While We're Young

A whirlwind romance inspired by <Ferris Bueller&rsquo;s Day Off< about four friends whose hearts are broken and mended over the course of an epic senior skip day&mdash;from the bestselling author of <The Summer of Broken Rules<!

Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart in the infamous Freshman Year Fracture. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace&rsquo;s brother&mdash;and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.&nbsp;

With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who&rsquo;s certain his sister is up to something.

In an epic day that includes racing up the famous Rocky steps, taste-testing Philly''s finest cheesesteaks, and even crashing a wedding, their secrets are bound to collide. But can their hearts withstand the wreckage?

Autorentext

K. L. Walther

Klappentext

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A whirlwind romance inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off about four friends whose hearts are broken and mended over the course of an epic senior skip day—from the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules!

Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart in the infamous Freshman Year Fracture. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace’s brother—and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.

With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who’s certain his sister is up to something.

In an epic day that includes racing up the famous Rocky steps, taste-testing Philly's finest cheesesteaks, and even crashing a wedding, their secrets are bound to collide. But can their hearts withstand the wreckage?

Leseprobe
CHAPTER 1
****
GRACE

My mother found me in the bathroom. Grace? she said, and in a heartbeat she was at my side. Gracie? What s wrong?

I slowly lifted my head from the toilet seat and, with violet sleep-­deprived eyes, gave her my most lethargic of looks. I hadn t looked this wiped since running in our town s Spring Fling 10K the morning after junior prom. Don t feel well, I mumbled. Puked last night.

Oh, sweetheart . . . She took a reluctant peek into the toilet, where a smoothie-­like blend of dinner and dessert swirled in the bowl. If you tried hard enough, you could recognize a pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, baked beans, and an ice cream sundae. Mint chocolate chip with hot fudge, whipped cream, and M&Ms. It had been delicious. Scott! my mom called. Scott!

I m sorry, I moaned when my father arrived, his blue-­and-­gray tie half knotted. It happened in my room, too.

My dad crouched down next to me. Why didn t you come get us? he asked as I curled into a ball on our bath mat and started shivering. He put a warm hand on my back.

I didn t want to wake you, I said. You both have those big meetings today.

There was a moment of silence. I imagined my parents using their couple superpower, communicating with only their eyes. Well, what do you think? my mom was probably asking.

I think we should get her to bed, I hoped my dad was answering.

What s going on? another voice said, and the three of us turned to see James in the doorway. I d heard him playing his keyboard earlier, our family s morning alarm, but now he was dressed in jeans and a well-­worn concert T-shirt from The National s last tour and was shoveling Lucky Charms into his mouth.

Your sister has a stomach bug, our mom said. She s been throwing up all night. She sighed. James, you know there s no food allowed upstairs.

It was one of the new rules, to keep the house spotless for eventual showings.

My brother lowered his cereal bowl, and I swallowed ­now really and truly nauseous. James cocked his head with interest. All night, huh? He slurped some more cereal. Too bad I didn t hear you. His smirk sped up my pulse. I could ve held your hair back.

Let s get you to your room, Gracie, Dad said, helping me to my feet. We ll put a bucket by your bedside ­

Wait, are you serious? James cut in incredulously. She gets to stay home?

Of course, Mom told him, flushing the toilet for emphasis. We don t want her spewing all over Council Rock North.

I doubt there s anything left in her stomach to spew, James grumbled, then said, Last month you made me go to school with a fever.

Yes, I thought. A fever brought on by a hair dryer.

(It hadn t been his best performance.)

Because you have too many absences, James! Mom said. Principal Unger called us. She threw up her hands. I don t even know how to explain half of them!

My school-­skipping brother backed down and turned to me. May I have the car keys, please? he asked. Since you ll be bedridden today, dearest twin?

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. While we were both seniors, James and I weren t technically twins; we d been born ten months apart. He was older and ete