Heartbreaker Hanson (19 page)

CHAPTER 53

***EPILOGUE***

I
had my kindergarten boyfriend back. My heart was whole, and happy beyond
belief.

(And
I changed the poem about him on the bathroom wall.)

Rider
Hanson is so not a heartbreaker.

He’s
the best boyfriend ever.

And
he’s mine.

All
mine.

Yay
me!

********

Note:
Keep reading. There is another romantic teen story after the following book
info on the next page.

Note From the Author, Melanie Marks:

I hope you liked the book.

There will be more to their story in the
future.

If you would like to receive email
notifications of my newest books, email me at:

[email protected]

My website is:

http://www.byMelanieMarks.com

Check often as I’m always writing new
books

Information
about this book:

Tough
Griffin Piper (Rider’s best friend and hockey captain) that is so in love with
his girlfriend, Ally, is from Melanie Marks’ book,
His Kiss
. After the following book info there is a peek at that
book. (The book is available now.) After that, there is a bonus short teen
romantic story included in this book. Enjoy.

Newest
books by Melanie Marks:

Smokin’ Hot (Accidental) Kiss

Love Liam

Kissing Kade

Ex-Boyfriend

My Brother’s Best Friend

Dearest (Hot) Enemy

The New Boy

My Stepbrother’s kiss

My Forbidden Heartthrob

(Right now each book only costs a dollar)

(Or you can read them for free with
Kindle Unlimited)

Update
: Melanie’s very newest book is:
“The Player (plus: Ally Has Amnesia)”

That’s one book with two stories: It has
the novel, “The Player,” plus a bonus story called: “Ally Has Amnesia.”

It’s a standalone novel; available now

Summary of

Melanie Marks’ newest novel

The
Player (plus: Ally Has Amnesia)

His
name is Dane McGraw, but he’s known as “The Player.” He was called that even
before I became his very first girlfriend—back in MIDDLE school. But that
was years ago. He’s forgotten all about me … right? Well, that’s what I thought
when I started spreading my lies about us—on the Internet. He moved away
and he’s all famous now, so I thought he would never know that I made him my
new fake boyfriend. And said he adores me and brings me flowers.… Until he
shows up at my door—with flowers (!!) …Um?

The
explanation:

When
my boyfriend dumped me for my total archenemy (Nina), to save face I posted on
my blog that I didn’t care because I had a date to our school dance with The
Player. I only did that because I knew my archenemy (Nina) wanted him, and my
ex-boyfriend (Back-stabber) was jealous of him. Two birds—one stone.
However, for some reason no one believed my crazy lies about The Player.
Probably because, you know, they were crazy lies—about The Player. But
whoa! Here he is, at my door for the dance—The Player. With that same ol’
player grin that has always played with my adoring heart. Yikes! I need a
player’s manual … and an ambulance. ‘Cause I’m swooning for the boy that broke
my heart. AGAIN!! (Help!)

http://www.amazon.com/Player-PLUS-Ally-Has-Amnesia-ebook/dp/B019YZT8OU/ref

Summary of

Melanie Marks’ newest novel

Smokin’
Hot (Accidental) Kiss

Okay,
I’m just going to start by saying I did NOT mean to make-out with my total
enemy’s (smokin’ hot) boyfriend. I swear! I mean, I know it sounds like the
perfect revenge, since my total enemy
became
my total enemy by making out with
my
boyfriend (who, you know, became my
ex
boyfriend after that). Still, even so—I did NOT make out with my enemy’s
(hot) boyfriend on purpose. Really!! TRULY!!!
 
Not gonna lie, though—Mmmm. Oh man! That kiss … I
can’t get it out of my head. Or dreams. Smokin’ hot Sutter Sinclair, that boy
can kiss!

http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Accidental-Kiss-Melanie-Marks-ebook/dp/B01F4YB4I8

Summary
of

Melanie
Marks’ book

Kissing
Kade

To
get back at her cheating ex-boyfriend, Leah Hanson impulsively kisses the hot
new guy at her locker, only to discover when roll is called that the dreamy boy
she just kissed is in her first period class (yay!) but then she discovers he
isn’t just any boy. (Gasp!) She just kissed her childhood ex-stepbrother.
Face-palm. Not going to lie though, the kiss was smokin’ hot!! However, Leah
only kissed those fantasy-inducing lips to (metaphorically) stab her
ex-boyfriend, not to SWOON over a steamy kiss ... from an ex(sort of)relative.
She really can NOT catch a break. (Or stop thinking about that kiss.)

However,
her sexy soul-mate of an ex-stepbrother hasn’t just turned into delicious
eye-candy … he has secrets. Big time. He had warned her not to kiss him. She
should have listened. There’s a cost to kissing Kade.

http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Kade-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B01CR66ED6

Summary
of

Melanie
Marks’ NEWEST book:

EX-BOYFRIEND

Mandy
is heartbroken when she and her long-time boyfriend break up. Because he was a
really good guy… and it hurts when a really good guy starts liking another girl
… as much as you.

It’s
hard to hate him when all you want to do is touch him. Hard to move on when you
see him every day, and he still smiles (stares?) at you. But yeah, now he’s
with another girl.

But
what if another boy comes along? You’re not ready for it … but hmmm.
Butterflies. Fluttering. In your broken heart.

Summary:

Mandy
suffers a lot of heartache and embarrassing moments as she is caught time and
again stalking her ex-boyfriend—though she’s trying to let go. Really!
However, there is a smokin’ hot guy just waiting for her to let go, and he’s
more than willing to help yank the cord to get things moving along. But is
Mandy ready to let go … and is her ex REALLY ready for her to do it?

http://www.amazon.com/Ex-Boyfriend-Young-Adult-Romance-Melanie-ebook/dp/B01BMWHIVI

Summary
of

Melanie
Marks’ book

The
New Boy

http://www.amazon.com/New-Boy-Young-Adult-Romance-ebook/dp/B0125TOPLS

Ruby
is falling hard for her best friend, Zack. Unfortunately, her ex-friend, Jade,
is craving him too. And Jade always gets what she wants. Always. Well anyway,
usually. But things aren’t exactly going as “usual” these days. Not since the new
boy, Hudson, has shown up at Jefferson High School. Hudson with his dreamy blue
eyes—that don’t even look at jealous Jade. They seem to always be on
Ruby. Hmm. What’s up with that???

Below is a peek at the first pages of
Melanie Marks’ book,
His Kiss
. It
stars Rider’s best friend, the captain of the hockey team, Griffin Piper. It
also stars the girl Griffin adores—Ally.

(Keep reading after the peek, there this
is a romantic short story.)

Summary of:

His Kiss

By Melanie Marks

(Right now this book only costs a dollar)

Ally’s
world was totally on track: the right boyfriend, the right school activities,
the right plans. But then she is bribed into kissing the school “bad boy.”
(Griffin Piper.) Now nothing is right. Nothing! Because all she can think about
is … His Kiss.

His Kiss

CHAPTER
1

Griffin
shut his locker, then did a double-take when he saw I was standing there,
waiting for him. He tilted his head with his usual smirk. Only, it wasn’t
exactly his usual smirk. He looked perplexed, but sort of happy too. It was
like he was trying to figure it out, mentally scratching his head:
Why would shy little Ally Grange be standing
at my locker?

He
cocked his head further, quirking an eyebrow. “You looking for me?”

I
sucked in my breath and gave a slight nod.

His
lips twitched, obviously entrained by my discomfort. “What’s up?”

I
bit my lip.
Good question
.

Tugging
at the hem of my sweater, I took a deep breath, trying to summon up a little
courage. I needed it. ‘Cause Griffin wasn’t exactly considered a nice guy. In
fact, he was considered a terror on the hockey rink and not much different off
it. And I wasn’t exactly Miss Confident when it came to mean people. I shied
away from confrontation—
any
confrontation—and tormentors—at all cost, but here I was, seeking out
Griff the Grief-Master
.

He
smirked again, his eyes twinkling with a strange combination of curiosity mixed
with amusement. “Just spit it out.”

“Aiden
Hanks,” I blurted like a cough. “He’s my …”

When
I choked again Griffin finished for me still looking curious. “Your boyfriend.”

I
nodded, surprised. I didn’t know Griffin knew that. I didn’t know he knew who I
was.

Griffin
grinned, light dawning. He had definitely figured it out. “Oh, you’re here to
beg me not to bash his face in.” He tossed his history book from one hand to
the other, looking amused. “The twerp sent you?”

“No!”
I rushed out my next words to stop him from getting the wrong idea. “Aiden
doesn’t know I’m talking to you.”

He
grinned. “Then why
are
you talking to
me?”

“Because—like
you said, I don’t want you to bash his face in.” I stared into Griffin’s
twinkling eyes. “Please don’t.”

I
don’t know where that came from—me being brave enough to stare into The
Griff’s eyes. Maybe it was because he kept smiling at me, acting like I was fun
to talk to, or look at, or something.

Griffin
leaned against his locker and wet his pink (gorgeous) lips. He gazed at me
intently a moment, then up at the ceiling. Finally he groaned, letting out a
breath, and looked back into my eyes.

“Look,”
he said, for once sounding serious, “I have to. The punk talked trash about me
in front of the whole team. It’s not like I can ignore it.”

“Yes
you can!” I said, following at his heels as he started to walk away.

I
said it again, all squeaky and desperate this time since he was ignoring me.
“Yes you can!”

Griffin
kept walking, so I kept following, like a puppy dog begging for attention,
yipping at his ankles.

“Please,
can’t you? Please?”

I
grabbed on to his arm out of desperation. That was all, just to get his
attention since he had apparently ditched listening to me. But when I grabbed
onto his arm he abruptly stopped walking. I mean, he froze.

Yikes!
My chest went tight. What had I done?

Griffin
turned back to me and stared at my hand on his arm. I snatched it away lightening
fast, terrified he was going to hit me for touching him or being annoying or
something. But when he didn’t push me down or pound me to the ground or do
anything but stare at me with his swoon-inducing long-lashed eyes, I swallowed
finally going on with my plea while I had his attention—only now I was
shaking and unnerved on even more levels. I mean, The Griff was … hot. He was.
I wasn’t really paying attention to that before, since I was pleading for my
boyfriend’s life, but now that Griffin was looking at me like that—well,
I noticed. And it distracted me, even now while I was petrified.

Still,
even though my mind reeled from that, I managed to squeak out, “I have some
money—not much, but …”

Griffin
smirked, then shook his head. “I don’t want your money.”

For
some reason that made my stomach feel funny. I guess because of the way he said
it. And the way he looked at me when he said it. It pushed my pulse into
over-drive and got my heart pounding.

“Then
what?” My voice hitched. “What can I do?”

A
sardonic grin played on Griffin’s lips as he eyed me. Then he lifted his chin
and challenged. “Kiss me.”

My
stomach fluttered. “Wh—what?”

Griffin’s
eyes twinkled. “You heard me.”

I
stared at him. He had to be kidding. Had to be. Only he didn’t look like he was
kidding or sound like he was kidding. He looked and sounded amused, teasing,
but still, serious. Like it was all funny to him—getting Aiden Hank’s
girlfriend all worked up and sweating—but he’d let Aiden off the hook if
I did what he said. Those were his terms. He had offered me a deal. Only … it
was weird.

“You,”
I swallowed, feeling slightly dizzy, like maybe this moment wasn’t really real.
Like maybe I had fainted from fright when I first started talking to The Griff
and now I was hallucinating or daydreaming or something. “You—you want me
to kiss you?”

He
set his jaw, but he was still smiling. “Yeah. Kiss me and I won’t kill your
boyfriend.”

A
strange feeling washed over me—a tingling combination of excitement and
horror. I backed away and leaned against the lockers behind me for support. I
was all wobbly and sweaty and shaking as I tried to get my brain to actually
work—to think. “Um…”

Really?
That was all I had to do? Kiss him and Aiden was off the hook? It didn’t seem
possible. Or right. There had to be more to it than that. After all, I wasn’t
exactly Miss Sexy; far from it. Boys didn’t even usually notice me. Not that I
was ugly, I guess. Aiden said I was “beautiful.” But then, Aiden was my
boyfriend. And sweet. The Griff wasn’t either of those.

“I
don’t understand.”

Griffin
shot me this adorable lopsided grin. It got my heart all confused and fluttery.
“Yes you do.”

Mmmmm.

My
pulse convulsed into a wild frenzy, my mind too. I bit my lip, trying to figure
out the catch. There had to be one. Had to. Though Griffin was known as a
troublemaker at our school, he was cute; adorable even. There was a certain
“type” of girls that were always hanging on him—a type that was not at
all like me. They were loud and forward and experienced with boys. I wasn’t
like that. At all. And I wasn’t the type of girl that boys pined after. I was
“nice” and “caring” and sure, maybe on a good hair-day, “pretty.” But that was
about it. No way were boys lining up to kiss me. I doubted they even thought
about me. So no, I didn’t get it. What was going on?

It
had to be something slimy.

“That’s
all I have to do?” I said skeptically. “Kiss you—nothing more?”

Griffin
raised his eyebrows, his lips curling into a grin. “You can do more if you
want.”

Jerk!
Humiliated, I started to slink away.

But
Griffin grabbed my arm, gently pulling me back to him. “Geez, I was just
messing with you, Grange.”

Grange?
He knew my last name?

His
eyes danced as he leaned in close, close enough his warm breath tickled my neck
as he asked, “So, we have a deal?”

I
backed away from him, trying to think. It would get Aiden out of trouble and it
was just one little kiss. But … it was with a delinquent.

Then
again, my best friend, Jazz, was always saying I needed to loosen up and walk
on the wild side. Of course, Griffin Piper was way more wild than what Jazz had
meant. Jazz had meant wear bright purple rather than pastels. She didn’t mean
date the school’s bad boy.

But
…

But
nothing! Aiden would get his sweet little face smashed to bits by The Griff if
I didn’t do this. I couldn’t let that happen.

I
took a deep breath, terrified. What would The Grief Master’s kiss be like? I
was a little bit curious, but mostly scared. I’d only kissed two boys in my
entire life. I wasn’t experienced by a long shot and I was still slightly
nervous that I couldn’t trust The Griff—that it wasn’t really just a kiss
he wanted, though it did seem he had only made the deal to make me squirm. I
mean, he just seemed entertained—like it would be fun either way: to bash
Aiden’s face in or make his girlfriend freak out.

I
nodded that we had a deal, then I gulped—big.

Griffin
noticed and grinned. “Don’t look so scared, Grange. I’m a good kisser.”

That
in no way calmed my nerves. It only made my face burn and my cheeks turn a
million shades of red, but somehow I was pretty sure that’s what he wanted.

His
eyes twinkled as he watched me prepare for the kiss, eyeing me wipe my sweaty
hands on my jeans and pump my fists a couple times, trying to psyche myself up.
Finally, I puckered my lips and leaned in for the kiss.

Griffin
watched me with quirked eyebrows, looking amused. Finally, he gave a soft
laugh. “Not here.”

His
eyes danced as I blinked up at him in confusion. What was he talking about? Not
here? Where? Panic rushed through me. What exactly had I agreed to?

Griffin
gave another soft laugh. “In room 204. At three.” He leaned in close again,
playing with a tendril of my hair. “You’ll survive. I promise.”

***

When
I got to room 204 Griffin was already there. He was sitting on a desk, bouncing
a rubber ball.

“About
time,” he muttered, hopping off the desk.

What?
I glanced at the clock on the wall directly over his head. It was only 3:02.
Two
minutes late.

 
Griffin eyed me as I gawked at the
clock.

Oh, got it
. My face turned red. I could tell by his
smirk he was only kidding.

“Come
here,” he said.

His
words and the way he said them, all husky and quiet, made me start to sweat,
but also feel butterflies bat around in my stomach. I stood in the open
doorway, unable to move.

Griffin
sighed with a slight grin and came over to me. Gently, gently he took my hand,
pulling me out of the threshold and silently closed the door. Then he gently
backed me up against the door he just closed, pinning me there, but in a
half-playful, half-seductive way that had my knees weak and my heart
fluttering.

“Take
it easy,” Griffin murmured softly, like I was a wild colt that needed soothing
so I didn’t bolt away. His fingers lightly stroked my hair. “I’m not going to
hurt you, Grange. I promise.”

His
hands—just touching me—was like electricity shooting through my
body. My breath caught and I made this slight moaning sound. It was
embarrassing and yet I couldn’t really focus on it or anything that was
happening. All I could think about was his lips. They looked so soft and pink
and shiny.

I’d
thought about them before actually, lots of times, dreamed of them. Every night
for a while. Back in junior high I’d had this mad, monster crush on him. It was
embarrassing and stupid and crazy since he didn’t even know I was alive. And,
yeah, he was a thug.

Still,
it made this moment … surreal.

My
head was swimming. I had all these wild, scattered thoughts dashing around in
my brain, but they all came back to this:
I’m
going to kiss The Griff, The Grief Master!
It had my heart pumping frantic
and my pulse zooming wild.

Gripping
the door behind me for support, I wondered if I was going to faint. It seemed
like maybe I was. Or have a heart attack. Something dramatic and embarrassing
like that.

I
squeezed my eyes shut wondering what it would be like kissing The Griff for
real. Would he be like out on the hockey rink—rough and tough? Would he
give me whiplash? Somehow, I didn’t think so. If his kiss was anything like his
touch just now, or like in my junior high macking dreams, I was going to
explode and die from delight.

Full
of curiosity I leaned in for the kiss.