I cringe, knowing that regardless of what she’s talking about, there probably isn’t a thing I can say that will have any influence on Grayson. The four of us—me, Savannah, Grayson, and Tessa—go all the way back to pre-kindergarten days. I was four when Sav moved into the house next door. Before she came, Grayson was just the boy across the street I was always too shy to talk to. Once Savannah was around, though, she brought us all together.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple forever. Grayson moved away suddenly when his father was unexpectedly arrested, and Savannah’s life completely changed. In a matter of a year, I lost two of my closest friends. It was hard, especially when I came to Haven Grace Prep freshman year to see my former best friend for the first time in years—only she wasn’t the girl I remembered. She was cold. Heartless. Didn’t even look my way for a while. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I finally understood why. Now, I have both Grayson and Savannah back in my life, and I couldn’t be happier.
“About what this time?”
She crosses her arms and levels Gray with a look. “Grayson wants to have sex with his mom home, but I think that’s weird. Isn’t that weird?”
Gray runs his fingers through his hair. “Shout it a little louder, Savi. I don’t think the kids over at NHH could hear you.”
“Oh, please. Don’t be such a pansy.”
He snickers and takes a step toward her, wrapping his arm around her back and pulling her close. “Pansy, huh? Say it again and I’ll show you what a pansy I am.”
Like she always does, Savannah immediately melts into her boyfriend and smiles contently. It’s nice to see her this happy, and it’s no surprise at all to see these two end up together. Even when we were kids, they were just one of those things that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Salt and pepper. Grayson and Savannah. After the hell the two of them have been through, they deserve everything good in the world.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite saint,” a familiar voice says from behind me.
I refrain from rolling my eyes as I turn around. “Hey, Carter.”
Carter Trayland is one of the most popular guys at school. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a killer smile. He’s captain of both the football and baseball teams, but sports aren’t the only thing he plays. His reputation for sleeping around isn’t a secret to anyone, and somehow, his sights are now set on me. It would be endearing if I wasn’t certain the only appeal I have to him is the fact that he sees me as unattainable.
He wraps his arms around me for a quick hug, and the amount of dirty looks I get from other girls in the hallway isn’t lost on me. Meanwhile, the rest of the guys walk past us and over to their lockers.
“I can’t decide if your PDA is sickening or envy-inducing,” Jace comments, looking at Gray and Sav.
Grayson narrows his eyes at him and pulls Savannah impossibly closer. He’s caveman-level possessive with her, especially when it comes to Jace. There was a point in time where Sav used Jace to make Grayson jealous, and apparently he’s never gotten over it. Not even a little.
Savannah chuckles, knowing exactly what he’s thinking, and at the sound of it, he sighs. His head burrows into her neck, and I watch as his whole body relaxes instantly.
I wish I had someone who loved me as much as he loves her.
FIRST PERIOD DRAGS EVEN more than usual. Last semester, I had class with all of the few friends I have. This one, however, I’m not with them until third. Plus, I don’t think AP Calculus could be fun no matter who is in it with you.
As soon as the bell rings, I jump out of my seat and rush out the door. Tessa is waiting for me at the end of the hallway—the smile on her face makes me fear for my safety. She glances down at her phone and back up at me.
“Please don’t tell me you bought another puppy on the internet,” I say as soon as I’m close enough.
She throws her head back and groans. “That was one time.”
I keep my face completely stoic. “You blamed it on me.”
“It’s not like anyone believed me.”
“Still rude.”
Giggling, she shows me a text on her phone from her boyfriend. “Easton said there’s a party at Zayn’s this Friday.”
Crap. When I agreed to go to one of these with her, I didn’t think she would find one so soon. Then again, it’s Tessa, and I really shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve always wondered what she’s doing when she sneaks out of the house every night and asks me to cover for her. I guess this is it—crazy parties with her gang-banger boyfriend and his degenerate friends.
“I…” I hesitate. “I, uh, have something planned Friday night. I can’t go. Maybe the next one.”
Turning, I go to walk away but she stops me. “Yeah, I don’t think so.” She grabs my wrist and pulls me back. “You told me you would come to one with me, and this is perfect. I need time to plan our birthday party so I need your approval ASAP.”
I want to tell her no, to come up with some legitimate excuse that would make it so I don’t have to go with her, but I can’t. I promised her I would, and one thing we’ve always done is kept our promises.
“All right, fine. But you’re helping me get ready.”
Her smile beams brightly. “Deal.”
WITH MY CAR IN the shop, I hitched a ride to school with my sister. However, she wanted to leave and go directly to Easton’s after, so Gray and Savannah offered to drive me home. It’s not like they’re going out of the way. Savannah lives with Grayson now, right across the street from me.
“Want to get something to eat before we head home?” Sav questions as we get outside.
Grayson’s face says he’s completely down for it, and I could go for a bite. “Yeah, that sounds good. Where do you want to go?”
The three of us all toss out options as we stand in the cold, ruling each place out for one reason or another. It isn’t until Sav recommends hibachi that we all finally appear to be in agreement. Just as we’re about to leave, a voice rings out.
“Pretty boy,” someone calls, his eyes focused on Grayson. “I need to talk to you a minute.”
Savannah tenses beside me, and that’s when I realize who this guy is. Knox Vaughn. The first time I saw him was at Jace’s New Year’s party. When I asked Sav who he is, she simply told me his first name, that he’s trouble, and not to pay any attention to him. At the time, I couldn’t understand why she was so dismissive about it. He stood there with Grayson, looking so cold, but there was more to him—something hiding in his eyes.
I dreamed of him that night, and the next morning I started to do my research. It wasn’t hard to find out what kind of guy he is. His criminal record is longer than the essay I needed to write for my application to Yale, but all petty misdemeanors. I found out that he lives a few houses down from the shack Sav used to live in, which explained how she knows him, and that he’s the captain and quarterback of North Haven High’s football team.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Sav asks me as Knox hands Grayson his phone and Gray’s calm and collected attitude falters for a moment.