Summer Swing Read Online Free Page A

And when we don’t turn out to be that person we’ve been shooting for, the negative effects can be pretty devastating. You feel like a failure sometimes, or other times, when the relationship ends, people feel angry that they spent so much time and effort trying to be someone that they weren’t. It’s a no-win situation when we try to be someone we’re not. It’s never worth it.”
    I quietly took in the advice, even agreeing that it one hundred percent made sense.
    “So do you think that would help her?” Miranda asked.
    “What? Oh, definitely. Thank you. I should have written all of it down, though.”
    With a smile she said, “No need. Hang on a minute.”
    While she left for her desk, I tried to figure out how I might go about meeting Gage for the first time and not totally screw it up. It was possible that we wouldn’t even get through our first date before we realized we couldn’t stand being around one another, and if that was the case, then I would accept that first. I could handle the rejection if I had to. After all, if it wasn’t meant to be, then it wasn’t meant to be.
    Second , I decided to focus on just being myself. It was the easiest role to play, so why change it? It wasn’t in my nature to be somebody I wasn’t, so I didn’t worry about that , but it was in my nature to be a pleaser. My efforts to be agreeable sometimes left a mark, and I knew I should probably keep that in check a little better. So far Gage was used to hearing my likes and dislikes over the phone, so I had a jumpstart on that right away. Perhaps if I had met him any other way he might have been introduced to the super compliant Ellie, but now that I’d already voiced some of my opinions, I could just continue on with that same routine.
    “Here you go,” Miranda smiled, handing me a few sheets of paper. “That’s the entire article.”
    “Oh, thank you. Uh, I’ll be sure to pass it along.”
    I gathered up my things to head out and heard, “Good luck with your date, Ellie.”
    “Thanks,” I replied automatically. I caught myself as soon as I’d said it, and looked at Miranda smiling at me.
    “Just be yourself, sweetie,” she told me, squeezing my shoulder on her way by. “There’s no reason to change who you are for any guy.”
     
     
     
    Gage actually called me on my way home. I knew I was already a half an hour behind schedule, so I felt really guilty about that. However, it was Gage that was delaying our date when he said, “I, uh, kind of ne ed to get a few stitches ,” he told me.
    “What?”
    “Well normally I’d just let it heal however, but it won’t stop bleeding and I think I can see the bone.”
    “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed. “Yes, you definitely need stitches. Look, I’m on my way home from work but I’ll stop by and take you, okay? You shouldn’t drive if you’re bleeding to death.”
    He chuckled. “ Nah, I think I’ll live, but y ou don’t mind coming to get me? I’m sorry it’s not the great est way to introduce myself but— ”
    “Well, I don’t think you have a choice, Gage. I’ll be there in about five minutes if you can wait that long.”
    “ Sweet, I’ll call off the ambulance.”
    I laughed. “Okay, see you in a bit.”
    When I got to Wyatt’s house I was really nervous, but not for the same reasons I was before. Just thinking about stitches and blood—and bone ? — made me feel queasy. I hoped he was joking.
    I’d barely gotten out of the car when Gage came out the front door. He had his right hand holding a pile of gauze over his left forearm. But forget that… When he smiled at me I almost lost my wits. He was really good-looking, even better in person, and with a baseball hat on, there was something about him that drew me in instantly.
    His smile.
    “Hey, Ellie,” he greeted cheerfully. He came right to where I was standing, and I was pre tty sure he was going to hug me but didn’t know what to do to hold the gauze on his arm. “Uh, put your hand