About Talk Derby to Me by RH Tucker

Title: Talk Derby to Me
Author: RH Tucker
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

As the editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper, Evan Maldonado is right on track for college next year and pursuing his dream of being a journalist. To put the finishing touch on his college applications, he’s taking an intern position with a well-known newspaper where he’ll receive a letter of recommendation from the editor. There’s just one little problem. The business intern spot he was expecting to get is taken. The only other position they have available is covering the local roller derby league.

Mari Valdez isn’t worried about getting into college. All she’s concerned with is getting through the repulsive world of high school. Sure, she has her best friend, but she still has to put up with teasing because of her multi-colored hair or bruises. The bruises are from roller derby, by the way, the only thing that Mari looks forward to. It’s been her safe haven since her world imploded.

In order to get more information on the derby league, Evan follows Mari to her practices and games. To call their friendship rocky would be an understatement, but the more Evan and Mari are together, the more they seem to connect. When Mari’s personal life boils over, she finds herself confiding in Evan. And just when everything seems to be coming together for the two, a horrible mistake may separate them for good.

Talk Derby to Me is a stand-alone, YA romance novel.

Excerpt from Talk Derby to Me by RH Tucker

© 2020
RH Tucker

Riding over to the bench, a few of the girls are laughing. Before I can ask them what’s going on, Albie strolls over to us. Trailing behind her is Evan. I forgot about him for a few minutes while I stayed focused on the practice and my teammates.

“Albie,” I hiss at her, getting up to my feet. Yanking off my second roller skate, I hurry over to her before he gets too close. “What is he doing here?”

“Whoa, calm down there, spitfire?” She giggles at her joke. She’s loved that joke for the last two years.

“I will not calm down. Why is Evan here?”

Giving me a stern look, she glances back at Evan. He stays at a distance. When she looks back at me, she orders me closer. She does that sometimes, getting a hard line across her brow, and points for me to step closer with her index finger.

“At some point during this season, he’s doing a profile on you.”

“Excuse me? Why?”

She stares at me like I’m crazy. “Mari, you’re good. Like, really good. You deserve the credit for how great I know you’re going to be this season.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Why do people in school get credit and recommendations based on their sports or other extracurricular activities? Why are awards important? It all looks great on college applications.”

“Who says I’m going to college?”

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop that? You’re going to college. We both are.”

“And how is a profile on me playing derby going to help? They don’t have derby teams in college.”

“No, but it’s something. Mari, stop acting like you’re helpless. You’re not stupid, and I’m going to get something that shows you have extracurricular activities.”

I want to keep arguing, but I know it’ll be fruitless. She’s had it in her head that we’ll be going to the same college since she decided where she was going last year. She’s specifically choosing a university that’s only an hour away, and it’s on the less expensive side for tuition. Albie has way better grades than me, but she’s been determined to help me fill out college applications. I can’t be mad at her for that. She’s stuck by my side and never given up on me, even when I tried pushing her away.

“Fine.” I roll my eyes. Her shoulders shake as she wiggles around with a massive grin on her face. “You!” I yell at Evan and call him over.

“Uh, hey, Mari.”

“So, what do I have to do to be your source?”

“Oh, nothing, really. Just let me watch the practices and games. Let me know what I’m messing up when I’m writing my articles. Stuff like that. Maybe get some inside info on the other teams and players.”

I pinch my lips together, immediately wanting to refuse again. Before I can, Albie widens her eyes at me, urging me to go with it. “Fine.” I let out a sigh. “Meet us tomorrow at lunch.”

An enormous grin spreads across Evan’s lips. “You got it.”

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About RH Tucker

RH Tucker writes cute & edgy YA romance. He also lives in Southern California, consumes too much caffeine, eats too much pizza, and firmly believes Rocky Road is the best flavor of ice cream.

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