Saugatuck Summer (Saugatuck, #1)(100)

Which is not to say that he isn’t wonderful in every possible way. He really, really is. One day at the end of classes, I got a text message from him, asking me to meet him at a coffeehouse in downtown Grand Rapids. When I got there, however, he wasn’t alone.

Casey Stratton was with him. Jace had taken it upon himself to make my teenage wish come true. Since Casey lived right there in town, Jace didn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t get to meet and talk with him. And it was a great time. Casey gave me a lot of encouragement and advice and we’re going to keep in touch. He might not quite be my Yoda, and I’ll never be in his league talent-wise, but having someone I can discuss music and the things we have in common with is nice; and when someone I admire that much says I can do more than I think I’m capable of, it really means something to me.

I’m starting to think I might try my hand at writing my own music, like he does.

For now, though, I’m meeting Jace at the pool. Since we stayed in our apartment in Allendale for the summer, it’s easy for me to keep training for my final year on the swim team, and I’m making better times than ever before. And since Jace doesn’t get to lift weights at the bathhouse anymore, he’s taken to doing laps to keep in shape while I train. I still say he’s got about a decade before he loses the struggle and becomes quite cuddly again.

And as far as I’m concerned? There is no f*cking way I won’t be there to see it.