With Love

By Bethany Lopez

Melissa is turning sixteen and beginning her junior year. With a new job, and a new boyfriend, things are pretty hectic, but when things start becoming more difficult at home, Melissa soon becomes overwhelmed with responsibilities. Can she juggle her friends, family, a budding romance, as well as school and work? Getting older sure doesn't make things any easier!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Dec 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310848544

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

Chapter 1

How things change:

Wow, I never thought that turning sixteen would be so anticlimactic.

There’s not going to be a big Sweet Sixteen bash like Jess had. There’s not even a backyard barbecue like I had last year. It’s a day, just like any other, except with cake.

A lot has changed in my family over the summer. We’ve been learning to cut back, budget, and live with less.

I hate it.

Our house hadn’t taken long to sell … at all. We’re now in a three bedroom, plus bonus room, a few blocks away from the school. That’s the good news, we’ll still to go to the same schools … The rest of it’s not so great.

Since Megan and I are closest in age, and the same gender, we have to share the bonus room, while Mikey and Monica get their own rooms. Personally, I think it’s ridiculous, and feel that Megan and Monica should be the ones sharing. But, when I voiced my opinion on the matter, my parents shot me down, so now I have a roommate.

The messiest, smelliest roommate ever.

I’d used some of my dad’s fishing line and some dark sheets to put up a partition of sorts, and divide the room in half. That way I could still have a little privacy, and keep Megan’s mess out of my half of the room. It took a while, but after two months, we’ve finally learned how to coexist.

I’d been job-hunting all summer, but hadn’t had any luck until I spoke with the manager at the Arby’s on Telegraph Road. She said, once I turn sixteen, she’d hire me. I officially start tomorrow. I’m on the schedule and everything.

I’m a little nervous, but cannot wait to make my own money. Like I said, money around here has been pretty tight, so I haven’t been able to get new school clothes, or buy anything else other than school supplies.

My dad still works at Detroit Diesel, but he had to get a second job. He’s been working nights bartending. I guess he bartended in college, so he had some experience, but I was really surprised when he started doing it again. It just doesn’t seem like my dad’s scene.

My mom has been able to teach more online classes, and is able to do most of her work during Max’s naps, and after he goes to bed. I was helping her out with him over the summer, but now that I’m starting school, and beginning my new job, I’m not going to be able to help her as much.

I’m excited about working, and really excited about going back to school. Jess will be coming back from her dad’s this weekend, and school starts Monday. I’ll be happy to be able to see my friends every day again. With the move, and everyone being busy over the summer, I haven’t really had a chance to stay connected to my friends.

Except Jimmy, that is. Jimmy is the silver lining in my life right now.

We’ve officially been boyfriend and girlfriend for two months and seven days. We’ve been able to get together almost every weekend, and a few days during the week as well. Sometimes I go to his house, and sometimes he comes over to ours. He helped us move, and has even helped me watch Max a few times.

He’s perfect.

My parents like him, my brothers and sisters like him, and I get along with his mom. It’s totally weird, and the opposite of any other relationship I’ve had. We can hang out and read books, listen to music, or watch TV. I’ve never felt so able to just be myself with anyone the way I do with Jimmy.

In fact, he’s going to be the high point of my birthday, too. His mom’s going to drop us off at Cariera’s Italian Restaurant for dinner. I’m super excited, and cannot wait to wear my new dress. It’s my birthday gift from my Aunt Stephanie, who was just here for a visit. It’s a totally cute white dress with red roses, and it’s short, so short I hope I don’t run into my dad before I leave. I also got red heels, and a red sweater to go with it. I think I’ll leave my hair down and put big curls in it. I hope Jimmy likes it.

I need to go get ready, but when Megan gave me this new journal, I knew I had to get an update of my life down ASAP.

I know there’s stuff I’m forgetting, but I’ll be sure to write more when I get home from my date with Jimmy tonight. I’m sure I’ll want to write it all down right away, so I don’t forget anything about my birthday dinner!

Megan did pick out a cool journal, I’ll give her that. It’s midnight blue with cool swirly patterns. I love it.

Speaking of Megan … Although we’ve figured out the whole roommate thing, I’m totally not looking forward to her becoming a freshman this year.

Yeah, you read that right … Megan is going to be a freshman. At my High School. Ugh!

Now, not only do I live and room with her, but I’ll be going to the same school as her too. So not cool. I mean … I won’t get a break. At all. Plus, she’s going to be in my school. In class with my old teachers. In my lunchroom. How totally embarrassing is that? Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.

Oh, well, no sense in worrying about things I can’t control, right?

I’m going to sign off now, and go get pretty for dinner with my guy tonight. After dinner, Jimmy, his mom, and I will be meeting my family back here, for cake and ice cream. I wonder if my parents will give me something for my birthday then. So far, my mom made me birthday breakfast in bed, birthday lunch, and I’ve gotten the journal from Megan.

That’s it.

I know I won’t be getting a whole new wardrobe or anything, but their oldest daughter only turns sixteen once, right? That should count for something!

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Chapter 2

Better Than Expected

Okay, so I may have been totally overreacting in yesterday’s entry, because my birthday was … AWESOME!!!

Jimmy’s mom dropped us off at the restaurant, which was super pretty, and the food was amazing. Jimmy got the Barbecue Pizza, and I got the Cheese Ravioli, and we shared our food. Everything was so good.

Jimmy was dressed up in khaki pants and a button-up blue shirt. He’d recently cut his hair really short. Because of soccer and being outside most of the summer, he has a pretty nice tan too. In other words, he looked hot!

You look beautiful, Mis, Jimmy complimented me as he raised his water glass in a toast. Happy birthday. I’m so happy that I get to have you all to myself on this special day.

I’d flushed with pleasure at his words, suddenly no longer upset about not having a big flashy party.

Me too, I replied, clinking my glass to his.

We chatted throughout our meal, laughing as we fed each other from our forks.

Our first game against Fordson is next weekend, can you be there? Jimmy asked softly. I’d been to his soccer games before, but this would be my first time as his girlfriend.

Of course, I said with a smile, making a mental note to check the schedule when I started work. I hoped I wouldn’t already be on the schedule for next Friday night.

I can’t believe summer’s already over, Jimmy said before he took his last bite.

I know, I replied with a sigh. It seems like summer just started. But… it will be cool to be back as juniors. Can you believe just one more year until we’re seniors? I swear we were just freshman, like, yesterday.

"Yeah, I’m excited to start looking at colleges. It’s hard to decide where to apply. I