Bad at Love

1


Daniel


These sunglasses were a major mistake.

My agent, Bobbi, gave me the shades so I don t squint at the paparazzi flashes. With them, no matter how harsh the lights, I ll still look good for the pictures. The downside? At night I can barely see an inch in front of my face.

To be clear, I didn t even want to go to this party. I would ve loved to be in bed by ten. But my bandmates, Sam, Wade, and Penny, wanted to par-tay after our jam session, and my sister, Helena, insists that I make friends. So here I am, at midnight, hardly awake and stumbling my way out of the Blue-Bearded Man in LA, after spending three hours pretending to drink at the club.

We step onto the dirty sidewalk and into the hurricane that is the public eye.

Oh, paparazzi, how I have not missed you.

There s at least a dozen of them, plus a cluster of fans. Eight months after joining Mischief & Mayhem, I m not surprised anymore when I see the M&M fans screaming and crying. Though it is weird when the fans scream, Rotten! Oh my God, please take a selfie with me!

That always takes me a moment. Oh. Yep. That s right. I m not Daniel anymore.

I m Rotten.

Luckily, we re shielded by security people as we make our way to our car, two tall people in black suits with earpieces and serious faces. The woman in front of me is named Yasmin. As I found out a few weeks ago in the green room at a radio interview, she can break-dance better than anyone else I know, but right now she s an impenetrable wall, and I love her all the more for it.

Yasmin and her partner clear the way for us, but there s still some impromptu press to be done. Sam s the best at it. I wish I had his smooth confidence. He s about my height, with thick longish hair mussed back, and colorful clothes. He has a triangular face with a strong jawline, light caramel eyes, and a ridiculously charming dimpled smile. Sam s so charismatic that even though he s just gotten in front of me,

Gabriela Martins

"An open-hearted exploration of loneliness and love, in both platonic and romantic relationships. Gabriela Martins does a wonderful job of balancing humor, turmoil and an achingly sincere romance against the backdrop of the vibrant LA music scene." Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys

"A+ wholesome romantic content. A story about falling in love while pursuing your dreams with all your heart, I m obsessed with Bad at Love!" Axie Oh, author of XOXO

Coupling romcom tropes with a cast of characters I instantly fell head over heels for, Bad at Love is a warm hug laced with humor, yearning, and Brazilian pride. Emery Lee, author of Meet Cute Diary

"A relatable, fun, and flirty rom-com about two people trying to find who they are." Louisa Onomé, author of Like Home and Twice As Perfect

"A quick-paced plot and fluid prose make for an enjoyable read as the teens muddle through a blooming romance complicated by ulterior motives and Daniel s celebrity status. As they grow closer, Sasha and Daniel also meaningfully engage in introspection about their sexuality and heritage, including issues relating to the diaspora and colorism. A sweet, heartfelt romance that thoughtfully explores identity and belonging." Kirkus Reviews