The Year I Became Isabella Anders (Sunnyvale, #1)

I keep on smiling until he leaves the house then my head slumps forward and my mouth falls open. “Holy shit.”


Kai snorts a laugh. “Watching you try to sound happy about watching him play was seriously the most entertaining thing I’ve ever seen.”

I sweep loose strands of my rain-kissed hair out of my face then turn to face him. “I hate football, okay. Honestly, I’m not a fan of watching any sport, period.”

“But you play them.” He opens the fridge and takes out two cans of Coke. “I remember you winning some sort of free shot contest or something.”

“Playing sports and watching them are two totally different things.” I catch a can of Coke as he tosses one to me. “I have a short attention span unless it involves books, writing, or drawing.”

“I know you do,” he says simply while popping the tab of the can open.

“How could you possibly know that about me?” I ask, opening my soda. “No one, except maybe my Grandma, knows that about me.”

He thrums his finger against his bottom lip. “Hmmm . . . let me think. How on Earth did I find out all that stuff about you . . . ?” An impish grin plays at his lips. “There has to be some sort of online place where I read all about your interests. Oh yeah, I remember now. There was this page that had all these thoughts of yours on it. There were also some pretty cool pictures of your trip that I didn’t see on your phone.”

I feel like I’ve entered the Twilight Zone. “You were on my blog?!” Shit. Has he read my last entry? If so, then he knows about my mom.

He shrugs, like it’s no biggie. “It’s kind of interesting, and you’re kind of funny.”

“Gee, thanks,” I say sarcastically. “And you’re kind of nice.”

“Why, thank you,” he replies with over exaggerated happiness.

I resist an eye roll then try to get a vibe from him. See if maybe he knows about my mom. Is there pity in his eyes? No, not really. If anything, he appears amused.

“When’s the last time you’ve been on it?” I ask. “My blog, I mean.”

“I don’t know, like four or five days ago.”

I exhale in relief. I made the post yesterday.

He winds around the kitchen island and heads for the doorway that leads to the living room. “Come on. I need to grab some stuff before I go to the party.”

“I never said I was going.” It’s not like I don’t want to go to a party. I just worry that people from my school will be there, which means I’ll end up spending the entire night avoiding their stares, probably hiding out in the bathroom.

He spins around, grinning. “Oh, come on. You know you want to go.” His grin expands. “It’ll be super fun!”

I flip him the middle finger, and he laughs.

“Besides, if you go, I can introduce you to some people from our school. Getting to know people is the first step to friendship.” He grins.

“You would really do that for me?” I’m oddly touched.

He waves me off, like it’s no big deal. “I have excellent people skills. Stick with me and you will too.”

Then he grabs my arm and pulls me with him, leaving me no choice but to go.





“I HAVE TO change before we leave,” I announce to Kai after he walks out of his bedroom, wearing different clothes.

He’s now sporting a long-sleeved grey Henley, black jeans, and boots. He also has on a grey knit cap and a collection of leather bands on his wrist, including the one I gave him. I won’t ever admit it to him aloud, but he looks dangerously sexy.

He evaluates me from head to toe while shoving up the sleeves of his shirt. “Why? You look fine.” He tugs on the bottom of my still-damp tank top. “And I think a lot of people will probably appreciate the wet t-shirt look.”

I fold my arms over my chest, mentally cursing myself when my cheeks go all melted chocolate warm.

Please don’t notice I’m blushing. Please don’t notice I’m blushing.

His lips spread to a grin. “The blush would be an added bonus too. Between the t-shirt and that, you might be able to get free drinks all night.”

I square my shoulders, scrounging up the little dignity I have left. “Bradon charges people for drinks at his parties? Really?”

“Not all the time, but sometimes.” Kai nonchalantly shrugs. “He’s an entrepreneur.”

I run my hands over the front of my shirt. “As much as I’d love free drinks for the night, I think I’d rather wear some clean, more weather appropriate clothes, and just pay if I drink.”

“If you drink?” Kai questions with amusement. “You’re a virgin drinker, aren’t you?”

“Oh, please. You think I spent three months overseas and didn’t touch a drink?” I scoff with a roll of my eyes. “I’ve drank a ton.”

His lips twitch as he wrestles back a laugh. “Okay, I believe you. But just a warning, I’d stay away from any baked goods if I were you.”