you love imaginary worlds and fiction as much as I do. And for the real Olga Worontzoff (GG), some day I hope to be just like you, a youthful ninety-five-year-old doing the Kalinka at The Fiddlin’ Pig.

Sincere appreciation also goes to the wonderful community of Grand Haven, for providing me with the setting that served as so much inspiration for this book. If any of my readers have never visited this town during the summer, add it to your bucket list!

Finally, my deepest thanks to all my teachers throughout the years. You introduced me to books and together, made me believe in a world where I could go anywhere and be anything I wanted to be when I grew up. And the person I most wanted to be like was you. And to all my past, present, and future students: you can go anywhere and be anything you want to be, and you will. Also, you are alllllllllll my favorites and thank you to every single young adult (or wannabe YA) out there who read this book.