Prologue

SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

RHYS

“Congratulations, motherfucker!”

I scoff as my best friend shouts in my ear, leaning over the back of the couch, a little bit of his room-temperature beer sloshing over his red solo cup and onto my lap.

“Jesus, Elton,” I say without any malice, wiping at the now-damp spot on my black jeans. “How many have you had?”

Elton pinches his dark eyebrows in concentration, mumbling something under his breath as he starts ticking off his fingers. After reaching five, he throws his hand up in the air and shrugs. “It’s a party, Rhys. You should partake. It’s your celebration, man.”

I shake my head with a lighthearted laugh. Yeah, I know this is supposed to be a party thrown in my honor, but I think these rich prep school fucks wanted nothing more than an excuse to party. I’m not friends with any of them, Elton is. He’s friends with everyone —stupid fucking charming golden boy—while I’m the black sheep of our crowd. But if the guy throwing this wants to provide our graduating class with free booze and regretful memories in my name, who am I to stop him?

I’m sure none of these assholes would give the scholarship kid a second look if I wasn’t best friends with the richest one of them all. That’s what it’s like living in Miami. You’re either raised with a silver spoon in your mouth in one of the many multi-million-dollar mansions or high rises, or you’re barely making it by in shitty apartments with astronomically high rents, like my family. While everyone else customizes their designer uniforms for our school, I walk in wearing something my mom had to sew together. When they go off campus and eat at whatever bougie restaurant caters to their fancy black cards, I go to the library with my packed lunch. Regardless, I try not to let the chip on my shoulder grow too heavy.

How could I when I found out today that out of all these preppy assholes, I was elected as valedictorian of our graduating class?

“One drink,” Elton urges, his sun-kissed cheeks already red from all the alcohol. His green eyes are bloodshot too, no doubt from the weed he reeks of. I love my best friend to death, but he’s a mess—only in the best way possible. Even then, he’s the sun we all simply revolve around. Smart, talented, funny. The one we all want to be. Well, except me. I’m the one who has to put up with his three a.m. calls about Sex and the City reruns and the one who has to indulge his Rocky Road addiction.

Endearing fucker.

“I’m good, man.” I laugh, once again pushing his red solo cup away from where it’s practically plastered to my cheek. I glance over his shoulder to see that the beer pong table is being set up, and I flick my eyebrows up. “Want to play beer pong once they’re done?”

He rolls his eyes. “You’re gonna get shit about playing with water.”

“As if I care what people think,” I snort. Standing up, I stretch my arms over my head. “I’m gonna go to the bathroom and then we can play.”

Jerking his chin, his eyes wander behind me, and I scoff when I turn to see him checking out Cassandra. “Careful,” I warn him teasingly, shoving his shoulder. “She’ll break your heart.”

Elton’s heart eyes glaze over with lust as he stares at the head cheerleader. I want to roll my eyes at how predictable it all is, but I wasn’t kidding when I told him she’d break his heart. Despite acting like a classic fuck boy, Elton has forever in his eyes whenever anyone catches his interest. His heart is just too big, and he’s going to get hurt if he keeps on chasing after love. Cassandra is a ‘ love them and leave them ’ kind of girl. She just wants to have a good time without any strings attached before she heads off to Notre Dame in the fall. More power to her.

As I stare at the crowd of my peers, it’s hard to believe this room full of drunk idiots is all bound for their Ivy League universities. I say that as affectionately as I can while watching some guy take body tequila shots off a girl’s ankle divots. What the fuck?

Elton and I aren’t any better, though, so I should just shut the up. He and I are set to start at Dartmouth once we graduate. When I had shown him the email containing my acceptance and my very generous academic scholarship, he had loudly announced to his family during dinner that he was going too. Mr. Hill just rolled his eyes, mumbling something about how he should have spanked Elton more as a child, while Mrs. Hill congratulated me. It’s going to be awesome since Elton’s dad is footing the bill for our off-campus apartment so we don’t have to live in the dorms. We’re heading up there in a few weeks to get a feel for the area, and I can’t wait.

My pride doesn’t just stem from the fact that it’s an Ivy League school. I honestly couldn’t care less about that. It’s the fact that I’m going to be the first one in my family to graduate high school, let alone go to college. My parents have never placed a high value on education, so it was up to me to work my ass off to reach my goals. It’s a rewarding feeling knowing that everything I’ve worked for since I understood the concept of personal achievement is finally coming to fruition. I’m damn proud of myself and all that I’ve accomplished thanks to determination and hard work.

Elton has disappeared from behind the couch, already halfway across the room and in front of Cassandra. I can tell from the way she flashes her bright blue eyes that she’s feeling him tonight, so I remind myself to not be a cockblock later before we head back to his place. I snort when he tries to place his hand over the mantle above her head—a total BDE move—but ends up slipping and tipping his drink all over his expensive shirt. Serves him right for trying to be cool.

Shaking my head, I walk away from the scene, but stop short when I see someone I don’t expect walk through the front door.

What the hell is Everest doing here?

Everest, Elton’s younger brother, should definitely not be at this party. It was made very clear on the invite that it was a senior-only gathering and Everest is a freshman. When Elton and I left the house earlier, promising his parents we’d be careful and call if we needed anything, Everest was heading to another party with his friends. My curiosity spikes when I see that none of the people who usually hang off him are present. The kid is just like Elton, the center of everyone’s attention, so it’s weird to see him by himself.

Or maybe not. Lately, things have been different with Everest. Ever since his injury, his outings have become less and less frequent. Whenever I’m over at their house now, he’s usually in his room, watching old lacrosse reruns and nursing his still healing collarbone.

I don’t blame him for wanting to take it easy. I was at the game when it happened, seeing as though Elton and I have never missed one since Everest started playing. Watching him in his element was always impressive, a glimmer of true talent, and seeing him play alongside college recruits as a freshman made even me, his brother’s best friend, fill with pride. He was killing it. I don’t know much about lacrosse, but you would have been an idiot not to notice the way Everest shined out on the field. He was a definite star in the making, so confident, so graceful?—

Until some fucker tackled him and broke his collarbone.

I’ve never heard anyone scream the way Everest did when he went down. Me and the Hills had rushed to the field, trying to comfort him as we waited for the paramedics. But when I saw shards of his bone sticking out of his skin, I knew what Everest quickly discovered. Shattering—because it wasn’t just any type of break—his collarbone on his dominant throwing side effectively shut down any prospects in the sport.

A stab of affection hits me as I watch him rake a hand through his shaggy blond hair, a touch darker than his brother’s, as his wide green eyes scan the room. His right arm is still in a sling, and he awkwardly adjusts it as he passes through the sea of drunken bodies. He hugs the walls and avoids touching anyone, which is impressive for someone his size. At six-four, he’s taller than both Elton and I, and built like a fucking truck.

I see the lost expression on his face and wander over to him, smiling on instinct when the side of his lips quirk up shyly once he sees me. Even though he’s my best friend’s younger brother, I know him decently well. I wouldn’t say we’re close, but definitely on our way to being friends once he gets a bit older.

“Hey, Ev,” I greet him, clapping him on his good shoulder, and bringing him in for a quick hug. When I pull back, I don’t let go of him, glancing behind him instead. “What are you doing here? Where are your friends?”

He blushes in the most endearing manner. To everyone else, Everest is just as confident and cocky as his brother, but around me, he’s different. He’s quiet, more reserved, and bashful as hell. And, fuck, I won’t lie and say I don’t like it.

“They wanted to go to Euphoria, but I wasn’t feeling it,” he tells me. Raising one beefy arm to scratch the back of his neck, a flush creeps over his skin. “I’m just—um—I…”

“Wanted to see me?” I ask because I never miss out on an opportunity to tease him; if anything, just to see his cheeks redden the way they are now. When he gets flustered and sputters for an answer, I take mercy on him and slap his back gently. “I’m just messing with you, Ev. Do you want a drink?”

He smiles sheepishly, bright eyes sparkling and filled with a hint of nervousness I can’t place. “I mean, that’d be great, but I’m actually?—”

“Your obsession with the Hill brothers has no limits, I see. Don’t you know you can’t just hoard them, Rhys?”

I close my eyes as my grip on Everest’s back tightens at the sound of Knox’s voice. I turn to face him, keeping myself slightly in front of Everest as he approaches. Fuck, I hate the guy. So does Elton. Knox Sanders is a sophomore, but even without being in the same class as him, I know he’s a complete asshole. Not just because he’s cocky to a point of it being a turn-off, but he’s just a dick in general. He’s rude, outspoken, and doesn’t give a shit about anybody else. The only reason Elton puts up with him and reins in the urge to punch him is because he’s the school’s dealer.

“What do you want, Knox?” I bark, not liking the way he’s eyeing Everest with too much interest. “We’re not looking for any business.”

Raising one pierced brow, Knox smirks. “I don’t think even Xanax could chill you the fuck out, Rhys. I’m just making my rounds.” He turns away from me and winks at Everest. “Hey, man.”

Everest, like the polite guy he is, smiles at him. Luckily, he’s a smart kid, so his smile is coated in wariness. “Hey, Knox.”

“I won’t tell Jason you’re here,” Knox says, rocking back on his heels as he plays with the ring piercing the center of his bottom lip. “It’ll cost you, though.”

I snort. “With you, everything does. Just fuck off already.”

Knox doesn’t even bristle. He just shrugs and raises his hands in the air as he backs up. “Fine. I can see where I’m not wanted. I’ll just catch you later.”

“Doubtful,” I mutter under my breath, checking beside me to make sure Everest is okay. He looks a bit twitchy, like he can’t focus on anything, and I hate the fact that Knox rattled him. “He’s all talk,” I tell him. “How about that drink?”

He snaps out of whatever trance he was in, still a bit jittery, but relaxes some when he focuses on me. “Yeah. I’m just going to use the bathroom real quick.”

With a nod, I let him walk off as I head to the kitchen. When I enter, Elton’s there, pouring a generous amount of expensive vodka into his solo cup. He looks up, and I catch the completely dramatic despair in his eyes and sigh as I saddle up beside him. “Let me guess. Cassandra doesn’t want to marry you?”

“I just wanted a date,” he complains, then tosses back his drink all at once. He finishes and burps, wincing as the alcohol goes down. “Damn it, Rhys. I want a ride-or-die.”

“And what am I?” Hip checking him, I head to the cooler filled with sodas.

“Are you ready to play?” he asks, grabbing another drink. If he keeps it up at this rate, we’re going to get demolished at beer pong. When he sees what I’m doing, he wrinkles his nose. “Are you going to put rum in that? I thought you said you weren’t drinking.”

“No, it’s just a soda, and it’s for Everest.”

“Everest is here?” Elton asks, forgetting everything about Cassandra and his half-hearted attempt to find love. “Fuck, yeah!”

I laugh a little at that. Elton’s not like most big brothers. Some siblings can’t tolerate each other. They love the other, obviously, but age gaps sometimes lead to a certain degree of separation. Older siblings want to live their life without their younger siblings cramping their style. Elton’s the exact opposite. He will take any opportunity to hang out with his brother.

“Where is he?” he asks, glancing behind me.

“He’s in the bathroom.” I pop open the soda for Everest and pour it into a red solo cup. Nobody knows the kind of germs these cans carry. It’s gross. “I’m gonna go grab him and bring him over to the table.”

Smiling, he throws his arm over my shoulder and brings me in for a hug. “Thanks for looking out for him, man. It means a lot.”

“The things I do for you,” I joke with a roll of my eyes, even though it isn’t a hardship to care for someone like Everest. “Let me grab him and I’ll be right back.”

Red solo cup in hand, I make my way back out to the living room. There’s a line for the downstairs bathroom, and I don’t see Everest waiting, so I go upstairs where all the other bathrooms are. Since I’ve been here for a few parties, I know the layout of the mansion, but it’s still like a maze. I try the first two bathrooms by the top of the stairs and catch no luck. With a furrowed brow, I make my way deeper into the house, wondering where Everest went. I pause briefly and think maybe he ended up going home or meeting up with his friends, but I try the last room anyway.

And for a moment, I don’t know what I’m looking at. But when my eyes focus in on the dimly lit room and the figures and shapes take on faces?—

I see red .

Because Knox has Everest pressed up against the bathroom sink, arms bracketing him on either side as his lips glide up his neck. He’s whispering something to him with a filthy smirk, but it’s Everest’s face that makes me want to rage.

He looks nervous, uncomfortable, and that tugs at every protective instinct within me. Without thinking, I snap. I rush forward, the red solo cup dropping to the floor as I throw myself at Knox.

“Get the fuck off him!”

“What the hell!” Knox shouts, clearly caught off-guard as both of us stumble, falling straight into the jacuzzi tub. He’s trying to get me off him, but I’m too fired up to give a fuck that I’m damn close to beating his face in.

Who does he think he is touching Everest like that? How dare he put his hands on him? There’s no fucking way he’s not learning a lesson after messing with that kid. I raise my fist, ready to land the first punch to Knox’s irritating face, but a strong grasp on my wrist has me stopping.

“Rhys! Stop!”

“Was this piece of shit trying to force you into something?” I snarl, not taking my eyes off the trash underneath me. “Ev, go find Elton downstairs. We’re taking you home.”

Ev digs his nails into my wrist. With size and sheer strength to his advantage, he manages to pull my arm back and yank me out of the tub. “I’m not a fucking child! You have no idea what you just walked into!”

I stumble back. What the… Everest has never raised his voice. Especially to me. I’m momentarily shocked, looking at him like I don’t recognize the person in front of me. I don’t. He’s tense, angry, and regarding me like I’m the one who fucked up.

“We were just conducting some business,” Knox says, getting out of the tub as he straightens his jacket, looking annoyed as hell. “Way to kill the vibe.”

I raise an eyebrow at that, daring a glance at Everest. “Business? You were…” Everest flushes, but it doesn’t fill me with the typical warmth of affection. His eyes dart to the sink, where I see a large bag of pills. I don’t know what they are, but I immediately know it’s more than just buying and smoking weed like his brother does. “What the hell? You have to be kidding me.”

Everest snatches the bag before me or Knox can stop him, holding it safely in his hands. “Fuck off, Rhys. No one asked you to save me.”

I have no idea what to do with the scene in front of me. This sweet, innocent kid, caught in a bathroom with Knox, who obviously wanted more than to just conduct business, buying drugs. Pills, of all things. “Does Elton know about this?”

His eyebrows pinch, irritation evident on his face as he looks to the side. “There’s nothing to know. Can I go now?” Before he realizes what I’m doing, I steal the bag from him, pocketing it, and placing a hand on his chest when he tries to reach for it. “The fuck? Give them to me.”

“No,” I state clearly through gritted teeth. “We’re taking this shit straight to Elton, and you’d better pray he doesn’t beat your ass for being so stupid. What were you thinking, Ev?”

He opens his mouth to answer, probably trying to defend himself or tell me to fuck off, but he’s interrupted by the sound of chaos erupting downstairs. It’s muffled behind the closed door, but I can clearly hear the sound of furniture being knocked around and a stampede of footsteps racing through the house.

“Cops!”

“Shit!” I yell, a bag of pills in my fucking pocket. I turn to Knox, ready to shove them in his hands, but he’s already bolted. Slimy weasel.

Everest reaches for them, but I snatch the drugs away. Fuck that. There’s no way in hell I’m letting him take them.

I grab him by the back of his neck as I drag him out of the bathroom. “Keep your head down and run once we get downstairs. And Ev?” I spin him so I’m looking him dead in the eyes, hoping the seriousness of my message is conveyed. “We’re not done talking about this.”

Thankfully, he doesn’t argue with me as we continue downstairs, racing through the couples still lingering as they all try to descend at the same time. We make a beeline to the side door, jumping over the armchair, and stumbling into bodies as we do. I know we need to haul ass as we escape through the back door, flashing blue and red lights illuminating the sky once we’re in the thick humid night. We manage to snake by the cops, narrowly avoiding getting stopped by a few of them as they sniff the contents of scattered red solo cups and joints. I think we’re almost in the clear when we round the block and see Elton waving frantically at us to hurry up.

I push Everest ahead of me, instinctively protecting him from the cops at our back, planning to follow him, until?—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I wince as the cop squeezes my wrist tightly, smelling the air around me for booze. Turning to look at him over my shoulder, a placating smile curls my lips as I subtly try to inch away from him. “Officer, I?—”

He jostles me a bit and the soft thud of something hitting the pavement sounds loud through the night. “And what’s this?”

My blood runs cold when he picks up the bag of pills that fell out of my back pocket, dangling them in front of my face. I open and close my mouth, all the while shaking my head as the denial sits on my tongue. “I—no—those aren’t mine.”

“Right,” the cop deadpans with an eye roll. “They never are.” He reaches behind him for his cuffs. “Come on, kid. Let’s go. We’re taking you downtown.”

“What? Wait! No!” But my pleas fall on deaf ears, and I automatically look to where Everest and Elton are standing, observing the scene. Elton, like the dumbass he is, runs toward us and tries to argue with the cop, begging him not to take me in, but Everest just stands there.

He stands there, swallowing thickly, eyes zeroed in on the handcuffs being slapped onto my wrists. I beg him with my eyes to say something, do something, but I get nothing in return. With wide eyes and trembling fingers, he spins on his heels and runs away like a fucking coward.

Like a fucking traitor.

The cop arresting me brushes Elton off as he leads me back to his car, all the while looking at me with nothing but disappointment. “Hope you realize what kind of trouble you’re in.”

And it isn’t until we’re at the station, taking my mug shot, cuffing me to the bench as they call my parents that it sinks in. I hear the words felony, charges, fines , and I grow paler and paler as the reality of my situation sinks in.

I’m fucked.