Contents

Title Page

Author’s Note

Excerpt

From Me to You

Sneak Peek

About the Author

Also by Elizabeth Eulberg

Copyright

I don’t want to be the Grinch, so please take note: This holiday-themed short story is one BIG SPOILER if you haven’t read The Lonely Hearts Club (you might want to also read the short story Two of Us). If you have read the book, may your days be merry and bright. If you haven’t, you better watch out and you better not cry because I’ve warned you!

I, Penny Lane Bloom, do hereby declare that next year will be amazing.

How could it not? Just look at the past four months.

I went from a heartbroken girl to the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club. From having a small handful of close friends to having nearly thirty girls in my corner. From dating a total jerk who cheated on me to being with a guy who’s deserving.

Okay, so Ryan Bauer and I have only been on one date, but I know things with him are going to be awesome.

And I so called it. Right before the first day of school, I had a feeling this year was going to be different. Tracy did, too. It’s true that we generally go into the new school year with a good attitude, but this time, we were right.

If so much can happen in four months, just imagine what the Club can do in the next twelve. What could happen with Ryan and me?

I can’t wait for the New Year to ring in and see what’s in store for us.

But first, I have to survive Christmas with my family.

THANK GOD FOR RINGO STARR.

If it wasn’t for Ringo’s Christmas album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus, the music at the Bloom household on Christmas morning would’ve consisted of a constant loop of the Beatles’ “Christmas Time (Is Here Again),” Sir Paul’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” and snippets from the Beatles’ seven Christmas albums.

Now when I say the Beatles had seven Christmas albums, I don’t mean the Fab Four covered “O Holy Night” or “White Christmas.” If only. Nope. The albums consisted mostly of skits, the Beatles giving their fans messages of thanks, lots of rambling, and an occasional a cappella song like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” They were recorded for the Beatles fan club members in the 1960s, not as music albums. I didn’t even want to know how much my parents spent to get bootlegged copies.

Ringo was crooning “The Little Drummer Boy” while Dad handed out presents and Mom poured hot cocoa.

“Got another one for you, Lucy.” Dad handed my oldest sister another present to add to her ever-growing pile.

“Thanks, Dad,” Lucy said as Dad gave her a big hug.

This Christmas was a bit bittersweet for the Bloom family. Lucy would be married soon, and she and her new husband would start rotating Christmases. She’d be in Boston next year. So Mom and Dad had taken every opportunity this year to give her extra attention.

“I wonder if Pete’s family will know how you like your hot cocoa,” Mom said as she placed a steaming mug next to her.

Extra attention and guilt.

The five of us sat around and took turns opening presents. Every year there was a Beatles-themed gift our parents gave the three of us: ornaments, jewelry, T-shirts, figurines, etc. That year we each got a clock. Lucy and Rita both got clocks with the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band since that’s the album with the songs that they’re named after (“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Lovely Rita”).

“Oh, um, thanks?” Rita did her best to smile as she studied her clock, which I knew for a fact wouldn’t be going back to her dorm room at Northwestern. Neither Lucy nor Rita were ever into the Beatles as much as I was. But I guess when you’ve had a band forced down your throat since birth, it was understandable that you’d want to rebel.

Not me.

I carefully peeled back the black wrapping paper with the Beatles logo so I could save it. I assumed my clock would be the cover of Magical Mystery Tour since that’s the album with “Penny Lane.” But it wasn’t. It wasn’t even an album cover. It was the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band logo.

“We figured it was fitting for you and your Club,” Dad explained. “But if you really want a Magical Mystery Tour one …”

“No.” I held it up, admiring the logo that had inspired the Club. “It’s perfect!” And it was going to be hung in my room before I went to sleep that night.

“Now, girls” — Mom held Dad’s hand — “we’re proud of you for many different reasons. But, Penny Lane, we are so proud of your Beatles club.”

“It’s not a Beatles club,” I reminded them for the eighty-fifth time.

While the Fab Four have been with me through some pretty rough patches and, yes, they inspired the Club’s name, my Lonely Hearts Club was solely about female friendships. And never changing for a guy. Ever. Even if that guy was a Beatle.

“We know it’s not,” Mom said as Dad nudged her playfully. Oh, how they loved to torture their children. “But you’re only a junior, Penny Lane. Just imagine what’s next for you.”

My thoughts exactly.

The more I got to know Ryan Bauer, the more I realized that, contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t perfect.

First, he didn’t know much about the Beatles. I mean, who doesn’t know the Beatles? So I rectified that by making him a CD after our not-a-date-outing to a Beatles cover band.

Second, he couldn’t hold a tune. Seriously. He was many things: hot, sweet, hilarious, thoughtful, smart, and hot (I know I said hot twice, but it was something that could not be ignored). But the guy couldn’t sing. I first found that out when he was singing along to the cover band, then it was confirmed in front of most of the school when he sang “Penny Lane” to me at a karaoke fund-raiser. (I know, swoon!) However, that slight character flaw could be overlooked. Have I mentioned how incredibly good-looking he was?

Then I found out another thing about Ryan that was almost inconceivable. Luckily, it was something that could easily be fixed.

It was really amazing he was able to function properly without me.

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Ryan opened up the front door to his house with a Santa hat on.

“Um, did you just call me a ‘ho’?” I teased him as I walked inside.

He gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “I was trying to make sure you were still in the holiday spirit.”

“Christmas was only yesterday,” I reminded him as I settled on the couch in the living room next to their Christmas tree and looked around.

I hadn’t been in Ryan’s house since grade school. I used to go over there a lot after school when he first started dating Diane Monroe in eighth grade, since Diane and I were best friends. But then things changed: Diane started canceling on me and I spent less time with either of them. Being at Ryan’s house reminded me how far we’d all come and how fortunate I was to have them both back in my life.

“Speaking of Christmas.” Ryan raised his eyebrows, his blue eyes popping. He hit a button on a remote control, and the living room was flooded with the sounds of “Wonderful Christmastime.”

“Please,” I groaned. “I love me some Sir Paul, but I can’t anymore with this song.”

He switched to the radio instead, then sat next to me on the couch. “Sorry about that, but I figured you could tell your mom that I played it. You know, bonus points.”

While it really was that easy to get in my mom’s good graces, it was even easier to fall out of favor with her, so I appreciated him putting in the effort.

“First things first.” He handed me two presents. “Merry Christmas.”

“Thanks.” I reached in my bag and handed him his present.

While we’d only been on one real date, he let it slip that he was getting me something, so I was prepared. Although I shouldn’t have been surprised that he would get me two things. Ryan always had a knack for out-wonderfulling everyone else. Definitely not something I was used to with the previous immature boys I had dated.

“Open this one first.” He pointed to the smaller present.

I carefully unwrapped the Christmas-tree paper and opened up the box.

I couldn’t help but laugh: fleece-lined gloves.

Ryan had been horrified over how cold my hands were on our first date, and said he was going to get me gloves for Christmas. He was a man of his word.

I tried the gloves on. They were cozy and comfortable. “Thanks! These are so nice, not to mention thoughtful.” Although I much preferred it when he warmed up my hands. “So does this mean you’re retiring as Penny Lane Bloom’s Official Hand-Warmer?”

“Never.” He leaned forward and gave me another kiss that warmed me all over. “Okay, now this present I’m not so sure about. I can’t believe you didn’t already have this, so maybe there’s a reason why?”

I took the thin, rectangular present and was surprised by its weight. I quickly tore it open, not concerned about keeping the paper intact.

I laughed loudly when I saw the City of Liverpool street sign for the real Penny Lane.

“Is it okay?” Ryan asked, his voice hesitant.

“It’s awesome.” I held up the sign. Why didn’t I have one? “You’ll definitely get huge points from my mom. Unless she doesn’t like you showing her up.”

Ryan’s smile was huge. “I’m so glad you like it. Now my turn!” He bounced up and down as he took my present.

I could’ve added “acts like a toddler around presents” to the Ryan Bauer Is Not Perfect List, but it was pretty freakin’ adorable.

“Let me explain something first,” I began before he opened his gift. “I’m a little shocked about your lack of knowledge on this subject and felt like it was my duty to educate you.”

“The Beatles?” he asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Well, obviously yes, but something else, too.”

He quickly unwrapped his present, which contained two DVDs: Help! — and his deep, dark shame.

“Awesome! I haven’t seen either of these.” He began to read the cases.

“Okay, you get a pass on Help! But honestly, Ryan …” I shook my head in disbelief. “How on earth have you survived for seventeen years on this planet without watching A Christmas Story? It’s only playing all day every Christmas!!”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I hear it’s pretty good.”

“Pretty good?” I groaned. “Pretty good? Ryan, it’s hilarious. The family is almost as insane as mine. Almost. I just can’t …” I threw my hands up in defeat.

How could a guy be so smart and charming and hot, and be so clueless about one of the best Christmas movies of all time?

He removed the cellophane from the case. “I’m so sorry. How completely irresponsible of me. I guess we have no choice but to watch it right now. And Help! I hope these indiscretions on my part don’t mean you’re going to break up with me.”

“I — I …” I stammered.

I wasn’t used to a guy being so open with me. Generally it was all a game: waiting for a text, not knowing if we were dating or just hanging out, or God forbid wanting to know if you could call him your boyfriend.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But I knew better. I had known Ryan for years. He was a good guy. Yes, good guys do exist. Granted, they’re becoming an endangered species, but when you do find one, you don’t want to let go.

I finally found my voice. “Well, I guess I could look past this. But you’re on thin ice, Bauer.”

A mischievous grin began to spread on Ryan’s lips. “I guess I could try to think of something to make this up to you, besides a movie marathon. Let me think …” He leaned toward me, and my heart began to race, anticipating his lips on mine. He then pulled back abruptly. “We could go ice-skating!”

Oh, he was going to pay for that.

“Hey,” he said in reply to my annoyed glare, “you were the one who mentioned thin ice.”

“Yes,” I said calmly as I scooted away from him on the couch. “I do sense a cold front coming on, since you mentioned it.”

“Okay, okay!” Ryan threw his hands up in surrender. “I’ve clearly met my match.”

“Yes, you have,” I said indifferently, but I was forced to turn my face away from him. I was in a losing fight with a smile that was creeping on my face. “You should be careful since I’m very fra-gee-lay.”

“Huh?” Ryan remarked as he pulled me in closer.

“I’m fra-gee-lay.” I exaggerated the pronunciation just like the dad in A Christmas Story.

“Um, are you trying to say that you’re fragile? Because you are many things, Bloom, but fragile is not one of them.”

I swatted at his hand. “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

“What are you even talking about?”

I couldn’t contain my laughter any longer. “See, this is exactly why you need me: to educate you on the finer things in life, like Christmas Story quotes.”

Ryan leaned in again, but this time there was no pulling away. He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “I have a feeling I’m going to learn a lot from you.”

Ryan knew way more than me in a lot of subjects, but I liked him thinking he could learn from me, too. Between the Beatles and movies, he did have many important life skills to learn. I guess we both did.

And the best way to learn was with practice.

I lifted my chin so our lips met.

Lots and lots of practice.

He placed a hand on my cheek as we kissed. I ran my hand through his soft, wavy hair, then pulled myself in even closer to him.

BBBB-RING!

We both jumped nervously as a phone rang in the kitchen.

“Ah.” Ryan cleared his throat. “I should probably get that.”

While he answered the phone, I smoothed down my hair and tried to steady my breathing. I could feel that my face was practically on fire. I grabbed the Help! DVD and began studying it as if I didn’t already know everything about the movie.

“Yeah.” Ryan came back in the room. “Um, sorry about that. Why do telemarketers always pick the worst time to call? So, I ah, guess we should start the movie?” He scratched his head, and his hair was standing up in different directions.

It seemed that I wasn’t the only one who was a little flustered.

“Sure.”

Ryan got everything ready. “Do you need a blanket?”

“No, I’m good.” There was no way I would ever be cold if I was next to him.

“Okay, then.” Ryan sat down and put his arm around me, and I sank into him. It felt natural, easy. “And, Penny? Thanks for the movies.”

“You’re welcome.” I placed my head on his shoulder. “And Ryan, thanks.”

My thanks weren’t just for the gloves and the Penny Lane sign. It was for many things, but mostly for Ryan just being Ryan. That was the best gift of all.

Normally, Christmas break consisted of Tracy and me doing a whole lot of nothing. Not this year. When I wasn’t with the Club or Ryan, I was busy helping my family get ready for Lucy’s wedding.

Sure, it wasn’t for two more months, but there were dresses to be fitted, hairstyles to be tested, and cake to be tasted. Guess which one I didn’t mind?

And, of course, there were also family fights to be had.

“How many times are you going to bring this up?” Lucy dragged her suitcase to the front door.

Mom followed closely behind. “I think it would be something different. Years from now, don’t you want people to talk about how fun and unique your wedding was?”

“Ugh!” Lucy folded her arms and glared at Mom. “You use the word unique, but others would classify your Beatles obsession as insane.”

Lucy wasn’t only my oldest sister, she was also the wisest.

“What’s going on?” Rita sat down next to me on the couch and handed me a piece of leftover pecan pie.

“I’m not sure, but I think it has to do with that.” I pointed to a cake topper with Beatles figurines circa their Ed Sullivan Show debut.

Rita and I ate our pie and watched the battle like it was dinner theater.

Mom continued to play her favorite role: The Often Put-Upon Mother. “Now, Lucy, you know that without the Fab Four, your father and I would’ve never met and you would’ve never been born. I think it would be nice for them to be in your wedding somehow.”

“Fine,” Lucy began to concede as she put on her wool coat. “I’d be more than happy to have Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as guests. Please see to it that they each get an invitation.”

“Don’t think I haven’t tried,” Mom replied.

Of course she had. OF COURSE.

“DAD!” Lucy screamed up the stairs. “I’m going to miss my flight if we don’t get moving.”

While I knew how stressed out Lucy was about the wedding, I didn’t want her to leave angry. “Mom” — I approached her cautiously, leaving the safety of the couch — “I think the cake topper is great.”

“I knew you’d understand, Penny Lane.” Mom wrapped her arm around me like we were taking a stance together against Lucy, and I only wanted to smirk at her for a fleeting second.

“Well, you do have your thirtieth wedding anniversary coming up this summer … so don’t you think it would be great if you and Dad had a party? And we could use the topper for your cake?”

Mom looked thoughtful. “You know, that would be a great idea. And then we can use those invitations I saw, and the plates and napkins …” She walked into the kitchen, talking to herself, most likely already making a list of all the new Beatles stuff she’d be able to buy for this party.

“Thanks.” Lucy embraced me. “I owe you.”

Dad came running down the stairs. “I know traffic to O’Hare can be bad, but we’ve got plenty of time, Lucy.”

“Dave!” Mom called out from the kitchen. “We’re going to have a party for our anniversary and use all the Beatles stuff we got for Lucy’s wedding that she doesn’t want!”

“If you say so,” Dad called back before he winked at Lucy. “Let me tell you, being in a relationship is all about compromise.”

Rita piped up. “Does Mom even know what compromise means?”

“Now, girls, you may not believe this, but your mother can be a reasonable woman.”

“I’m sorry; you’re going to have to provide us with at least one example in order for me to believe any of that,” Rita said dryly.

“Okay, okay …” He held his hands up. “Your mother used to insist that ‘Ding Dong, Ding Dong’ be on our Christmas playlist, but I convinced her otherwise.”

“So she can play it all day New Year’s Eve and Day,” Lucy reminded him.

“Ding Dong, Ding Dong” was a George Harrison song about ringing in the New Year. If only Ringo had also done a New Year’s album.

“Hey, compromise means each person has to give something up.” Dad looked satisfied with himself as he took Lucy’s luggage out to the car.

Rita and I said our good-byes to Lucy before she went to the airport with Mom and Dad. After nearly a week of a full house, it was now eerily quiet.

“So.” Rita broke the silence. “What are you going to have to give up now that you have a boyfriend?”

“RITA!” I smacked her arm. “We’ve been dating for a little over a week. Relax!”

“Wow.” Rita shook her head. “I wasn’t going there, since I’m clearly the most innocent of the sisters.” Please. “I meant with everything going on with the Club, school, work, something’s gotta give if you’re going to have a serious boyfriend.”

“Again. A week,” I reminded her with a roll of the eyes. I took our dishes to the kitchen and started to clean up the pie crumbs.

But I couldn’t help but think about what Rita had said. Everything was great with Ryan now. I didn’t have to worry about school or homework. I had plenty of time. But being the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club was a huge commitment. Not that I was complaining, believe me. It was the best thing to ever happen to me. But that question kept nagging me.

What was going to happen when school started back up?

Usually on New Year’s Eve, I’m excited about a new year with new beginnings. But I was genuinely sad for this year to end. It wasn’t that I enjoyed the disaster that was this summer with Nate, obviously. But if it wasn’t for Jackass, The Lonely Hearts Club wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have had this amazing group of friends.

So I guess I’m thankful that there’ll always be jerky boys to remind us that we’re worth more.

The Club’s party was in full swing in our basement. My parents were upstairs with their friends, and we’d been left alone. We were all dancing away, chatting, stuffing our faces — you know, the usual. While this was something most people only did at big parties, like for New Year’s Eve, it was pretty much a typical Saturday night for The Lonely Hearts Club.

Sometimes I couldn’t believe that this was my life now.

“So?” Diane came up to me with a huge smile on her face. “How are things? How was dinner tonight?”

I froze. I was well aware that Diane knew Ryan and I were dating. The whole school was aware of that fact. But this was Diane, Ryan’s ex. Sure, she’d encouraged us to get together, and since Ryan was one of her closest friends, I was pretty sure he’d already told her how our dinner went, but still … it was weird.

“Come on, Penny!” Diane laughed. “It’s a simple question; I’m not giving you the third degree.”

“First” — Tracy approached us wearing a New Year’s tiara — “I need to wear a crown every day. I think it suits me. Second, giving Pen the third degree would be a fab way to spend the evening. So how did it go?” She started wiggling her eyebrows playfully. “Was Ryan the perfect gentleman? Although how much fun would that be?”

I glared at Tracy. She knew that I felt uncomfortable talking to Diane about Ryan. “It was fine. We just got pizza, nothing big.” Yes, we did get pizza … and then made out in his car for about thirty minutes before he dropped me off to get ready for the party. So it was better than fine, but couldn’t a girl have a little privacy? Was nothing sacred?

“Hey, everybody!” Tracy called out. “We’re getting the Ryan scoop from Penny!”

Apparently not.

The room went quiet and someone turned down the music. There was a chorus of “ooohs!” Tracy was so dead.

“Hey!” Morgan called out from the corner. “You guys made me spill when I started dating Tyson, so it’s only fair.”

Um, I was the one who called off the hounds when they were circling Morgan after her first date with Tyson.

“We want details!” Kara called out.

Et tu, Kara?

Soon the entire room was throwing out questions and suggestive comments. I knew they meant well. Everybody in the Club was supportive of the fact that I was dating Ryan. There had even been a unanimous vote to rewrite our rules to allow dating, which had been forbidden. However, the rule wasn’t technically changed for me. It was mostly changed because of Morgan and Tyson. Then Michelle got back together with Michael, Tracy’s younger brother. Order was restored in the world. And, yes, that meant that I did get to go out with Ryan.

“Okay! Okay!” I finally gave up. Maybe I’d just give them something. “We’ve been having a nice time.”

“Boring!” Tracy threw a napkin at me. “Of course you had a nice time; tell us about the hot kissing!”

I wasn’t exactly sure what the look on my face was, but Tracy recoiled slightly. She was not one to ever back away from anything, so it must’ve been epic.

“Ah …” I turned bright red thinking of all the hot kissing, and fumbled for something to say. Instead I went with deflection. “So Michelle, how are things going with Michael?”

“NO!” Tracy howled and put her hands up to her face like she was in a horror movie. “I don’t want to hear any details about my baby brother. That’s just wrong. So wrong.”

Michelle wisely hid behind Eileen while all eyes remained on me.

I looked out at this new family of friends that I’d been fortunate enough to acquire. I used to be able to tell them everything. They knew all about what I’d gone through with Nate. They cheered me on after I got to tell him off at Thanksgiving. They were better than family in a way, because this was a family that I got to choose.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to shout from the rooftops about how well things were going with Ryan, but something held me back. Maybe it was the fact that just a few weeks ago, I was the one declaring that all boys were evil and not worth our time. That we were better without guys. But now I was the one with a boyfriend.

Hypocrite much?

Plus, couldn’t I have this one thing for myself?

“Guys!” Diane came to my rescue. “There’s going to be plenty of opportunities to hear about Penny and Ryan, but we only have twenty minutes until the New Year. Let’s get back to dancing!”

Thankfully, the music started up again and everybody’s attention went back to the music, the food, and (hopefully) gossip not related to me.

“Thanks.” I gave Diane a grateful smile.

“Listen, Penny” — Diane flipped her long blond hair — “I know you feel weird talking about it, so there’s no pressure. There are also no issues and no competition. You know that, right?”

Of course I knew there was no competition between Diane and me. She was this petite, gorgeous, model-like creature who always had the perfect outfit on. She was also really smart and in practically every extracurricular activity the school offered. So there was no way I could compete on that level. She knew that. I knew that. Everybody knew that.

But Ryan liked me regardless of the fact that I wasn’t perfect like Diane. I had a crazy family; my fashion sense consisted mostly of jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers; I’d always have four guys in my life (John, Paul, George, and Ringo); and I had this Club that would always be a priority. But none of that seemed to matter to Ryan.

So no, there wasn’t a competition.

“Yes, I do,” I assured her. “Now let’s dance!”

Tracy joined Diane and me as we swayed along to the Fab Four.

“It’s time!” I called out as I turned the music off and the television on so we could properly ring in the New Year.

The Club all grabbed apple cider, noisemakers, and horns and started counting down.

“Pen,” Tracy whispered in my ear, “how right was I about this year being amazing? We just knew it, didn’t we?”

“We did!” I put my arm around my best friend as we had ten seconds remaining of the old before we’d be ushering in a new era of The Lonely Hearts Club. “And I’m predicting that next year will be even better.”

“The best.” Tracy gave me a huge hug as the basement filled with excitement, anticipation, and then a chorus of “FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE … HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

All the Club members went around to toast and embrace one another. There was so much happiness, I wished I could’ve bottled it up. And while I wanted to savor my time with the Club, I knew that there were even more amazing moments to come.

We had a whole new year to make memories and grow together.

While the year was only a couple of seconds old, I hoped it was ready for all that The Lonely Hearts Club had in store.

Keep reading for a special sneak peek of

We Can Work It Out, the return to the characters of The Lonely Hearts Club from romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg!

WHILE MY BIRTHDAY DIDN’T FALL ON Christmas or New Year’s Eve, I could sympathize with people who had to share their birthday with a big holiday. Because in the Bloom household, February 7 wasn’t only my birthday, it was the anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in the United States.

For years my sisters and I believed my mom refused to push so I’d be born on my parents’ favorite day of the year. That might sound crazy, but my Beatles-obsessed parents had named their three daughters after Beatles songs: Lucy (in the Sky with Diamonds), (Lovely) Rita, and Penny Lane. (Thank goodness they stopped at three, or I might’ve had a poor little sister named Eleanor Rigby.)

While my parents’ love of the Beatles had passed down to me, my sisters were more resistant.

“You’re being so stubborn, Lucy!” Mom said into the phone, gesturing wildly to my father, who was on the other line.

“Now, Luce,” Dad began, “promise us that you’ll think about it.”

Mom glared at him. I kept my head down while I finished washing the dishes from dinner.

Lucy’s upcoming wedding was making everyone tense. This particular argument wasn’t about the usual wedding-related things like seating charts, food, or flowers. No, this fight was over my parents’ insistence that a Beatles song be used for Lucy and Pete’s first dance. The current compromise was that Dad and Lucy would have their father-daughter dance to “In My Life,” which would’ve satisfied most people.

My parents, however, were not most people.

“Now you’re just being ridiculous,” Mom groaned. “Remember who’s paying for this wedding!”

I sat down at the kitchen table and flipped through the RSVPs, recognizing a mixture of family and friends. The names that didn’t register were all from the East Coast, where Lucy’s future husband was from.

“Well, I guess we’ll talk about this when you’re home next weekend,” Mom said with a sigh.

I did my best to contain the amused expression surfacing on my face. At some point, my parents had to realize that while their wedding had included only Beatles music, posters, and groomsmen’s outfits similar to the ones the Beatles wore during their famous Ed Sullivan Show debut performance, most other people would show some restraint.

Mom collapsed on the chair next to me after hanging up the phone. “Now, Penny Lane, you’d better not give us any fuss over your birthday. You know the drill.”

I quickly agreed because I did know better. The traditional “Happy Birthday” song has never been sung in the Bloom house. I doubt my parents even know the words. No, the only Dave-and-Becky-Bloom-endorsed song for birthday celebrations was the Beatles’ “Birthday.” And as much as it annoyed Rita and Lucy, I absolutely loved it.

“So what’s the plan, kiddo?” Dad asked as he sat down across from me, a stack of new RSVPs in hand.

“Well, my birthday’s on a Saturday this year, so the Club will be over. I figured we could do a cake. I don’t really need anything special.” Which was true — all I needed was the Club.

“What about Ryan?”

“He’s taking me out to lunch.” I’d debated asking him along that night, but I didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. Plus, I wasn’t going to bend the rules for my benefit, even if it was my birthday.

“That sounds like a fun day,” Dad answered. “Ryan’s coming to the wedding, right?”

I looked up at my dad. I hadn’t even thought about that. Ryan and I had only been dating for four weeks, and the wedding wasn’t for another six.

Before I had a chance to respond, my dad lit up and said, “Ah, here’s the Taylors’ RSVP.”

I instantly felt sick to my stomach. I had forgotten that the Taylors were invited, and I was pretty sure my parents weren’t going to exclude Nate, the jackass son who’d stomped on my heart.

Mom looked down at the guest list. “They’re coming, right?”

I realized I was holding my breath.

Dad looked down at their response. “Yep, two chicken and one beef.”

Our dads were best friends, so I had known our paths would eventually have to cross. But I didn’t want it to be at such an important family event.

Actually, I didn’t want it to be under any circumstance.

“Ah, Dad?” I finally found my voice. “Ryan is coming to the wedding.”

“That’s great, Penny Lane!” He winked at me as Mom added his name to the list.

Yes, it was great.

I knew I could handle myself around Nate — I had proven that at Thanksgiving, when I’d finally told him off.

But it was always good to have backup.

*  *  *

The second I mentioned the wedding to Ryan, I realized how silly I’d been for not inviting him sooner.

He was still excited when we arrived for our double date Friday night with Morgan and Tyson.

“It’s just so public,” he teased. “Does this mean you’re going to allow me to dance with you? In front of people?” He opened his jaw in playful exasperation.

“You are aware that I can take back that invitation at any time,” I reminded him.

“You wouldn’t!”

“Try me,” I dared.

“Okay, I won’t press my luck.”

“Smart move.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy on you tonight. Prepare to be schooled.” Ryan then began doing what I could only assume was the running man, with arms and legs flailing everywhere.

It was dorky, yet totally endearing.

“Yes, well, I guess you showed me.” I held up my hands and waved them exaggeratedly. “I’m so nervous.”

Ryan stopped dancing. “Just remember this next week.”

“What’s next week?”

He looked at me like I should have known what he was talking about. “We’re going to that indoor mini-golf place with my sister. On Wednesday.”

“Oh, no.” I felt horrible. “I completely forgot. I agreed to try out that new Chinese restaurant with a few of the girls.”

“Okay,” he said with measured understanding. “How about next weekend sometime? Clearly not on Saturday night.”

“Sure.” Then I realized what next weekend was. “Wait, Lucy’s home next weekend. We have family stuff, and then she’s meeting the Club.”

“Oh,” he said flatly, no longer hiding his disappointment. “Well, I’d really like to meet her, too, if there’s time.”

I started going over next weekend’s schedule in my head, but there was something wedding- or Club-related pretty much every second.

“What about the following week?” I offered, even though I knew how lame that sounded.

“Since I’m dating such a popular girl, I’ll take what I can get.” He laced his fingers through mine, and we walked into the arcade, where Morgan and Tyson were already playing skee-ball.

While some people assumed that The Lonely Hearts Club allowed dating solely so I could go out with Ryan, it was actually because of Morgan and Tyson. While I was in my “all guys are evil” phase, Tyson was assigned to be my biology lab partner. At first I let his long black hair and rocker attire paint him in my mind as a shallow guy who only cared about his band. But the more I got to know him, the more I realized what a sensitive and brilliant musician he was. When he let me know that he had a crush on Morgan (who’d had a crush on him since freshman year), I realized it wasn’t fair to let my bad experiences cost Morgan and Tyson their happiness.

Watching them laughing and playfully trash-talking, I knew the change to the Club had been for the best. It also didn’t hurt that I got to go out with Ryan.

Morgan had one last skee-ball remaining. She stretched out her arms, put her long black hair up in a ponytail, and grabbed the ball. “And now, Two-Time Skee-Ball Champion Morgan Stephens needs only twenty points to win the game. Can she do it?”

She paused dramatically before rolling the ball up the ramp, where it landed perfectly in the fifty-point hole. Tyson groaned, while Morgan took the tickets from both of their machines. “I believe these belong to me.”

Tyson’s disappointment quickly faded as he pulled Morgan in close for a kiss.

“Good job!” I gave Morgan a high five. “These boys need to be shown how it’s done.”

“Are you willing to take on the champion?” she dared me.

“Please.” I took out my quarters and slid them into the machine. “Challenge accepted.”

Morgan and I played three rounds, and she kept her winning streak intact, her ticket pile growing by the minute.

“So can I talk to you for a second?” she said when we were done. Her gaze wandered over to the corner where Ryan and Tyson were shooting hoops for prizes.

“Of course.” Her tone made me worried.

Morgan hesitated, nervously playing with her leather cuff bracelet. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about taking the next step with Tyson — you know.”

It took me a second to realize what she was taking about. In a way I did know. It was Nate’s continual pressure on me to take that next step that had led to the demise of our relationship, or at least to the revelation that he was a cheating snake.

“Okay.” I prodded her to continue. I didn’t feel like I could contribute much since I had zero experience when it came to actual sex, but it was clear that Morgan needed to talk.

“I know we’ve only been dating for a few months, but he’s a senior. I don’t want to wait until he leaves. And I also didn’t want to be a big cliché and do it after prom. I don’t know.”

“Well …” I tried to stall since I had no idea what to say next. “I guess … if you’re not sure, you should probably wait until you are.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. I do know that I want it to be special. I don’t want to make this a Club issue or anything, but I wonder if there’s someone I should talk to?”

“I know that Amy has … experience.” The fact that I couldn’t say “lost her virginity” or “had sex” out loud made it clear that I was not the right person to have this important conversation with. “But if I remember correctly, it wasn’t that great. I’m sure someone else has done it with better results; that information wasn’t exactly on the Club’s registration form.”

“It wasn’t? That’s a shame.” She laughed. “Well, I really appreciate you listening.”

“Of course, anytime. You know that.” Even if I was completely inadequate on the subject.

“So what about you?”

I responded with my most mature “Huh?”

“Have you and Ryan talked about … ?” She let the thought hang in the air.

“No!” I said with a little too much horror. The way I was handling this conversation made it painfully clear that I wasn’t ready to take that next step. I tried to fight the memories of Nate’s betrayal as they surfaced. I could still practically hear the echoes of Nate and that girl’s cruel laughter when I caught them.

Of course this now had me wondering if Ryan was considering it. I knew he and Diane had planned to do it, but never went through with it.

“Hey!” Tyson came over to us, followed by Ryan, who was clutching a stack of tickets. “What are you two talking about?”

“NOTHING!” Morgan and I shrieked in unison. We were so busted.

Tyson laughed. “Okay, okay, I get it. Girl stuff.”

I actually didn’t think he got it at all.

Morgan looked at Tyson’s empty hands. “So I take it that the game didn’t go well?”

Tyson gestured in defeat toward Ryan. “I should’ve known better than to challenge a jock to a sports game.”

“I did warn you.” Ryan put his arms around me and I bristled a little at his touch. He pulled back, sensing my discomfort. “We can do a guitar game if you feel like that would even the score.”

Tyson scrunched up his nose. “Playing guitar in a video game and in real life are two completely different things.”

Morgan decided to up the ante. “How about the three of us play the guitar game and I’ll school you both? Loser buys the pizza.”

There was no way Tyson and Ryan were going to take that from Morgan.

As we headed over to their game, Ryan pulled me in close. “Everything okay? You seem a little distant.”

“Yes, I’m fine,” I lied.

He stopped walking and faced me. “Listen, Bloom, you forget that I know you well. You’ve got that look on your face that means you’re either confused or worried, maybe a bit of both. So again I’ll ask, is everything okay?”

I looked at Ryan and couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I was being silly, worrying over a conversation that didn’t need to happen for months, maybe even longer.

The best part of dating someone you’ve known practically your entire life is that you know what kind of person he is. Ryan would never force me to do anything I wasn’t ready for. I was stressing for no reason.

I leaned into him. “Everything’s great.” Then I surprised him by planting a kiss on his lips.

“Wow!” he exclaimed once I pulled away. “That was awesome and so public.”

I ignored his (completely justified) teasing and dragged him by the hand to where Morgan and Tyson were waiting.

“Okay, guys, I’m in.” I reached into my jeans pocket for change. “And fair warning: My parents pretty much require Beatles Rock Band family game night on a weekly basis. Get ready to hand over those tickets and buy me some pizza.”

Ryan may have been the jock, Tyson the rocker, and Morgan the gamer, but none of them had anything on me during that game.

I used my winnings to get Ryan a mini basketball with the Chicago Bulls logo. It seemed like a girlfriend thing to do … and I figured it was as good a time as any to start being a better girlfriend.

ELIZABETH EULBERG is the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality, and Better Off Friends. You can find her on the web at www.elizabetheulberg.com

Copyright © 2014 by Elizabeth Eulberg

Published by point, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, POINT, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

First edition, December 2014

e-ISBN 978-0-545-79972-0

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