It Was Always You: Ridgewater High Romance, #4

By Judy Corry

What's the first rule when pretending to date your brother's best friend? Don't let feelings get involved.

Sixteen-year-old Lexi Stevens has never been kissed—never even been asked on a date. So when she humiliates herself in front of her crush and her brother's best friend offers to be her fake boyfriend for the week to make him jealous, she doesn't know if it's the stupidest idea ever, or a dream come true.

When Noah Taylor gets kicked out of his house by his abusive stepdad, the last thing he needs is for anyone at school to find out—not even his best friend. But when his new "girlfriend" discovers him sleeping in his car and offers to let him sleep in her closet, he starts to wonder if he's found someone he can confide in after all.

Pretty soon Noah and Lexi are putting on a big show in front of the whole school while sneaking around behind her overprotective father's back. It isn't long before feelings develop and it becomes harder and harder to discern between what's fake and what's real.

IT WAS ALWAYS YOU is a standalone novel in The Ridgewater High series. Perfect for readers who enjoy sweet YA romance with ballad-worthy chemistry, passionate kisses and endearing characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judy Corry
• Release date: Oct 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223421528

Book preview

1

LEXI

Congrats on getting first chair again.

I tried the words out in my head, attempting to figure out the perfect line to finally get a conversation started between me and my long-time crush, Harrison Carter.

When Mrs. Willis moved me up to second chair trumpet this morning, you would have thought I'd won the lottery with how excited I was. I knew I'd had no chance at getting first chair, since Harrison was amazing, but second chair was just as good because it meant I got to sit by him. My hands had been shaking ever since I'd caught a whiff of his cologne, and I'd been trying to think of reasons to scoot my chair a smidge closer to him.

I like your new haircut.

I shook my head. That was stupid. He'd think I was totally oblivious since he'd gotten the haircut sometime between Monday morning band and Tuesday at lunch where I'd stared at him and wished I could run my fingers through his blond spikes and smooth them down to the soft curls he'd had the day before. He looked good with the new haircut—it was hard to ruin perfection—but I missed the cute head flick he used to do to keep his hair out of his eyes.

Harrison finished putting his trumpet back in the case and was latching it shut. I needed to hurry and say something now or I'd miss my chance until next week.

Say something.

Anything.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

His gaze, which had been on his trumpet case, lifted to my face at the exact moment that I was sitting there like a fool with my mouth hanging open.

Any fun plans for the weekend? he asked me in his ultra-smooth voice.

Now would be a good time to look like you have a brain, Lexi.

I managed to close my mouth but still stared blankly at him like I didn't know how to talk.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. He probably regretted saying anything to me.

What had he asked me again? I'd gotten too lost in his blue eyes to comprehend his question.

Oh right. Weekend plans.

Was he asking because he wanted to ask me out? My hands felt sweaty with the thought. I didn't go on dates. My dad barely let me talk to my brother's best friend Noah without making me feel like I was committing some sort of crime. If my dad ever found out I was thinking about dating actual guys instead of just crushing on them from a distance, I was sure he'd lock me up, or at least put a tracking bracelet on me to make sure I didn't end up like my sister.

I don't have any plans set in stone yet, I finally managed to say, my voice only coming out slightly breathy.

If you ask me on a date and make all my dreams come true, I'll definitely say yes!

Cool.

I waited for him to ask me his next question, but instead he took the band folder off the music stand we now shared and shoved it under his arm as if he was about to leave.

Desperation crashed through my veins. I couldn't let him leave me yet. Not when this was the longest conversation I'd had with him all year.

I cleared my throat. W-what about you? Any fun plans?

He shrugged. I was thinking about going to the new Justin Banks movie tonight.

Justin Banks movie? I jogged my memory, trying to figure out which one he was talking about.

Is that the one where the alien saves a small town from his alien family? I adjusted my glasses—a nervous tick I needed to get rid of.

Have you seen it? Harrison's eyes lit up, and it felt like hitting the jackpot because I had made his eyes do that.

N-not yet. The trailer I'd watched last week looked stupid. But I would totally sit through it if Harrison invited me.

He glanced at the band room exit before meeting my gaze again. Cool, well, have a good rest of the day. He gave me one of his heart-stopping smiles before putting his music stand and chair away. My gaze followed his back the whole way across the room until he walked out the door.

I slunk back in my seat, feeling dizzy after our short interaction. If Harrison was going to the movies tonight, I was going to be at that theater. I pulled out my phone to see what time the movie started. Seven o'clock. Harrison didn't know it yet, but he was going to be watching the latest Justin Banks movie with me. I was going to finally make this thing happen.

It was snowing when I walked outside after school, the early December weather finally deciding it was winter after all in Ridgewater, New York. I zipped up my gray parka and lifted the furry hood over my long brown hair as I zigzagged through the crazy traffic jam of students, on my way to meet my brother, Easton, and his best friend, Noah Taylor. I was the first to make it to Noah’s car, a silver Mazda 6, so I leaned against it to wait.

Noah was the first to come out of the school. He clicked the unlock button on his key fob once he was within range, and I was able to open the door and climb in the back. We both sat in silence as we waited for my brother to arrive.

Noah and Easton had been friends since middle school, but he and I never really had much to say to each other...probably because we were on completely different social ladders. He was the cool, football and lacrosse player who only had to smile at a girl to get her to bow down at his feet and beg him to kiss her. I was the weird girl who played the trumpet and liked to read comic books—someone he’d only seen as the dorky little sister of his best friend. I was definitely not the kind of girl who wanted to kiss him...not anymore, at least.

Yep, Noah and I were about as opposite as two people could get. Which was why I was more than happy to crush on Harrison these days.

I pulled out my phone to scroll through my Insta-feed so I wouldn't have to make small talk with Noah.

Easton opened the passenger door a couple of minutes later.

So, what's going on with that? Noah asked when my brother sank into his seat.

Going on with what? Easton asked innocently as he brushed the snow from his hair.

Noah laughed. I was watching you talking to Mercedes Atkins.

Easton shrugged. I asked her out.

What? I leaned forward, not believing what I was hearing.

Easton had actually asked a girl out?

Don't act all shocked, he said, turning his face to me. "I have asked a girl out before."

Yeah, but that was only for a school dance. He'd never been on a regular date. He must really like Mercedes. What are you doing for your date?

His eyes widened, a deer-in-the-headlights look. I don't know. I hadn't thought that far ahead since I didn't really think she'd say yes.

I laughed but then remembered my plan to try and spend time with Harrison tonight. You could take her to the movies. I was kind of hoping you could give me a ride there around six forty-five, since dad has drill tonight and your car should be out of the shop.

My brother sputtered. Yeah, like I'm totally going to let my little sister tag along when I finally bag a date with the hottest girl in school.

Oh no. This was not going to happen. I had to show up at that movie tonight. I was finally going to make good on my promise to my best friend Juliette to not be the loner band geek anymore. I was going to finally put myself out there tonight.

I promise I'll leave you alone, I hurried to say. I just need a ride since…you see, I kind of have a date tonight too. I rushed those last few words out quickly, as if saying them faster would make them sound truer. I really needed that ride.

My brother turned all the way around in his seat at my comment. "You have a date?"

I should've probably been offended at the surprise on both Easton and Noah's faces at that moment. But it was a pretty shocking thing to say, considering I'd never been on a date before. Aside from not being gorgeous and popular, my reputation for having an overprotective father wasn't very encouraging when it came to guys.

I'm going with Harrison Carter, I blurted into their stunned silence. We're watching the new Justin Banks movie.

Technically, not a real date, but the latter part of it could be true—if we were in the same movie theater, then we would be watching it together. But there was no way I was telling Easton and Noah that Harrison didn’t even know I was planning to meet him there.

I thought you hated Justin Banks, Noah said, looking at me with surprise in his big brown eyes.

I tilted my head to the side and played with the zipper on my coat. This one looked okay. I mean, it's not every day that you get to watch an alien show, right? And since when did Noah ever pay attention to what I did and didn't like?

Do you think Mercedes would like that show, too? Easton asked, looking at me and then to Noah.

Noah lifted his hands. Don't ask me. I'm not the girl in here.

I shrugged. I don't know, she's pretty mainstream so she'd probably prefer the new Zac Efron movie.

What do you mean by ‘mainstream?’ My brother pulled his head back as if offended that I could say such a thing about his date.

I don't know. She's just one of those normal, every-day, vanilla-kind of girls.

Noah raised an eyebrow at me. You say that like being mainstream is bad.

Of course he wouldn't understand. He'd dated the most mainstream girl there was all last year. Ashlyn Brooks was the epitome of every guy's fantasy—tall, blonde, blue-eyed, outgoing, and popular. Pretty much everything that I wasn't, with my brown hair that would be considered mousy at best and plain old hazel eyes that needed correcting with my thick black-rimmed glasses.

I'm just trying to say that if you're into a girl who will fawn all over you and make you feel like a stud for making a touchdown at the football game, then Mercedes is one of those kinds of girls.

And what guy wouldn't want that? Am I right, bro? Noah nudged Easton in the shoulder.

Yeah, well, this is a no-brainer then. Looks like I'm going to the Zac Efron movie tonight. Easton glanced back at me like I was clueless to think a guy would ever want a girl with a different flavor than Mercedes and Ashlyn. But hey, I can give you a ride. Just promise to keep it quiet in the backseat. I can't have you offending my mainstream girl with your band-geek ways.

Hey, I'll have you know that being the band geek is exactly why I have this date with Harrison tonight.

Or, a pretend date, at least.

You make it sound like you're not sure it's really a date. Noah narrowed his eyes as if he could read the lie in my face.

I sat up taller, hoping to appear more confident than I felt. Just because you don't think I'm pretty and intriguing doesn't mean that other guys feel the same.

Noah's face went from jovial to serious in half a nanosecond. Hey, I never said that about you.

I rolled my eyes and shrugged, urging the blush to stay away from my cheeks at his comment. And then, to prove to him that I didn't really care what his opinion of me was, I said, Well, it's not like it matters, anyway.

Noah shifted forward, his back to me. Well, I guess we better get going so you two can get ready for your hot dates. He turned the key in the ignition, and I tried not to dissect his last few sentences too much.

There was no way he would ever think of me as anything more than the annoying girl he was stuck spending time with because of our mutual relationship with my brother. So, instead of thinking about all the years I'd spent watching Noah and Easton play in their sports together, all the times he'd looked over me as he went to flirt with another girl who wasn't two years younger than him, and all the times he'd come to my house wearing a tux so he and Easton could pick up their dates to the dances, I crossed my arms and looked out the window.

Noah and I lived in two different worlds. But tonight, everything would change. I was going to meet Harrison at the movie. And if I had my way, Justin Banks and aliens would be the furthest things from his mind.

2

NOAH

Paul, Brielle, and I are going to dinner at Friendly's tonight. You want to come? Mom asked when I came down from my bedroom upstairs.

I didn't know why she asked. She knew just as well as I did that hanging out with Paul, my stepdad, was about the last thing I'd want to do. But I resisted the urge to roll my eyes because I knew better than to treat my mom with disrespect. She already had enough of that in her life, and the bruises from last time were just finally beginning to heal. Not really.

You sure? She looked at me over her shoulder as she put a dangly earring in her ear. Paul liked her to dress up when they went out.

I'll grab something on my way back to Easton's. Now that football season was over, I tried to spend as much time at his house as I could.

I didn't realize until a second later that I couldn't hang out with Easton tonight because he'd be on his date. Man, I needed a girlfriend again. I needed something to get me out of here and away from Paul when Easton was busy.

If only Ashlyn was still available and I hadn't completely killed any opportunity I might've had with her. But as much as I hated that Luke had stolen my ex-girlfriend, I knew she was probably a lot happier with him. I'd let my stepdad and the way he treated my mom get to me too much while we were dating, and I learned my lesson too late.

Oh well, that's just the way my life was meant to be.

I looked at the clock on the wall. Paul would be home from work in fifteen minutes. Time to head out again.

I went out the door and climbed into the car my dad bought me out of guilt for replacing me with his new family. Ten minutes later, I went through the slush-covered drive-thru at Wendy's and ate my burger and fries as I drove around absentmindedly.

I was pulling into the parking lot to the movie theater before I realized I'd driven there. Ashlyn's family owned the place, so I'd spent a lot of Friday nights over here last year. Apparently, my conversation with Easton and Lexi today had my subconscious guiding me to the theater.

Since I was already here and had nothing else to do, I scanned the list of movies on the big sign out front. There was a kid movie, a horror movie, the alien action movie Lexi had talked about, and the latest Zac Efron romantic movie.

Looks like I’ll get to watch Lexi on her date with her crush. That should be entertaining.

I got in line to get my ticket and concessions. The lobby was full, as typical for a Friday night. I felt a little weird going to a movie by myself, but if anyone from school saw me and had a problem with that, they could suck it.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and let my gaze wander around the room. Easton and his date were nowhere to be found, but after a good look around, I spotted Lexi standing with a bunch of guys from the grade below me. She hunched her shoulders, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say she was super uncomfortable. Maybe her date hadn't arrived yet?

But then I saw the guy who was supposed to be Lexi’s date, Harrison Carter. He'd been in one of my classes last year. And next to him was a leggy blonde, his arm around her waist.

Either Lexi had been embellishing her story about having a date with him tonight, or he'd asked two girls out. From the way he was looking at the blonde and ignoring Lexi, I got the feeling that he wasn't there for Lexi at all.

Poor girl. She really did like the guy. I was sure I'd overheard her and her friend giggling about Harrison last summer when I was at her house.

Who invited the nerdy sophomore to hang out with us tonight? a female voice sounded from behind me.

My ears perked up. Were they talking about Lexi?

Another voice spoke. Harrison said he told her about going to the movie. Pretty sure she's stalking him.

What a loser, the first girl said.

I clenched my hands into fists at my sides and looked back over to where Lexi stood. She was still in the same spot, but now she was gazing around the room as if looking for some excuse to leave the group.

The line ahead of me cleared out. I stepped forward, formulating a plan in my mind.

"I'd like one ticket for Whispers from Another Galaxy. The girl at the counter tapped on her screen then turned it around for me to pick my seat. I chose one then asked, Can I also get your biggest popcorn and two drinks?".

She nodded and put in my order. What would you like to drink?

I strummed my fingers on the counter, trying to remember what Lexi usually got. Then I remembered—we always ordered the same drink. Two Cokes.

After I paid, I awkwardly gathered the popcorn in my arms and carried it with the two drinks over to Lexi. I swallowed and hoped she wouldn't punch me for what I was about to do. I never could be sure with Lexi.

I squeezed into the space between her and the lanky redhead to her left. Sorry, it took so long to get the drinks. You wanted Coke, right? I offered her the soda, hoping she'd play along.

At first, she startled, but then her face went through a range of emotions: shock to confusion to relief.

Her lips quirked up into a smile, and she took the soda-filled cup from my hand. Thank you. I was worried we'd miss the previews, and I know how much you love those.

Are you two here on a date? a guy next to us asked, his eyebrows raised.

I looked at Lexi, giving her the opportunity to answer that question however she wanted.

She linked her arm through mine and gave the guy a broad smile. Yeah, of course. Did you think I came here by myself? She winked at me, and I worked hard to hold in my chuckle. I'd committed to this when I first came over here; I wouldn't blow it now.

The guy had the insight not to look too surprised, which I had to give him credit for. I knew my reputation around the school. I wasn't exactly known for hanging out with Lexi's crowd—usually going more for the drill team and cheerleaders. But who was to say I wouldn't ever branch away from my typical type? Me taking Lexi on a date couldn't be that far-fetched. She was two years younger than me, and yeah, she was kind of nerdy and could talk circles around me when it came to music and science, but she had always been fun to hang around. And despite what she'd said earlier in my car, she was kind of cute in her big glasses. And I liked that she was short enough that I could wrap her under my arm if I wanted to. Not that I'd thought about that before...

Should we go find our seats? I asked, not wanting to make small talk with a bunch of people I didn't know very well.

She sighed and gave my arm a gentle squeeze. Yes. You know how much I love Justin Banks.

And you know how much I love previews. It was a super corny thing to say, but I actually did like watching the previews and seeing which movies were coming out next.

We handed our tickets to the guy at the ticket podium then headed to theater four. It wasn't until we were looking at our seat numbers that I realized we wouldn't be able to actually sit by each other.

What's wrong? she asked when she noticed my troubled expression.

I held up my ticket. I'm sitting in seat 4I. Then I pointed to hers. And you're sitting in seat 15J.

Understanding replaced her look of confusion, and she bit her lip. I guess that is a problem.

There was still a seat open next to mine when I bought the ticket. Do you want me to see if I could trade yours? Or do you want to still sit with your friends?

And let them know that I totally lied to them? Her eyes were wide. I'll wait here with the drinks and popcorn while you go check.

I walked her to a bench and then left her with my armload of junk food. A few minutes later I was back. I held up the new ticket. Looks like you get to cuddle with me tonight after all.

Her cheeks flushed at my joke. We're not cuddling.

Fine. I shrugged. I'm just saying that if you really want to sell this to your friends in there, you might need to get a little closer.

She smacked my arm and gave me a warning look. Stop messing with me, Noah. I'm already nervous enough as it is.

I laughed. Come on. It's not like we've never watched a movie together before.

Yes. But you know as well as I do that I've never been on a date before, so yeah, cuddling is definitely out of my comfort zone. Even if it’s fake.

Would she count this as her first date then? That wasn't an unpleasant thought.

Well, since this is your first date, I promise to be a complete gentleman and follow your lead.

She smiled and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you.

Though, if you do decide that you wanted your first date to end in a first kiss, I can get on board with that, too. I winked. I couldn't help myself, and the look of terror in her eyes was totally worth it.

I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Let's go find our seats, okay? She turned on her heel and left me to carry the popcorn and both of our drinks.

3

LEXI

I don't know why I thought that showing up to the movie theater to try and get Harrison to notice me was a good idea. I really must have left my brain at home today. I wanted to die as I stood there by him and his friends, pretending like I was supposed to be there. And I'd wanted to go completely invisible when his girlfriend, who I didn't even know existed up until that point, showed up. Guys who dated girls from other schools should have some sort of label on them, so girls like me, who crushed on said guys, wouldn't look stupid trying to make something happen.

I wished Juliette wasn't in Paris doing her semester abroad. If she'd been around, she would have talked some sense into me before I showed up at the movie theater today.

I literally could have kissed Noah when he came up to me with