Intimate Love #16

In "The Man I Wanted," teenage Shelley steps boldly into a new life by asking a boy to a date—determined never to wait again. As she grows, her confidence leads her to pursue Allan at work, only to face a painful twist when coworker Joan claims he loves her, and Allan admits he’s been playing along. The story captures Shelley’s quiet resolve and the bittersweet ache of love that doesn’t quite land.

Iris Baker spends her school days hiding her brilliant mind to fit in with the popular crowd, but when Ed Warren—a boy who shares her intellectual passion—sees through the act and asks her out, she finally discovers someone who values her for who she really is. A refreshing take on the age-old "girl pretending to be dumb" story, this one celebrates finding the right match instead of changing yourself to attract the wrong one.

In "Too Smart for Love," high school student Iris hides her intelligence to fit in, playing the part of a socialite while secretly longing for someone who sees her for who she truly is. When Ed, another sharp mind who values real conversation, sees through her act, their connection sparks over shared thoughts—and the question of whether she can be honest without losing him.

In "Small Town Girl," 23-year-old Amy, tired of her mother’s matchmaking schemes, pretends to be her cousin Edna to go on a date with Jack—only to find herself unexpectedly drawn to him. When the truth comes out, Jack surprises her by admitting he knew the whole time, but still feels something real.

In "null," Marcy keeps her distance from Hank, playing it cool to keep him interested—after all, she’s learned that a boy loses interest once a girl shows how much she cares. When Hank moves on to another girl who flirts with him openly, Marcy is left wondering if she’s made the right choice.

In "My Reckless Heart," Elaine’s impulsive desire for speed on a date with Tod leads to a crash that injures Pete, setting off a quiet chain of emotions and unexpected connections. As Pete recovers at Elaine’s family home, a tender bond forms—only for Elaine to learn he’s still devoted to Mary, his hometown sweetheart. The story unfolds with gentle honesty, exploring guilt, mistaken feelings, and the quiet grace of letting go.

Sandra knows everything—or thinks she does—and her bossy know-it-all attitude is winning her no friends at all. When her unfeeling remarks and constant need to have the last word finally push her circle to the breaking point, Sandra gets a harsh lesson in the real price of arrogance. Sometimes the hardest expert opinion to hear is the one you have about yourself.