ter

- Morning at

uring vacation. Since we were both seniors-and since she

m tired,"

me that around people. Wha

her reply. I walk

e first-barbecue

ing on? Are Nana a

ng, did I forget to tell you? The

pau

ra...

o," Mom added. "Her parents won't b

co

ia was half-bur

eeking out-and immediately, unw

ked aw

e a terrible mistake

hower was

es it shouldn't. And when I stepped out, towel slung low around my waist

fened i

spect my hom

your fucking girlfriend.

y. "You're not. We only

when it

or burs

ere she

ur

ro

rti

nwillingly-over my

o late, that the to

g against the fabric from Amelia

ck and disgust-and she slammed

re body

h embarr

else. Something

" Amelia

snapped. Harder than I me

was loud i

w me li

lot of girls wants to

her head in m

are here-oh. I didn't

of privacy!

said, roll

't mad

mad at

flipped when I thought

~

ora'

e Graysons. The first time I ever stepped into their house was because of Layla, an

earlier t

in honeyed light. The Ravenwood's breeze drifted in, soft and salty, carrying faint whispers of jas

ade of flossy chestnut waves out of my fac

in an hour!" Mom ye

notification from the fe

. I expect more resilience an

lready made my morning. I c

e mirror and admired the

right. The soft fabric shaped my waist, skimmed my h

tiny gold flakes-glimmered

tnut hair into a t

riendship bracelet Lay

" Mom cal

back, slinging my sleepo

to the living room, Mom

looking sexy for? Hmm?

om, please don't ruin

fore she opened the driver's door, Dad call

slammed the door ha

the car; her hands cut through the air with every word. I couldn

wouldn't r

Grayson'

had gone upstairs to ca

remembered it

ld have

done anything e

ned th

ly regretted

eyes, towel hanging dangerously low on his

a behi

on hi

still ha

d h

ar

roat c

gas

wallowed

my ribs so loud I tho

sperately-praying Layla

was

th enough force to cau

y forehead

thing

e bu

hell did

d to Lay

d onto

y face wit

ut of the bat

ou look like you

t," I muttered, re

ia already sat pret

us. "You two

rry,

Jaxon?"

here, Mr

nt and trouble, dressed in a

framed his face care

to the only

me and

exted Layla under the tab

I saw he

natched

nough time," he

wi

d my hand

I whispered u

ilentl

to look like that

lia'

nd I nearly choked

d crimina

two-p

damp

mint

dangerous

e went stra

rl from

who walke

ok her

nked a

omach

e hell

ting the attention I

ther flings. I wa

t t

t e

d out who th

handl