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Stealing Parker
Stealing Parker
Stealing Parker
Ebook261 pages3 hours

Stealing Parker

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

"A hero who will melt your heart."—Jennifer Echols, national award-winning author of Such a Rush

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She's on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she's made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother's scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her. Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three. Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Praise for Catching Jordan:

"A must-read for teens! I couldn't put it down!"—Simon Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

"With a clever, authentic voice, Kenneally proves once and for all that when it comes to making life's toughest calls-on and off the field-girls rule!"—Sara Ockler, bestselling author of Fixing Delilah

LanguageEnglish
PublisherSourcebooks
Release dateOct 1, 2012
ISBN9781402271885
Stealing Parker
Author

Miranda Kenneally

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead, she writes and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek, and her husband. Visit www.mirandakenneally.com.

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Reviews for Stealing Parker

Rating: 3.7714285928571427 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed this continuation of The Hundred Oaks series. Parker's mom has divorced her husband when she is tired of living a lie. She moves in with her female lover and Parker and her family have to live with the gossip and judging by others. Parker is having a hard time dealing with it and quits softball. She argues with her dad about going to church also. She feels more alone as she has a fight with her best friend, Drew, who will not listen to her explanations. I liked this story. I like how Parker has a crush on the baseball coach and tries to begin a relationship with him. She also is falling for one the of baseball players who is on the team she is managing at school. She's trying not to betray her best friend and is trying to get her dad to open his eyes to the problems of her older brother, Ryan. When it looks like she has lost everything, she listens to the answer to her prayers and calls her mom. Her mom is very clear-eyed and open. She tries to help Parker see that much that happened was not Parker's fault and that Parker is not responsible for the choices others make. I liked how religion is brought into the story. It is not preachy but very realistic in the portrayal of what works and what does not. I liked that Parker grew up during this story and we saw the process. I keep hoping that her dad opens his eyes.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Parker was harder to like than Jordan and I felt you could see the plot coming a mile away. I did end up enjoying the story and rooting for Parker even when she made stupid decisions. I also was not expecting the religious aspect to the story (since I try to avoid religious books) but it wasn't heavy handed and I liked how it was handled.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Why did I read Stealing Parker?
    This past winter I finally got around to reading Catching Jordan. I had read so many fantastic reviews for Catching Jordan but doubted that I would love it as much as everyone else had. Much to my surprise I LOVED it! I knew as soon as I finished that I would be picking up Stealing Parker as soon as I possibly could. It took a few months but I finally got my hands on a copy and went in to my read with high expectations.

    How does it compare to Catching Jordan?
    I did not love this nearly as much as I loved Catching Jordan. It's the same basic formula: new boy catches girl's attention and along the way she discovers someone who has been in front of her all along. I actually kind of enjoyed that aspect of Stealing Parker. I guess what I had a hard time with was the character of Parker. The way she processes things is just beyond ridiculous to me, especially when it comes to the situation with her mother.

    Another aspect that I enjoyed in Catching Jordan that wasn't found in Stealing Parker is the friendship that can exist amongst girls. The girls in this book were catty and were not about to get over that anytime soon. I just think there is already so much of that and I love books that show that girls really can be friends! I guess it gives me hope for my gender.

    How is the romance?
    The romances are incredibly predictable. I am, however, surprised and disappointed with the way one of the romances ends as nothing seems to really be resolved in that situation. Overall, I didn't find myself as excited about the romances in the way I found myself excited for the romance in Catching Jordan.

    What made me keep turning the pages?
    I don't know what this says about me but I kept turning the pages because of the relationship between Parker and the coach. I really wanted to see how that all played out. I think this intrigued me so much because this kind of situation seems to happen quite a bit but no one really talks about why it is happening or what the people in the situation are actually thinking when it is happening. I just want to understand. Unfortunately his thoughts weren't all that clear and overall he came off as a total sleazeball. I doubt that everyone who finds themselves involved in such a situation is a sleazeball.

    I also loved catching peeks into the lives of the characters of Catching Jordan.

    Why is this not quite a home run?
    I don't think the situations and characters were developed nearly enough for this to be a home run. I was left wanting much more from the novel. Hopefully the next installment will be better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fantastic book. I loved Catching Jordan, and this one is just as good... maybe even better.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This one wasn't my cup of tea.

    'Stealing Parker' is well written but first of all I don't like the church/god portion of this book, that's personal taste though.

    Ignoring that, there are still several elements which line up with 'Catching Jordan' (Hundred Oaks #1), for example: the female main character lusting after the wrong guy while the right one is right under her nose and then towards the end she messes badly enough to make the right guy mad at her for some time.

    In other words, after reading the first installment of this series, the second one is really predictable. And coupling that with my personal tastes towards the above mentioned topic, this simply wasn't a book for me.

    So that's one hit and one miss in this series so far which leaves me with the dilemma of deciding wether to read book 3 or not - I guess, I'll wait a bit and maybe when the mood strikes, I'll read it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Mrs. Beamer's Review:First, let me remind you I'm a HUGE fan of Catching Jordan And this book is just as good. That being said...it was very, very similar to Catching Jordan. In other words, whatever book you read FIRST will be your favorite :) I didn't enjoy Parker as much as I enjoyed Jordan...but I did enjoy the male characters just as much. This is a quick, fun read. Enjoy it for what it is!My Favorite Quote (from this book): "He looks like a Geek Squad sexpot."Mrs. Beamer’s advisory rating: 0-5 (0=none, 5=lots) click here for more infoLanguage: 3Violence: 0Sexual Content: 2.5Drugs/Alcohol: 1Potential Controversial Topics: none
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I decided to pick this book up after seeing so many glowing reviews for Miranda Kenneally's other book Catching Jordan. I wasn't too sure how much I would like it, but it's about baseball, and I like baseball. I did really enjoy the story. There were some slow parts in the middle, and sometimes the writing felt a little choppy but it started to get really interesting as I went on.Parker's life took a turn for the worse when her mom came out as a lesbian. The people at Parker's church turned on her and her family and her best friend keeps saying she's going to turn out like her mom. So Parker quits softball and decides to prove to everyone she's not like her mom by kissing any boy who will let her. So now she's known as the girl who get's around. Parker ends up getting roped into being the manager for the baseball team. There she meets the new coach, Brian, who's 6 years older than her. That's when things start to get a little rocky. She's knows it's wrong for her to be with Brian, but the fact that it is off limits makes it even harder to resist. This story was really cute. I felt really bad for Parker, even though she brought some of the things onto herself. This story has it's really sad moments. It made me so sad that Parker wasn't talking to her mom, even though her mom would call her all the time to see how everything is going, but Parker would never answer, even when all she wanted was to ask for her moms advice. It took me a while to warm up to the writing, but once the story started to pick up, I couldn't but the book down.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Miranda Kenneally is one of those authors you can grow comfortable with. Meaning you can hear she's coming out with a new title and automatically pre-order it without even having to read the synopsis. Her words in this title have proven my point. Stealing Parker is an amazing read and it will leave you breathless. After Parker's mom announces that she's a lesbian and leaves her family to join her girlfriend, rumors begin to fly. And what's worse, they stem from her former best friend. From there, everything begins to spiral out of control and Parker decides to leave the softball team and make out with guy after guy. All to prove that she's nothing like her mother. She then decides to manage the baseball team thanks to her best friend for life, Drew. From there she meets the baseball coach intern Brian. And from there, her life falls out control.One of my favorite things about Kenneally's books is that in each one she teaches life lessons. In this one, she tackles one of the biggest issues in teen society right now, homosexuality. A lot of times, people that are homosexual find it hard to come out and find it harder to find friends to stick with them. They become embarrassed about what they like. Kenneally portrays this situation with expertise. She shows that it is ok to be however you want and do whatever you want. She shows that "sometimes you have to do what's best for you." Another lesson that can be taught from this book is hypocrisy. But I won't go in detail for fear of spoilers. Just know that the lesson is there.I also loved the characters Parker is strong willed, believes in her Christian values, and is a very good friend. She just made some mistakes along the way. Also, all the guys that she befriended are all characters. (No pun intended lol) They provided the comic relief and I was grateful through all the drama with her family and her church. And I loved that it was a companion novel that features Jordan and Sam. It's so interesting to me when an author can provide us with another story and feature them in it without it being a whole story about them.As far as the romance, I was very happy with it. I must admit tho, Kenneally kind of scared me towards the end. I was so close to the end and the issue hadn't be resolved yet so I got nervous lol I'm ashamed to say I cried for a little bit when everything was finally fixed. I had just connected with Parker so much and I was happy things begin to fall in place for her. Stealing Parker is a quick read, but its content makes up for the lack of pages. Things move very fast and you'll find yourself swept to the dug out, chewing gum, and listening to the crack of the baseball connecting with a bat.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Parker's story is very different from Jordan's story, but it is still an excellent read. Parker is a girl who is trying desperately seperate herself from her mother's lifestyle and the rumors it sprouted about her. She's also trying to come to terms with her faith and dealing with a highly inappropriate crush on the new baseball coach. We get to see Parker's internal struggle with God and her need to know why things have happened to her and her family. I'm not a religious person and I don't typically read things that have religion incorporated, but it was done so well here and it never became preachy. It really helped the story, by showing the battle that was going on inside of Parker and even gave some insight into why she's made some of the choices she is now dealing with. I know it's totally cliche to jump right to talking about the guys, but I can't help myself. Firstly, Brian gave me creepy feelings the whole time I was reading and those didn't get any better when he proved to be a huge jerk. I felt for Parker because at her age, the kind of attention she was getting from him, would be so easy to make into something bigger. I could see the ending that Parker couldn't, and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop letting this guy take advantage of you. Will, on the other hand, is so many kinds of adorable. I love this boy to pieces and I really liked how their friendship evolved throughout the whole story. They've known each other for years, but they had always just kind of been on the outskirts of each other's lives, and that all changes when Parker starts managing the baseball team.I don't know what it is about Miranda's writing, but I love the sports stuff that is incorporated into her stories, even though I don't actually like sports. It doesn't take over the story, but it's definitely a big part of the characters lives and it helps everything kind of gel together. This one was a one sitting read for me and it will definitely be on my re-read shelf. I honestly believe you can't go wrong with a book by Miranda Kenneally. She writes excellent female protagonists and totally swoonworthy boys! Definitely one to add to your shelves :0)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A charming, intelligent and emotionally rich story, Stealing Parker is even better than Miranda Kenneally's previous novel, Catching Jordan. It's possibly the best thing that happened to fans of YA contemporary romance this year. One incredibly sweet, devilishly hot, sometimes even totally inappropriate (but absolutely delicious) book that is sure to disarm even the toughest and pickiest of readers! Parker used to lead a charmed life. She was one of the best players on the high school softball team, she had friends, popularity, beauty and a perfect family. And everything was going smooth for her, until her mother ran away with another woman and Parker's perfect life crumbled to pieces. Her best friend stabbed her in the back, people stopped talking to her and she became a social pariah, "a butch softball player who probably likes girls". To Parker, it seemed that even God has turned his back on her and her family. Hurt, confused and angry, she quit softball team and lost 20 pounds. To prove that she was not like her mother, she took extra care to look as girly and cute as possible and started hooking up with different boys every night (just kissing, tho!). And then a new hot guy showed up in town and everything quickly spun out of control. Now, the reputation that Parker created for herself and all the bad choices she made along the way are threatening to destroy everything she cares about: her relationship with her father, her friendship with Drew, being the valedictorian, and - most importantly - the love she so desperately needs. In many ways, Stealing Parker is similar to Catching Jordan. Once again we get a group of characters that defy the romantic stereotypes and a lead heroine that is feisty, witty, bold and impossible not to adore. And once again the plot involves sport (in this case, baseball), a complicated love triangle, and a whole lot of sparkly and highly amusing back-and-forth between the characters. What makes Stealing Parker even more appealing than Catching Jordan is its intensity and maturity. This book touches on some difficult and important areas such as homosexuality, religion and teacher-student relationships. Kenneally wrote a romantic story that is so much more than just that, a novel that explores many themes - from friendship, first love, trust, acceptance, forgiveness to sexuality, bigotry, addiction and rejection. And she did it in the utmost graceful, convincing and emotionally affecting way. I quickly found myself entirely engrossed in the story, in love with the characters, and unable to put the book down. Keneally's writing style is right up my alley. Her prose is honest, very natural and fresh. It's infused with real emotions. At times you feel like a puppet and Miranda Kenneally is the puppet master - she'll make you laugh out loud and clap in excitement and then merely 2 pages later you'll be tearing up and sobbing quietly. And she'll also make you think about all the issues she brings to life in her book. Reading Stealing Parker is an all-around wonderful experience. There's not a single person I wouldn't recommend this book to. And one last thing I just have to mention: Corndog (Will) is so adorable! I loved the chemistry between all the characters - it was charged and intense - but I definitely loved the sweet, tender, shy and innocent chemistry between Corndog and Parker the most! And I couldn't stop laughing each time Parker's dad would mess up Corndog's nickname and change it to Corn Fritter! Don't hesitate to pick this book up. It's an incredibly well-written, beautiful story that balances romance, drama and comedy perfectly.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Stealing Parker by Miranda KenneallyeARC received by SourcebooksRelease Date: October 1st—On Shelves Now!Reviewed by: Middle Sis JennThe Sisters Say: A poignant story about heartbreak, forgiveness, and first loveThis is my first book by Miranda, and I had no idea what to expect. Just from reading the blurb, I thought it sounded interesting, but I didn’t know how I would like the sports aspect of the story. Don’t get me wrong---I love sports, but I’m more of a watch ‘em, not read ‘em type of girl. Surprisingly, the sports part was one of my favorite parts of the story. It wasn’t overly boyish and I didn’t find myself saying, “Go on…get on with it.” Their sports world was like an entirely new setting within the high school life, and I enjoyed being opened up to a YA book that touched on sports.The best part of the book was the growing friendship between Parker and Corndog. It was sweet and innocent, and it just felt right. I found myself laughing at loud at some of Corndog’s jokes, but at other times, he was a real jerk. Just like a high school guy! It was endearing to see him struggle with his own problems and then take them out on Parker—a realistic and heartbreaking truth about high school relationships. I found myself waiting for Parker’s next encounter with Corndog, just to see what would happen next.I also really liked Drew, Parker’s best friend. He is the type of guy that you just automatically like. He sticks by Parker when her mother comes out as a lesbian and the entire town turns on her family. It’s a very religious town, so this caused quite a scandal. While everyone else looked at Parker like she was the plague, Drew stood up for her and stood by her. Such a sweetie!I was really surprised by the mature content level of this book—it didn’t bother me at all, but I think I was expecting the fade to black type of love scenes. At first, I enjoyed these small scenes between Parker and Brian (the coach). It wasn’t really creepy, and I felt like they really liked each other. However, as their physical relationship progressed, I found myself getting really annoyed by Parker and the way she discussed their relationship. She seemed very crude to me, and by the end unfortunately, I was really wishing she would just zip her mouth.What else bugged me?The entire book was preachy to the extent of annoyance. I’m from a small town, and I understand the role religion plays in the lives of people there, but I just don’t believe that an entire town would turn against someone instead of trying to save or help them. But instead of doing that, they hurled accusatory glares and Bible verses. It just became too much for me, and I think it took away from the book.Most of the reviews I have read said they really enjoyed Parker as the main character, but I was on the other side of the fence with her. She seemed very vain and immature to me, and I found her very annoying. There were times she was so self-involved that I ended up rooting against her, hoping things would fall apart so she would look around, wake up and quit her self-loathing.Overall, there were some very cute parts to this tale of discovery, and I think that many people will enjoy this book. I liked that Miranda ventured into an area that many other authors might be afraid to write about, and I liked that she did it in a non-creepy way. However, I thought that Parker and Brian (both major characters) were too wishy-washy, and this wavering made them unrealistic and frustrating to me. Final Judgment: While this book was not my favorite, I do plan to read more of Miranda’s books in the future. Content Warning: I would rate this for mature teens for somewhat explicit sexual situations. (Riding the line somewhere between YA and NA).
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this while I was at ALA this Summer. You have NO IDEA how excited I was since I simply LOVED Catching Jordan! In Stealing Parker we learn all about Parker and her struggles. I will point out that the main thing I love about Kenneally is that she knows how to write her heroines. She doesn't give us "woe is me - I can't function without a man at my side 24/7 - "I forgot what drawer I left my big girl panties" girls. She gives us heroines who KNOW how to soldier on and I love it. Anyways - back to Parker! lol. Parker has pretty much had her entire world shaken and turned completely upside down. The ideal family life she once knew is now shattered and she is left trying to figure out how to put the pieces back together. (Props to her! I'm a GROWN WOMAN and can't get that right half the time! lol) Having your Church and pretty much all of your friends turn their backs on your for something YOU had no control over, was pretty much the last straw as far as Parker was concerned. She went right into the - I couldn't care less - mode. She quit her Softball team, developed the ever loving "Whatever" about almost everything, except her grades. She also decided that she would have a "it's better to just hook up than to have a relationship" frame of mind. This didn't get her very far, especially when rumors started to fly about what she did and didn't do sexually. (Gotta love high school!) Then her best friend, Drew, does the unthinkable. He tries to get her to do something "normal", in the form of taking the Team Manager position for the boys softball team. (Yay Parker! - note the sarcasm). It's their that she meets Brian, the new Assistant Coach. - This is where I developed an issue with the book. I in no way condone Teacher / Student relationships. I get where Parker was coming from though - I just.. eh. While I don't place all the blame on Brian - I think that he should have been the example here for Parker. Fail Brian. Epic Fail. Then you have Corndog - err - Will. I LOVE.. LOVE LOVE LOVE Will. Now, if it was attention that Parker was seeking - Will was as far as she had to look. Screw Brian. In my eyes, these two were made for each other. Having been competitors since day one - on EVERYTHING - it was unlikely that the two would become anything else. That is, until they started spending time with each other and actually got to know one another. I loved watching things blossom between the two of them. Why? Because it was REAL. It was just all of a sudden - it was a process. I watched as they went through challenge after challenge - good days - bad days and everything in between. I think this book did these two characters justice. Amazingly written if you ask me. Side characters: Drew was epic. In just about every kind of way. The friendship between the two of them reminds me of the friendship I have with my best friend. I don't care who you are, EVERYONE needs a friend like Drew. I also liked that we got to see Sam and Jordan again :) One thing I will caution you on. This book touches on some pretty sensitive subjects - but Kenneally did it justice in the way it was written. Just keep an open mind when reading this one. Honestly; I think she took this book in just the direction that it needed to go. I would seriously recommend this book to just about anyone who would listen to me talk about it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So good!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Love it
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Parker gets tangled up in first her mother's scandal, then her own as she heads into murkier territory with the new baseball coach. Parker also struggles with her faith in God and why He is letting all of these bad things (including her brother's drug use and father's emotional absence) happen to her and her family. I wanted Parker to learn her lesson earlier than she did while reading this, in my head yelling at her THIS IS A BAD IDEA PLEASE STOP, yet at the same time being angry that others were taking advantage of her or treating her like dirt for something that wasn't her fault. I really liked the religious aspect of the novel and how it was all mostly resolved by the end. Oh yeah, the romance (not the one with the creepy coach) was adorable too. Not the best book I've ever read, but not bad.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked this one less than Catching Jordan. While I enjoyed the writing, the characterizations of other females not the MC fell under the category of petty, jealous, catty teenage girls. Of course teenagers can be all those things, but there wasn't one female that was portrayed in a relatively good light. I do get tired of books perpetuating that all women are in competition with one another and the reason a girl isn't liked is because she's prettier, smarter, or better at some particular activity then the rest of them. BLAH.

    Unfortunately, from the two books I've read, the author seems to develop a pattern of making the MC choose the wrong guy from the start and then realize what a catch she has in a friend. This makes it very easy to identify the "right guy" and the "wrong" one..and makes the book somewhat formulaic. Although, good dialogue and brisk pacing..and unconventional family issues do make the book worth reading.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This author is on my must read list. Any book that comes out bu this author I must read. And this book not only shocked me, but I really loved it.So the reason this book shocked is cause this book goes so close to the line of right and wrong. The reader meets Parker, a girl who has a rough past years catching the eye of the an older male. Preferably the teacher. Yeah.....that's all I'm going to say about that. I do however, like that Parker is able to see how deep things had gotten. She took people's trust and use it against them.While I liked the main character Parker, I really liked how she well she grew and learned. She is able to to find a friend where she least expect it. Even after everything that she went through, she is able to find forgiveness and move on to what she is really looking for the whole time.Because this book is borderline shocking, I suggest the ages of 18+ to read the book. If you are mature enough it read it, then go ahead. Stealing Parker is an out of the box story that collides with all things imaginable. It's certainly takes everything that I have read to a new level. Stealing Parker has great emotional depths enhanced with amazing characters and story line. Stealing Parker is awesome!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

    After I read Catching Jordan last week, I was so excited to dive into Kenneally's next book, Stealing Parker. I am so glad I had a copy of this from BEA, so I didn't have to wait around for a copy to show up for me from the library! Miranda Kenneally's books are just so much fun. If you like sporty contemporaries with happy endings, you have to read these. Most of my reads are a little bit more depressing or fantastical, and these make for a refreshing break.

    There are a ton of commonalities between Stealing Parker and Catching Jordan, and I don't just mean the sports. Both girls have a similar love triangle dynamic going, though their reactions to it differ somewhat. Also, both get their feelings out by writing, a strange similarity I felt. Jordan writes poems as a way of getting a handle on her feelings, and Parker writes letters to God, which, unsurprisingly, I wasn't a huge fan of.

    Parker's faith is actually a huge theme of the book, one which is handled with tact. Parker's family attends one of those big pompous, holier-than-thou churches, which puts members down if they do anything that doesn't fit their definition of Christian. For example, they've been gossiping about Parker's family ever since Parker's mom left her father to live life as a lesbian. Their church clearly just drains the happiness from Parker, and brings so much self-hatred into her life. However, the book isn't anti-faith either, as she attends another church, which is friendly and uplifting. Basically, the message is to not get yourself stuck in an unhealthy environment or with false friends.

    The reason I'm rating Stealing Parker just a little bit lower, though it was still an awesome read, is that I just didn't like Parker as much as I liked Jordan. Parker's reaction to the gossip about her mother and the intimations that she too might be a lesbian, because she's muscular and plays softball, isn't one that I can fathom. She decides to prove that she's straight by losing thirty pounds and making out with any guy that's interested. She doesn't go any further, but that's not really the issue. Clearly all of this tonsil hockey isn't making her feel better, so she really shouldn't be doing it.

    In her latest endeavor to make bad choices, Parker decides to go after the baseball coach, a 23 year old guy just starting on his first job out of grad school. Brian Hoffman seems like the perfect guy, and she thinks she has a chance. Well, guess what? Teachers that date their students? Creepers. I just wanted to grab Parker and shake her back and forth. I also couldn't stand that she, just like Jordan, continues in an unhealthy relationship even when she's not really into it anymore. Save yourself some heartbreak and run away, girl! Still, I feel I must emphasize that all of her stupid choices came off as believable teenage acting-out, but that didn't make me any less uncomfortable!

    As with Catching Jordan, what really makes this such an incredibly delightful book are the well-drawn characters. Kenneally has a knack for writing authentic friendships, down to the stupid nicknames and inside jokes. I just love how real the bonds are between the characters, even the painful ones, like with Laura and Parker. I've had some Lauras in my past, and Kenneally got that just right.

    Miranda Kenneally's books are so incredibly enjoyable. Plus, I love the way these books are sort of a series, in that they're set at the same school and characters from the previous books show up. I loved getting to hang out with Jordan and Sam just a little bit! I will be eagerly anticipating the next installment, Things I Can't Forget.

Book preview

Stealing Parker - Miranda Kenneally

Copyright © 2012 by Miranda Kenneally

Cover and internal design © 2012 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover photo © Martin Barraud/Age Fotostock; psamtik/Shutterstock; RJMC/Shutterstock

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

(630) 961-3900

Fax: (630) 961-2168

teenfire.sourcebooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file with the publisher.

contents

Front Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Chapter 1. The Day I Met Brian Hoffman

Chapter 2. Stalkerish Tendencies Aren’t Necessarily a Bad Thing, Right?

Chapter 3. Defcon 1

Chapter 4. Trust

Chapter 5. The First Baseball Game

Chapter 6. Sinner Extraordinaire

Chapter 7. Insurance Paperwork, Monster Burgers, and Matching Furniture

Chapter 8. Open

Chapter 9. Getting Serious

Chapter 10. The Mascot

Chapter 11. I’m Not That Kind of Girl

Chapter 12. Falling to Pieces

Chapter 13. Alternative Spring Break

Chapter 14. The Prom Decisional

Chapter 15. Going the Distance

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Back Cover

for all the girls struggling to find their place

the day i met brian hoffman

52 days until i turn 18

Bubblegum Pink is the nail polish of the day.

Matt Higgins will definitely like it—he’s into all things girly-girl, so I add another coat before blowing on my nails. Tonight we’re meeting at this field party, and I fully expect we’ll make out behind a hay bale or something.

Drew is lounging on my bed, reading Cosmo. So I signed you up to be manager for my baseball team.

What?! Careful not to mess up my polish, I mute the TV and sit up to face him. Why?

I can’t stand the idea of you holed up in your room while I’m playing ball this spring. You should come to practice tomorrow morning. He smells a perfume ad, cringes and sticks his tongue out.

My heart pounds faster than light speed. I hate baseball. I know, I know. That means I’m not a true American. It probably means I’m not human. But I gave up foam fingers, peanuts, and the Atlanta Braves when my mom announced she’s a lesbian and ran off with her friend who was more than just a friend. A year ago January, she divorced my dad, and I divorced her dreams of me playing softball for Hundred Oaks.

No way, I say, examining my nails.

Come on, Parker! He thumbs through the magazine. Please? he whines.

What’s involved? I try to act nonchalant, but Drew looks up with a knowing smile. He’s lived down the street from me my whole life—I’ll do anything for him.

Taking stats and helping with equipment.

Taking stats is way easy. I could do it in my sleep.

It’ll be a cinch, Drew says, reading my mind. He shows me a cartoon couple using a dining room table for Kama Sutra maximum effect. Jesus Christ, he says. Is that move physically possible?

Try it out with Amy and let me know.

He glances at me sideways, then turns the magazine vertical and studies it closely. I’m flexible, but not that flexible.

Can you imagine needing a hip replacement at seventeen? You could get a cane with flames painted on it.

Or maybe one with skulls.

Pirate ships!

Don’t change the subject…So there’ll be plenty of guys for you on the team. He snorggles. That’s our special word for snorting and giggling. It’ll be in Webster’s any day now.

I have to admit I love the way cute guys look in baseball uniforms. Plus, I’d get to spend more time with Drew. Lately, his idea of fun has been going to Jiffy Burger with Corndog and Sam Henry and acting like they’re the characters from Seinfeld, talking about nothing. Drew invites me along sometimes when they need an Elaine, because I’m really good at punching Corndog (George Costanza) and yelling Get out! and Drew says I dance worse than the real Elaine. But it’s been getting kinda old. How many times can those guys debate who has better fries: Sonic or Jiffy Burger?

And what else do I have to do this semester? It’s February, I’ve got a 4.0, and classes don’t matter at this point—the only way Vanderbilt could revoke my early admission would be if I went on the news and advocated for Tennessee to secede from the union.

On the other hand, this could be a lot of work. I’d probably end up doing hard stuff like lugging water coolers around and washing dirty jockstraps or something.

On the other hand, I don’t want to be lonely.

Jockstraps it is.

•••

When I was five, Mom discovered a recipe for homemade edible Play-Doh. We loved cooking together, especially fancy stuff like foie gras grilled cheese. We sat at the kitchen table, which was covered by the previous week’s comics, and mixed flour and sugar and peanut butter together and rolled it into shapes. I had dinosaur cookie cutters, so I made a Play-Doh T-Rex. Mom made a triceratops. I bit its head off, and she joked, My little praying mantis. We giggled and giggled and gorged ourselves on that Play-Doh. The next day we went to church and Mom and I kneeled at the altar. As I prayed, I didn’t ask you for anything. I only thanked you for giving me Mom.

Written on February 12 before the party at Morton’s field. Burned using a candle.

•••

On Saturday morning, Drew and I arrive at the baseball field behind Hundred Oaks High—aka the only place I dread more than Chuck E. Cheese (I worked there last summer and almost died because I had to wear a Crusty the Cat costume).

We step out of his red VW bug into the sun, and the crisp wind bites my face. I pull my arms up inside my fleece and begin the trek across the parking lot to meet the players, who are warming up by doing throwing exercises and sprints. I stare at the most popular guys at our school.

Popular-schmopular—any cute guy will do. Last Sunday after church? I hung out with this guy Aaron on the swings at the playground, listening to him talk about how much his school sucks (he goes to Woodbury High) and how Nirvana really is the best band ever. I disagree—I’m into modern stuff like Paramore and the All-American Rejects, but I couldn’t get a word in because he kept talking and talking and talking. Before he drove home with his parents, I let him kiss me beside the turtle sandbox thing, so people will know I like boys.

Over here! Coach Burns calls, beckoning us.

Oh, dear me, I croon to Drew. Your coach is older than baseball itself.

I think he coached my grandpa.

And his grandpa.

Everyone’s been saying he’ll retire after this year. Would you rather retire or work your whole life?

I’d retire tomorrow if I could, and I haven’t even started working yet, I reply. When you retire, would you rather spend time playing golf or bingo?

Golf. I love the outfits. Golf or polo? he asks.

Do you mean water polo or horse polo?

Water.

Gross. I like animals much more than speedos.

Drew introduces me to the coach, who starts explaining my responsibilities. How I’ll be the official statistician because I make straight As in calc. (Coach did his homework.) How I should always have the coolers filled with ice water before practices start, and how I should make sure the buckets by the pitching machines are loaded with balls. Drew snorggles at the mention of balls. Perv. I elbow him.

You should always be thirty minutes early for practice. The coach clears his throat, and his lined face goes a bit pink. He glances at Drew, then back to me. And if you decide to date or mess around with anyone on the team, you can’t be a manager anymore, okay?

What? Kissing players is reason numero uno I’m willing to sit around watching these guys belch and adjust their crotches and spit in the dugout.

Why? I ask, scrunching my eyebrows.

The girl who managed the team last year, uh, well, we had some incidents on the bus and in the locker room. He coughs. I’m sure that won’t happen with you.

Does he think I’m incapable of getting guys? I kissed Matt Higgins behind a barn last night. Trust me, I’m capable of getting a guy.

I smooth my curve-enhancing blue fleece. I’m wearing leather boots over skinny jeans. It’s not sporty attire, but I once read this book called The Rules that said guys like girls who always look ready to go on a date, so I even wear lip gloss when jogging. The only thing I never bother fixing is my tangled waist-length brown hair. It may sound gross, but my hair looks good tangly—guys love it.

No worries, Coach, I say.

Coach tells Drew to warm up, so he runs off, his cleats clacking on the asphalt. You should meet my new assistant coach and our new captain. Don’t take orders from any guys except the captain, understand?

I nod, and Coach Burns calls out, Hoffman! Whitfield! Get over here!

Corndog, aka Will Whitfield, swings at a pitch, drops his bat, then jogs over. He must truly love baseball to smile in 40-degree February weather. He tosses away his batting helmet and runs his fingers through the brown waves of his hair before pulling his cap from the back pocket of his baseball pants.

Hey, he says, giving me a bright grin, showing off the dimple in his right cheek.

Yeah, yeah. I know you’re hot, Corndog. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Thanks to all the years he’s spent baling hay on his dad’s farm, Corndog has gone from not to hot, from scrawny to sinewy, from geek to god, and now has to beat girls off with a stick. Not that he ever dates. Not that I’d ever hook up with him. He nearly became valedictorian instead of me.

So… he whispers, putting his hat on. You and Higgins, eh?

I pull my knit cap down over my ears and tell myself to ignore the queasiness. I didn’t enjoy kissing Matt Higgins very much. He kept trying to go up my shirt. It was a one-night thing.

Corndog removes a batting glove. Isn’t it always, for you? He laughs, but it’s not a nice laugh, and gives me a hard stare. You keep screwing with my friends.

I rub my neck. What he’s saying isn’t a lie. I do kiss guys a lot.

And I’d be lying if I said I’m not interested in snuggling or talking on the phone late at night, falling asleep talking to a boy I’m in love with. I do want a boyfriend. But I haven’t met any guys worth the risk of being ditched.

Just do me a favor, Corndog whispers. Don’t mess with Bates.

I raise my eyebrows. I’ve never had that kind of spark with Drew. We had our diapers changed together. Besides, he’s been dating this sweet girl, Amy Countryman, for like half his life. She enjoys knitting and cooks him breakfast for dinner. But truth be told, I’m not entirely sure Drew likes only girls.

You don’t have to worry about Drew, I whisper.

Thanks. Corndog nods.

Would you two like to join us sometime today? Coach Burns says, motioning toward the field. I want Parker to meet the new coach.

That’s when a baseball rolls up to my boots.

Sorry! Foul ball, Sam calls from home plate, clutching his bat.

I scoop up the ball, wind my arm, and hurl it from the parking lot and over the fence to shortstop.

Wow, a voice says. She’s got a hell of an arm.

I turn slowly, and that’s when I first see him.

His tan face is thin with stubble and a strong jaw. He’s a couple inches taller than my 5'7". He’s wearing gray baseball pants, an oversized black sweatshirt cut off at the elbows, and a frayed beige ball cap. Dark curls sneak out from under the brim. His big brown eyes meet mine and my breath sputters.

Hi, Beautiful Boy says, stretching out a hand. I’m Brian Hoffman, the new assistant coach.

Parker Shelton.

Somehow I shake his hand and squeak out my name. Names, names. Brian & Parker sounds like a law firm. Parker & Brian sounds like a pharmaceutical company. His calloused palm feels rough against mine. I picture him touching my hair.

Do you play softball? Coach Hoffman asks me, smiling. He raises an eyebrow.

No.

You should try out.

I’m still shaking his hand. Longest Handshake of All Time. Maybe we can shake hands until practice is over and then I’ll ask if he wants to hang out.

Wait. This guy’s a coach. How old is he? Twenty-one? Twenty-two?

I release his hand and wipe my tingling palm on my jeans. Corndog’s shaking his head at me. Coach Hoffman beckons for us to follow him onto the field. My pulse races as I cross the fresh chalk of the first base line. This is the first time I’ve stepped foot on a diamond in a year.

We meet the team at home plate, where Coach Hoffman tells them I’m the new manager. The guys crowd around me, saying stupid things like Parker Shelton, woooo! and I love you, Parker! and Parker Shelton, I want to have all your babies! and I shove my hands in the pockets of my fleece, glancing between the guys and the ground. Normally I’d be grinning, but I don’t want Bri—I mean, Coach Hoffman seeing me act desperate.

Coach Burns takes this moment to tell the guys to keep their hands off me or risk getting suspended for two games. Then he leads the pitchers to the outfield for long toss.

Coach Burns must really be pissed about last year, Paul Briggs says under his breath to Sam, but loud enough for me to hear. Paul plays catcher, and his weight rivals that of an orca whale. He gestures at me. Sucks we won’t be getting hot managerial play. Everyone knows she puts out.

Shut up, man, Sam says, slapping Paul with a glove.

Corndog glares at Paul. Apologize now.

Paul shrugs. Sorry.

Don’t be an ass, Coach Hoffman tells Paul, grabbing him by a sleeve. Five laps.

Paul throws him a look of hatred but takes off ambling around the field. Paul’s not even capable of jogging.

I toe the ground, wishing someone would squash me into the red clay.

Coach Hoffman steps closer, his face turning rosy. Freckles dot his nose. His lips are chapped. Does he bite them?

He whispers, I’m sorry about that.

No big deal, I say, folding my arms across my chest. I want to tell him that I don’t technically put out. I’m still a virgin. Honestly, I still have problems using tampons. They just don’t work for me. I even studied this diagram in Seventeen that gave tips on how to get them in, but I can’t figure out the logistics. And sometimes trying to figure it out makes blood rush to my head and I feel like I might pass out and I can only imagine Dad finding me in the bathroom, unconscious next to the toilet, pants-less with a tampon in my hand.

As if I’d ever ask my mother for tampon tips.

Coach Hoffman directs the JV guys to the batting cages and sends the varsity onto the field, to scrimmage. He adjusts his beige cap, looking at me. Let’s go over how to take stats, okay?

Okay, sounds great. Not that I need help with stats. I’m so good, I bet the Braves would hire me. But he doesn’t have to know that.

Coach Hoffman goes on, I’ll need you to take stats at practices too. I’m in charge of the lineup, so accurate stats are crucial to my decision-making process.

His decision-making process? Crazy mature.

Okay, Coach.

Coach? He lets out a ripple of laughter. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to kids calling me coach or mister.

He thinks of us as kids? How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking? My voice shakes.

He pauses. I’m twenty-three. Just finished up my master’s in phys ed at Georgia Tech.

He’s a complete adult. He’s six—one, two, three, four, five, six—years older than me. What class are you teaching?

Gym, but I’m not sure what my schedule is yet. He pulls his cap off and puts it back on. He chomps on his gum. They hired me to take over the baseball team for Coach Burns when he retires next year.

So it’s true?

Coach Hoffman nods. I’m in training this season.

As far as coaching goes, working at Hundred Oaks in Franklin is an impressive job to have. Our Raiders usually make it to the district tournament, if not further.

You must know your baseball, I say.

He gives me a long serious look. I see his Adam’s apple shift as he swallows. Something like that.

Did you play? I ask.

Something like that. His face goes hard.

They must call you Cryptic Coach Hoffman. We haven’t taken one step away from home plate.

I’m never gonna get used to being called coach. Seriously.

I laugh lightly. How about a nickname?

Such as? He raises his eyebrows.

I stuff my frozen hands in my armpits. The Hoff?

Isn’t that David Hasselhoff’s nickname?

Perhaps.

So you’re equating me with that movie star guy who gets trashed and videotapes himself drunk and eating cheeseburgers?

Exactly.

Back in high school they called me Shooter.

Why? Are you a deer hunter or something?

Uhhh, you don’t want to know what it means. The side of his mouth quirks up.

I rock back and forth on my heels. I like the Hoff way better.

He smiles at me. If you’re gonna call me the Hoff, I’m gonna give you a nickname too.

Such as…?

Trouble. I’ll call you Trouble.

Cliché.

Touché.

We start laughing.

God, this is the silliest conversation I’ve had in ages, he says with a smile.

Yeah, probably because you’re an adult and I’m a child, and how could an adult possibly have a normal mature conversation with a girl? I gaze down at the red clay beneath my boots, then look up into his brown eyes and sneak a glimpse at the loose curls peeking out from under his hat. Are they soft?

I say, Fine, you can call me Trouble. And I’m still gonna call you the Hoff.

His face contorts into this blend of pain and amusement.

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