Free The Taming by Teresa Toten, Eric Walters

It— a speech given by Jacques.”
    “I can’t believe you know the words to different Shakespeare plays.”
    “Don’t you know the words to songs you like?” I asked.
    “I can recite almost every line from Happy Gilmore .”
    “ Happy Gilmore? ”
    “You don’t know Happy Gilmore ?” He sounded not only shocked but almost disgusted.
    “I don’t know him,” I admitted.
    “It’s not a him … well, it is I guess. It’s simply one of the best movies ever made! Classic Adam Sandler, from 1996.”
    “ ‘Classic’ and ‘Adam Sandler’ are things you don’t hear together very often,” I said.
    “He is a great actor. I don’t know why he hasn’t won an Oscar or two.”
    I had a pretty good idea.
    “Anyway, he plays a hockey player who becomes a professional golfer. It’s hilarious!”
    “I’m sure it is. Like you said, this Happy guy had two roles that he played, hockey player and golfer, and that’s probably why it was funny, because the two roles are so different.”
    “Very different and very funny,” he agreed.
    “So because you would have the role of basketball player you could fit in better,” I said. “And now you have a very different role as an actor.”
    “Which I hope doesn’t get me laughed at.” He paused. “And what role are you playing?”
    “I guess it depends on the person I’m talking to.” That was way too honest, mainly because I hadn’t expected him to come up with that question. Maybe he was more than just a jock. “But mainly I’m just being myself. And speaking of playing roles, there is your wife-to-be, Katherina.”
    Katie walked across the room and took a seat at one of the study carrels.
    “She’s quite the actress,” I said. “How well do you know her?”
    “Not really well. Outside of the play, Katie’s really quiet. She might be different with her friends.”
    “Are any of those friends a boyfriend?”
    “Aaahhh … I get it. To paraphrase Shakespeare, is boyfriend one of the roles you’re hoping to play?”
    “Maybe … why, you’re not interested in her, are you?” I asked.
    “Interested? That’s putting it mildly. She is my betrothed … remember?” Josh joked.
    “No, I mean, really, are you interested?”
    “I’ve thought about it, but it would be way too confusing right now. You know, to be my girlfriend and my wife,” he joked. “Especially since I have to spend so much time on basketball. And I do actually have a girlfriend already … nothing serious … but still time consuming.”
    “Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb your marital bliss. But now that you’ve put it that way, I guess I can ask her out.”
    Josh looked a little thrown. “Okay, sure. But first things first—could we go back to my lines?”

Chapter Sixteen
     

     
    A s I rounded the corner to our street, a car sped up, and then stopped on a dime. An Audi. My heart cranked up its volume. A silver Audi. There could only be one person behind that darkly tinted glass. He hit his hazard lights, opened the door and got out. Thump, thump, thump . Evan Campbell in all his glorious glory.
    “Well, fancy meeting you here, Katie,” Evan said as he leaned against his car. It was hard to tell which was prettier. “Can I give you a lift? It would be an honour.” He gave a little bow.
    I could barely hear myself think above my thumping heart. Who was cranking up the volume? “No thanks, thank you. I’m, uh, practically there.”
    The passenger-side window glided down. Someone else was in the car. It was my supposedly beloved, Josh.
    “Hey, Katie!” He stuck his head out the window. “Great rehearsal. Again. Could you be just a little less, you know, good? I’d really appreciate it.”
    “He’s kidding.” Evan smiled. “He knows that no one will notice Petruchio, Petruchio won’t even exist as long as you’re on stage.”
    “Great, if that doesn’t make me feel better I don’t know what will,” Josh muttered back.
    “Well …” Evan smiled