- Me

y - just this quiet ache. The kind that makes you want another woman in the room. Someone older.

one for what fee

days, my brain supplies automatically - un

moves on. People

're w

he night we found her murdered in our house

aghetti bolognese. The real one. The kind that simmers forever and somehow tastes lik

elf. One bowl is usually enough to stitch me

e moment just befor

ning the door and being instantly, stupidly happy. Starving. The smell hit me like a hug -

. and I wish I could liv

t moment - ever

torn open like it had been attacked from the inside.

me one braver person. We didn't cry. We didn't scream. We just stood t

chen. My memories of her stayed intact. Untouched by horror. She's still

I lost bot

di

d ... v

m. Maybe he died too. Maybe he

g in the back row at school plays. Cheering from the bleachers when I

obably

it h

imes, tha

present, like yanking a stu

lipping into th

the answer - Dam

ut Ren, my thoughts keep det

the end of October," I finally tell Kia

oulmates. Or destiny with good lighting." She pauses. "But I know that's what you want. A

yb

asshole. Possibly a don

Ren is my first boyfriend. She knows that. He could still be the one. Cou

w that's not

sleep with him?" Her tone is edgy, like she a

Ren

n judge all she wants. She knows I want my first time to matt

enager. Me? I'm waiting for sparks. Electricity.

Call it unrealistic expectations

create that.

n, I know he

y ... decisiv

dn't even ha

will have to think hard. That would take hours.

pumped-up confused ho

she says sweetly, "... oh, I don'

ng him back into the room? I

o kill. And he's bad, mad, unhinged, and I'm fairly certain

not still on that va

ed he isn't one. I've watched The Vampire

ring eyes that should co

but a stud in his left ear with some

daylight protection a

ort, lying

Anatomy, Big Bang Theory, and Suits. Basically, stories where

"he's not exactly ... sent

them ar

he came to live with Uncle John after her alcoholic mother jumped off a five-story buildin

can visit h

I can say

d in the world ... or if he's already become

urgles like it's personally offended by being used. I take the mug and retreat to the couch, claiming my space,

ent to poor life choices. Shirts. Dresses. Jeans. Things I'm fairly certain I've never

cupboard, cause hers is too small.

d Axel's face appears in the gap. Just his head a

and genuinely happy, before dropping himself onto th

cked on even more muscle this past year. Solid. Strong. Comforting in a way that sneaks up on you. His c

g my mug, "how's th

suits him, though - coastal rescue, real danger, real purpose. Having a

flash through my mind - the whispered nonsense from

bull

was quiete

t wasn't safe. A childhood that never really happened. I still don't know much - just that he has a

broken home. A kid forc

inseparable. They recogniz

been part of us. Since

use?" he asks suddenly, like he pluck

e boys do that - always

sfunctional. I think it's because b

"Hard to forget. S

s day, I'm not sure what upset our teacher more - that we slipped away

there last we

Kiara gasps, hope

over my lap like he owns the space. "S

cou

ever guess wh

ter guard

eyes so hard the

e arrow dispenser. The o

en. "You'r

scratches his jaw. "Took us minutes to put out the fire. Hours to cl

," I say. "Jason Steward was the one who tr

y Cupid shot y

snap. "And possi

gly man. Jury's still

r hole's still there.

gr

toilet," he adds helpfu

instead of filming Jason," she mutt

d my athletics career,

you never had an athleti

"You've always been

"Even Pink Scarlet beat you, and

uth to protest, bu

de - even before she broke her ankle. Even slower than S

one has the

hen shrugs. "Fair. I'm mor

weater to the alre

zes mid-fold, a shirt dangling from her fi

ance

he runs out of the building screaming like a girl - while th

into m

ight up until it wasn't. If Damion hadn't shown up,

er up ... but his tiny body was broken ... in more ways than one.

ere - alone, in a haunted house, miles away from a

t with that infuriating half-s

ost? The monster? A demon?

in can stop my mouth. "He

zes. I feel their eyes on

hauled Kiara out with her broken ankle tucked carefully against him, and c

crush on him the

w back then what a spectacular asshole pers

ls her ey

Or at least Logan desperate

o safer ground, "you didn't see t

lived rent-free in

hotgun into the air whenever someone steps on his sticky tile floor. My sneakers were practically marr

l says. "No ghost

gu

sometimes. West side of the building. And

pointing wildly. "T

kles, low

wink. "No matter how much effort

He catches it easily and studies the flamb

e clouds," he laughs.

her palms up

turn to ro

, wiggling her eyebrows at me,

po

at a hunk is," A

beautiful?" s

r head, completely unbothered. And Axel never reacts - she changes in front of him all the time - this was

you still don't speak feminine." She claps her hand

with long sleeves, hugging h

nestly. She always does -

bored, staring at the ceiling like it's pr

u girls ready to b

ean it with my whole chest.

be?" he asks, still glued t

Maybe join soccer." I grin. "And fr

Are you at least making time fo

ially. And honestly - I had

everything," I admit quie

n, ignoring my glare, "what do y

ighs. "Honestly, I don't like the dude. But objectively? I think Ren

face. Kiara points

" I mutter, "is new, s

n eyes?" K

?" Logan's voice cuts in as he

, too loud. "Why would

gh, sometimes I

y in love with someone with green e

Broad. Quarterback energy everywhere. It's his 21st birthday, and judging by the sme

house is basically Fort

oduction sites - all on the same property - safe and pr

troversy and tabloids. And if the univ

le. A certified genius ... who at twenty-four is wrapping

e over to t

mold. Completely

del and actor, nightclub co-owner, smoo

the Sharks. A definite troublemaker. Shor

" Jackson says. "Che

"I'm in. Haven'

while you girls get p

," Logan grimaces. "And

of those friends is Jason Stewa

urns glacial. "I

tongue. He s

o cocky, cute, and u

ways

raining Club'. A place where they teach men how to seduc

ional and Analytical Sex T

are clearly

rique calls as

g too!" I ye

y l

be a man," s

couch, warm, exaspe

e

starting t

the ones I