8 Years Ago


    Did you hear that?”


    Maddy tightens her grip on my arm, halting her steps as an owl hoots among the tall, overgrown trees. The haunting yet gentle sound echoes around us in the dark woods, while her hold on my arm is so tight she’s nearly cutting off my cirction. You’d think she was about to be eaten alive by the harmless creature.


    A small huff escapes my lips. “This was your idea, remember?”


    I had better things to do tonight than sneak into a secret high school graduation party thrown by her older brother, Aston, and his jerky friends.


    “I know,” Maddy whispers, eyes wide as she scans our surroundings. She starts to move again, taking small, cautious steps. ncing down at her sparkly teal cowboy boots, I wonder what she was thinking when she chose that footwear and shake my head. Maddy will use any asion to dress up. “I refuse to miss out on the most epic party of the year just because we weren’t invited.”


    I pause mid-step, shifting my gaze onto her while crossing my arms. “Madelina Eleanor Beaumont,” I say, raising my voice. “You said we were invited, but your parents said no. Did you seriously just lie to me all because of some guy?”


    Maddy forces a small smile. “I may have embellished the truth a little. Don’t hate me, okay? Once we’re there, you’ll forget all about it, and we will have the best time. Besides, he isn’t just some guy… Camden Winters is the guy of all guys.”


    It takes a lot of effort not to roll my eyes. She can be in love with Camden all she wants, but the guy has serious red gs. Of course, being my best friend, she chooses to ignore my warning. The moment Maddy turned sixteenst spring, she suddenly got a case of boyitis.


    “Maddy! You’re going to get in so much trouble with your father. What if he grounds you over summer break? We can kiss all our ns goodbye. Have you forgotten our week in Europe with your aunt? I need to eat cheese in some ridiculously expensive castle in France.”


    “Will you just rx?”


    “Says the person ready to shit their pants over an owl,” I mumble.


    I should have known Maddy was telling half-truths. Unlike my parents, who have no idea what the word discipline means, Maddy’s parents are strict. Her father is the mayor, and God forbid Maddy or her older brother do anything to ruin his reputation. The mere fact I’m best friends with her is a problem. At least, it seems that way to me. Mr. Beaumont is always cold around me, as if I’m unworthy of his time or energy. My very presence is an inconvenience to him. But as my mom always reminds me, you can’t please everyone.


    It exins why this party is being held at the abandoned house by Peppermint Lake—no one will find us here. Rumor has it the ce is haunted… but maybe now isn’t the best time to remind Maddy of that fact, since she just held on to me tighter when something rustled behind the trees.


    “We’re almost there, ording to my map,” Maddy informs me, ncing down at her phone. The rustling behind the trees grows a little louder, and she casts a nervous nce over her shoulder. Suddenly, she lets out a terrified scream, breaking away from me, and begins pping at her face. Her phone flies out of her hand, smacking into my chest.


    I catch it, my eyes widening. “What the heck? What’s happening right now?” I yell over her incessant shrieking.


    “It’s attacking me. Get. It. Off!”


    With a quick swipe, I switch on the phone’s shlight. A tiny mosquito is buzzing around her face, and I can’t help but burst outughing. Reaching forward, I grab her iling arms to calm her. “Maddy, get a grip. It’s a mosquito.”


    She stops panicking, and a look of what the hell crosses her face. Maddy reaches out to take her phone. “I knew that. I was just messing around.”


    “Uh-huh, sure. Let’s keep moving,” I reply.


    The first time my dad took my older brother, Elliot, and me fishing was to this exact spot. While theke was beautiful, fishing was not. Still, there is something about this part of theke that is mesmerizing. The water is crystal clear blue and shines in the moonlight, reflecting gentle ripples and sparkles that take my breath away.


    That day, we sat on the rusty old pier, with our rods in hand, as Dad told me and Elliot this town would be good for us. It’s destined to leave a mark on our soul, and our future will alwayse back to this humble ce. He said it with wisdom in his eyes, but honestly, all I saw was this beautifulke in front of me.


    Elliotined the town was boring, but of course he was older and ready for adventure.


    I smile briefly at the memory, then suddenly get distracted by music.


    The sound of the Calvin Harris and Rihanna song “This Is What You Came For” bes louder as we finally step into a clearing. I reach for Maddy’s hand and pull her through the bushes.


    Tonight is a full moon—which my mother says symbolizes a time of release andpletion, whatever that means—and it’s so bright I can see the state of the dpidated home from where we’re standing. The roof appears intact, as does therge porch surrounding the house, but even from this distance, the broken ss, which was once stained-ss windows, exposes the ws of this once-beautiful property.


    Most of the kids, at least thirty, are gathered around the bonfire or dancing beside therge speaker, celebrating freedom. Suddenly, the idea of retreating back through the woods seems tempting. Senior girls can be cruel, even though I’ve avoided most of them at school, being in eleventh grade myself. There’s this tension between the two grades, and frankly, I’m so d they’re graduating. Seniors always think they rule the school.


    “Oh my God, can you see him? He’s so beautiful,” Maddy gushes.


    I nce over to where Camden is standing. He’s wearing his letterman jacket, arm around a girl, and drinking what I assume is beer since there’s a keg only a few feet away. Sure, he’s good-looking, but the guy is a 100 percent bona fide jerk. I have no idea why Maddy obsesses over him, especially since he’s her brother’s best friend. He does this thing with a toothpick in his mouth, chewing it like he’s a badass, which annoys me, but Maddy finds it “sooo hot!” Her words, not mine.


    My eyes wander toward where Aston is sitting. Unlike the other boys, he appears subdued. The girls around him try to touch him, but he’s uninterested.


    I hold my breath, watching him intently, trying to ignore the butterflies creeping in. Yeah, okay, Aston is hot. But not once has he shown any interest or spoken more than two words to me.


    When I sleep over at their house, he stays in his room and ignores me. About two months ago, I ran into him in the bathroom when he’d just gotten out of the shower. He yelled at me, and given that I was still in shock from seeing him half naked, things got awkward from there.


    A six-pack, a towel barely covering his lower body, and water cascading down his chest… I was speechless.


    Before that, he was just Maddy’s older brother.


    I bite the corner of my lip, observing him quietly until Maddy tugs on my arm.


    “C’mon,” she pleads as we walk down the slight embankment toward the bonfire.


    Aston immediately spots us, shaking his head in disapproval. As he stands, the girls clinging to him nearly tumble off. He towers over all of them, his stance intimidating.


    Maddy rushes over with her arms crossed, ready for battle. “I know what you’re going to say…” she begins. “But Daddy won’t find out.”


    “He better not, or it will somehow be my fault. It always is,” Aston warns her.


    Maddy grins, then makes her way to the keg. One of the other guys hands her a red cup, but Aston quickly swipes it away from her.


    “I’ll let you hang. But… there’s no chance in hell you’re going home drunk. Deal?”


    “Fine.” She sighs heavily before turning to face me. “Eva, let’s go get something to eat.”


    I avoid everyone’s stares and have this sudden urge to chill by the snacks since no one else is there. It’s not like I don’t know most of the kids here from school, but seeing them here is a whole other scenario.


    “Okay, we need a game n,” Maddy gushes through a mouthful of chips, and a few crumbs fall out the side. “How do I get Camden alone?”


    “Alone for what?”


    Maddyughs. “Eva, what do boys and girls do alone? You can’t be that naive.”


    Are we really having this conversation? I’m not exactly a prude, but losing our virginity should be memorable, not at some senior party with a douchebag and his annoying toothpick.


    “I don’t think you’ve thought this through…” I say gently. When did she be so careless? “This is a big deal, and Camden is… well, he’ll just take what he needs, and that’s pretty much it. Please don’t tell me you think he’s going to give up going to college and stay with you.”


    Maddy bows her head, and her brows furrow. “No. I’m not stupid.”


    “Okay, d we cleared that up,” I mumble. “Look, kiss him, fool around if you must, but don’t make a big decision based on the fact that you think he’s hot.”


    My reality check drives a wedge between us—I see it in her face.


    Maddy wanders off to talk to some of the girls she knows, leaving me to mingle on my own. Some guy tries to carry on a conversation while stuffing his face full of pretzels, but it’s obvious he’s had too much to drink—he’s been talking for a solid five minutes about the brilliance of the person who invented the shape of the pretzel.


    This is why I’m single.


    The boys at our school are so… meh.


    Bored and ready to abandon thisme party, I walk toward the other side of the house and away from the noise. It’s much quieter near the water, and as I slow my steps to take it all in, I trip on a small broken branch and fall onto the dirty ground.


    “Crap!” I whimper as my knee begins to sting.


    With great effort, I struggle to pick myself up, but a pair of ck jeans appears in front of me. Slowly, I nce upward as Aston crouches to my level. His curly dark hair falls over his eyes, but he quickly slicks it back with his fingers to reveal his beautiful face.


    “Already hitting the keg, huh?”


    I shake my head, trying to cover my embarrassment. “I’m not Maddy.”


    “No, you’re not my sister.” His smirk is annoyingly sexy. “Are you hurt?”


    “A little.”


    Aston extends his arm as I reach out for support. At a slow and agonizing pace, I manage to stand. Not only does my knee sting, but the fall also tore my jeans, so now there’s a big rip exposing a lot of skin.


    “Sit down here.” He motions to arge log near the edge of the water. “Let me take a look.”


    I take a seat while Aston kneels in front of me. My pulse quickens at the smell of his cologne, making the simple act of breathing impossible. His deep green eyes trace my body, causing me to shiver. Then, his eyes gaze upon mine while a smile graces his lips. He has one of those smiles that lights up his entire face. Not that I’ve seen it often. Around me, he’s usually annoyed.


    “I think you’ll survive. A little broken, but still pretty perfect.”


    “I never was perfect,” I inform him as he takes a seat beside me. “Far from it.”


    “We all see things differently,” he murmurs, then tilts his head slightly as if to better observe me. “Everleigh.”


    I’m not fond of people calling me by my full name, but the way he slowly drags it out leaves me speechless. As we stare out over theke, I fidget nervously with my hands. Maddy told me her father insisted Aston spend the summer in London to work with a business associate before starting college in the fall. I decide to bring it up since London sounds pretty cool, and sitting here in silence is awkward as fuck.


    “So, tomorrow is the big day, huh?”


    His shoulders slump as he leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, the big day.”


    “You don’t seem too excited. I’ve only read about London, but it looks like a beautiful city.”


    “Well, when you’re following your father’s directions, it’s hard to get… excited,” he answers.


    “I’m sorry.”


    “What are you sorry about? The fact that I’m his firstborn son and heir to our family’s fortune? Or how he controls every aspect of my life for his benefit?”


    I turn to face him, filled with this sudden urge to pull him out of whatever negative space he’s in. London is amazing, but no one should be allowed to dictate your life. At least my parents always taught me to follow my own dreams.


    “So… say no?” I blurt out. “What’s the worst that can happen?”


    Aston sighs dejectedly. “You underestimate my father’s control over our family.”


    “That’s because you let him.” I raise my voice. “Come on, you have everything going for you. You’re smart, a straight-A student without even trying. Coach loves you. Your athletic ability is the best the school has seen. I mean, I’m not one to watchcrosse, but so I’ve heard. Not to mention, you’re pretty. So tell me, why on earth do you think your father should dictate your life?”


    “You think I’m pretty?” Aston cocks his head with a yful smile on his lips. “Unusual choice of words, Miss Woods.”


    “You know what I mean.”


    “I don’t think I do.”


    “Handsome, hot, sexy. But that’s beside the point. What I’m really trying to say is—”


    Warm lips smash against mine, and I gasp. It takes me a second to realize Aston Beaumont’s kissing me.


    Oh. My. God!


    Aston Beaumont is kissing me.


    His tongue gently pushes through my lips, and my heart beats like a drum inside my chest. A million thoughts are running rampant through my head, but the only thing I can focus on is how he tastes like perfection.


    We find ourselves in perfect harmony, slow, sensual kisses igniting my entire body. Then, he explores every inch of my mouth with desperation. Desire travels right between my thighs as his hand slides beneath my sweater and against my stomach. The tips of his fingers rub against my belly, causing me to gasp as he inches closer to the button of my jeans.


    Am I about to lose my virginity?


    I have only just lectured Maddy on being responsible, yet here I am, about to have sex with her brother. With a desperate need to ignore any rational thoughts, I reach out to caress his face. My bold move causes him to moan inside my mouth as the pop of my jeans button sounds between us. Savoring the touch of his skin, I try to bring him closer to me, but then he pulls away, out of breath.


    “I shouldn’t h-have…” he stammers, quickly rebuttoning my jeans. “I’m leaving tomorrow, and you’re Maddy’s best friend.”


    I shake my head slightly to bring myself back to reality.


    But the reality is my best friend’s older brother just kissed me, and we were moments away from something more.


    I’ve been avoiding my feelings for thest year. Denial is a vicious game I y with my emotions, because it’s easier than getting hurt. The moment I admit to myself that I have a crush on Aston Beaumont will be the moment my life changes forever.


    Surely, if he kissed me first, he must feel something.


    I can’t be imagining all this.


    And it’s not like we’re going to get married or anything.


    Though we would make cute kids.


    “It’s okay,” I barely manage to say, trying to catch my breath with this sudden burst of confidence. “I want this to happen. I think… um, I like you, Aston. I mean, I’ve had feelings for a while.”


    A gentle wave crashes against the sand bank, shifting my attention momentarily. This kiss, in this spot of all ces, is something I will never forget. I want to savor it all—the way the water glistens under the moonlight and how, if you listen carefully, the frogs be quiet as if they are at peace listening to the thrum of my heartbeat.


    “Everleigh…”


    The warning in Aston’s voice and the weight of his gaze make my heart stop abruptly, and suddenly the creatures surrounding us are loud and obnoxious. It’s as if they know something is wrong and are warning me of what’s about toe.


    What the hell did I just do? Did I admit I wanted him to kiss me? Did I admit my feelings to the one boy who ispletely off-limits to me?


    Maddy would kill me if she found out.


    Her stern words about Penelope Anderson ring in my head. After Penelope moved to Cinnamon Springs and insisted on bing friends with Maddy, it didn’t take long before she was showing up at all of Aston’s games—and the truth came out. It was ugly, Maddy was furious, and to this day I don’t know if Penelope sessfully got with Aston. She ended up moving back to the West Coast before senior year, and we never heard from her again.


    I’m far from a mean girl, but if someone befriends me just to get with my brother, the gloves are off and ws will be out.


    It was all very dramatic, but still, those words stuck in my head and it often ys on repeat just to remind me my crush can go nowhere.


    “I have to go.”


    I ce my hands on my stomach to try to control this overwhelmingly bad feeling,


    I stand and run back toward the bonfire before he can say anything else. Suddenly, I want to be as far away as possible from Aston.


    No one seems to notice my flushed cheeks or my torn jeans. Everyone is happily dancing away, even Maddy, who’s busy with some other guy now. And that doesn’t seem to bother Camden, who is making out with a girl who had her hands all over Aston earlier.


    I sit beside the fire with a soda can in my hand, staring into the mes.


    Aston’s lips felt like pure bliss. Every part of me ached for his kiss. My body felt like it was possessed, and nothing could stop me.


    Until… Aston pulled away.


    “Here he is.” Jake, another senior, chuckles as Aston returns to the bonfire. He avoids my gaze, taking a seat in an empty chair. I steal a careful nce at him. He doesn’t look happy.


    “Are you ready?” Jake asks Aston.


    “It’s so barbaric,” Tiffany, the girl kissing Camden,ins loudly.


    “It’s a ritual, and who are we to break tradition?” Jake moves toward Aston with a needle and a small bottle. Aston removes his shirt as I watch in confusion, with a sudden thickness in my throat.


    “What are they doing?” I quiz the guy beside me.


    “He’s getting inked. To symbolize the end of an era.”


    With the needle in his hand and some ink beside him, Jake begins to carve into Aston’s chest. Most of the girls are unable to look, squeamish at the sight of the needle grazing his skin. Aston doesn’t flinch, not even when Maddy turns pale and almost passes out.


    Instead, he is staring directly at me.


    My weakness has always been his eyes, the same green eyes that consumed me and drew me into a kiss I’ll remember for the rest of my life.


    But something about his stare is worrying.


    “Ready to leave this town, Beaumont?” Camden teases with an obnoxiousugh. “London has interesting women, not boring girls like this godforsaken ce.”


    Tiffany smacks his arm. “I’m not boring. You’re such a jerk.”


    “Sweetheart, you weren’t calling me that ten minutes ago, when I gave you the best orgasm of your life.”


    What a fucking loser. Thank God Maddy didn’t touch him. I nce over at her to make sure she’s okay, and, judging by her rxed smile, I think she’s realized she avoided a walking STD.


    “I’m done with this ce,” Aston deres with a look so cold it makes me shiver. “And you’re right, I need a real woman. There’s no one left for me here.”


    My lips begin to tremble, but I force myself to keep it together, refusing to show him just how much I despise him right now.


    Aston Beaumont knew how to win my heart…


    … and break it.


    All in one night.


    A mastermind, some may call him.


    But not me.


    He’s the biggest asshole to ever exist.


    I could leave this party right now and allow my tears to get the better of me, or forget Aston Beaumont ever existed.


    Out of sight, out of mind.


    Tomorrow, he’ll be on a flight to London and gone from my life forever.


    The perfect cure for my broken heart.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!