She widens her eyes and looks at me until I nod, because I do know. She hated it when people felt sorry for her after the accident, so I should know better than to think she’d do that to me. I guess that’s easier to believe though, than that someone actually cares.
When I reluctantly give in, she grins. “Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time you celebrated a holiday with my family. You remember Easter, don’t you?”
I blink at her in shock. My heart freezes inside my chest before it pounds. “Do I remember Easter?” Is she serious right now?
Peyton nods, almost hesitantly, gaze locked with mine. A pretty blush steals across her cheeks and it reminds me so much of another blush, a blush I once traced down the slender column of her throat to where it spread across her bare chest. My fingertips tingle in response.
Air ignites as the memories pass between us. The spark of challenge she’d held in her eyes. The impossible softness of her skin. My awkward, inexperienced fumbling.
The pained wince that shifted into a euphoric smile after
I entered her.
I inhale a sharp breath and release it. “Hell yeah, I remember.”
THURSDAY, APRIL 21ST
7 Weeks until Disaster
?Freshman Year
JUSTIN
JUSTIN’S HOUSE 5:18 P.M.
“What the—?”
Behind me, the front door closed. Bags and suitcases filled the entryway, lining either side of the foyer with a random assortment of toys thrown in the middle. Peyton frowned as she nudged a Spiderman rolling backpack with her shoe. “Y’all going on a trip?”
I almost laughed. It was cute how innocent she was. How wholesome and sweet. In her Full House world, it made sense that a family vacation would involve, you know, the entire family. But that wasn’t my world.
“Nope,” I replied with a tight smile. “We’re not going anywhere.”
God, I hated that this shit still got to me. I’d lost count how many times I’d come home to discover one or both of my so-called parents jetting off to parts unknown, so this sort of thing shouldn’t have phased me anymore. In this case, I blamed the timing.
Usually, Easter was the one weekend a year I could count on Dad actually being around. It wasn’t that my family was religious or anything. Lightning would probably strike Annabeth dead if she ever set foot inside a church, and Dad, well, he worshipped at the altar of money. But he faked it well for his shareholders. It came with the job of CEO in the Bible belt. Holidays, holy days of obligation, and St. Edward’s annual spring carnival of gluttony were prime elbow-rubbing appearances. This year he must’ve somehow gotten a pass.
“Well, someone’s going somewhere,” Peyton muttered, eyeing an expensive looking designer suitcase with distaste. She made a face like a disgruntled bunny. “They seriously didn’t tell you about this?”
“Are you seriously surprised?”
For her sake, I forced a playful smile, trying to act like it didn’t bother me. I should’ve known better. Concern flooded her eyes, proof of how off my game I was, so I dropped the smile and tugged on her hand. “Come on. Let’s go to my room.”
As we made our way through the living room, I prepared myself for the inevitable.
This was what I got for inviting her here. When Peyton found me after practice, another book in her hand and a sweet smile on her face asking for a ride, I couldn’t say no. The best part was that I didn’t have to, now that we were… whatever we were. She’d suggested we hang out at the ranch but I knew Cade would be there, sniffing around like a dog in heat. He had it bad for my girl. Thankfully, Peyton either had no idea or had no interest, and I planned on keeping it that way. So, like a dumbass, I’d invited her here, knowing Rosalyn would give us our space and expecting the rest of house to be relatively quiet.
The sound of Annabeth’s nasal yap shut that down.
Tugging harder on her hand, I increased my pace, wanting to get to my room before the step-witch figured out we were here. That was just what I needed. For her to see Peyton, and find some new way to humiliate me. Next to me, Peyton hurried her steps, sensing my unease.
A half a foot away from my bedroom door, my brother darted out of his.
“Justin!” Chase launched himself into my arms and I dropped Peyton’s hand to catch him. “Did’ja hear? Did’ja hear? I get to meet Mickey! I’m gonna meet Mickey!”
Huge brown eyes stared at me with liquid joy and my anger melted. I’d kill for this kid. Readjusting his light weight on my hip, I gave him my full attention. “Mickey, huh? Man, that’s awesome. Someone must love you a lot.”
He beamed at me. It was a game we played. Whenever anything remotely good happened, he’d run into my arms and I’d remind him how much he was loved. How special he was. Lord knows he wasn’t hearing it regularly anywhere else.
“Think he’ll give me any cheese?”
Just the thought had Chase’s smile bordering on the slightly manic and I had to choke back a laugh. Peyton chuckled quietly behind me.