Chapter Two

It's even worse than I imagined. Kyson Allen is even cuter than I remember. My uncle's stepson. The boy who tortured me for one full summer when I was ten years old and a few before and after that.

Dark hair that looks perfectly messy sticking out in fifty different directions. Slight stubble carpeting his jaws. Just enough hair that you know it'd create some friction. Deep blue eyes I could drown in. A smile that would have weaker girls melting in the palm of his hand. Luckily for me, I haven't forgotten how evil he is.

I told myself that things would be different. That maybe he'd be fat and ugly so I could laugh at him as he once did me, but that's hard to do when the guy looks like he probably has thousands of TikTok followers. I did search for him when I was like thirteen once I'd dropped my baby weight, ditched my braces, and grew boobs.

I never found his profile, but it no longer matters. I'm sitting across from the living and breathing version. A true teen Adonis. He's probably such a cliché. I bet he's captain of the football team and dates the head cheerleader. He looks like the type. Him and his jerk friends who are seated two rows away from me in detention.

My first day at my new school and I'm already in trouble. It wasn't my fault, and I can't believe Uncle John is punishing me.

I suppose things could be worse. I may be stuck in here with these jerks, but it's better than the alternative. There is no way I'm going to live with my birth mother if I could find her or my ex-step-monster. The egg donor, as I refer to my mother, bailed on my dad and me when I was seven. I doubt she even thinks about me. My father divorced my stepmom two years ago when he found out she had been cheating on him the last time he was deployed. She came to the funeral, but we didn't really speak other than her telling me she was sorry for my loss. My father's death was sudden and unexpected. A logging accident at work. I'd always known his job was a dangerous one, and he knew the risk that came with his hefty paycheck. My house has been closed up until I'm old enough to take it over or I decide to sell it. My father had a large life insurance policy, but I'd much rather have him. All the money in the world can't replace that man.

I still can't believe he's just gone.

My life changed in a matter of seconds. One tree took away everything I ever knew. I stare at the clock, willing the hands to move faster than they are. Every second that ticks by seems like an hour.

Kyson and his wolf pack keep grinning at me. The way they are looking at me as though I'm fresh meat has my stomach turning somersaults. These guys don't strike me as the type who take no for an answer. I am aware I need to get this under control. I don't want any trouble with them.

I used to spend part of my summers with Kyson. I always had a crush on him, even though he treated me like crap. But look at the guy. He's God's gift to teenage girls everywhere.

I glance at the teacher, who appears older than dirt. Wrinkles etched deeply into her skin like roads on a map. Only her skin is as thin as parchment paper. Short hair curled tight and close to the scalp as though it's still in rollers. Head down on her desk, she's not paying a bit of attention to us. Truth be told, I'm certain the old crow is asleep or possibly dead. I turn in my seat to face Kyson. I'm gonna have to get along with the guy since I'm living in his house, and we attend the same school.

"Hey. I didn't rat you out to Uncle John. He pulled up the security feed." This school is nothing like my old one. It's private and the tuition isn't cheap. At least we get my uncle's employee discount.

"It's whatever." Kyson rolls his eyes at me.

The guy who pinched me on the butt snorts. "Baby, you can smack me around anytime."

The bell rings before I can form a response. Remy blows me a kiss and darts out the door, followed by Gauge. Ugh.

"So, where are you parked?" I turn to Kyson, but he's gone. Seriously!?! This boy has some nerve. I grab my stuff and trudge down the hallway and through the front doors.

Remy and Gauge are climbing into a big red truck. I scan the lot and my gaze lands on my target, leaned against the driver's side door of a black muscle car. Of course, he drives a hot car. He's always had it all.

He lifts his chin and climbs in. When I start toward him, he starts the engine and rolls down the window. "Sorry. No time to give you a ride. I've got plans."

"Oh, come on." I throw my arm up and stomp my foot as he cranks the radio and squeals his tires, then fishtails out the parking lot. "Asshole." I sigh.

I hope I remember my way to Uncle John's house. I start down the sidewalk when a dented blue car pulls up next to me. I look over and see Lauren, the girl I met in the guidance counselor's office earlier today.

"Need a lift?" She presses her dark-rimmed glasses up the slope of her nose and shoots me a friendly smile. One of the only I've received all day.

Most of the girls sneer at me or ignore me completely while the guys here are eager to befriend me. Likely because they want to be the first to claim dibs or whatever. That's how they were at my old school, anyway.

I keep pushing thoughts of home and my former life to the back of my mind. It hurts too much. Every time I think about my friends or my father, I get this lump in the back of my throat. Then the chest pain that makes me swear I'm having a heart attack and going to die starts, followed by my rapid pulse and the sensation of not being able to breathe.

Panic attacks.

I can't afford to have one in front of Lauren and have her impression of me change to that of a basket case. She's the only person I've encountered today who seems genuine.

"Yes, please." I dart to the passenger side and get in. "Thank you so much."

"Sure. No problem. Where do you live?"

"Do you have any idea where Mr. Kipling lives?"

She scrunches her nose. "Yeah."

"That's where I live?"

"Are you his daughter?"

"Niece."

"So…Kyson is?"

"Not related to me," I finish for her.

"I envy you. That guy is…"

"A jerk."

"I was going to say hot. Like you have to live with him, and his friends are always with him. I'm so staying for dinner." She grins and turns left. My uncle lives in one of the nicer gated neighborhoods in a two-story brick home that looks more like a mansion with a gorgeous view of the coast. Lauren parks on the side of the street and shuts off her car.

"Thanks for the lift."

"Any time."

I start out of the car when Kyson blows past me, barely missing my door. "Jerk," I hiss.

"Do you want me to stay? I mean, I don't mind." I see a flash of her teeth between her lips. She seems sweet, but I don't need someone trying to friend me to get close to the wolf pack or whatever they call themselves.

"Some other time. I haven't even seen my room yet." My aunt grabbed me from the airport and dropped me at the school when she was called into work.

"It's cool. Let's swap digits."

"Yeah sure." I fish my phone out of my backpack and hand it to Lauren, and she gives me hers. We exchange numbers and trade phones.

"Do you need a ride tomorrow morning? I don't mind."

"Sounds good. Thank you. I should have my own wheels soon." I'm hoping Uncle John will take me car shopping this weekend. I can't wait. I don't want to be stuck begging for rides from Kyson. Who knows what the asshat would want in return for the favor.

"Nice."

I give her a wave and shut the door.

Kyson's car is in the driveway and pulling up behind him are Remy and Gauge. Ugh. I just want to find my room and take a nap.

"What are you doing here?" Gauge's brows shoot up as he climbs out of the beast of a truck. He's not as cute as Kyson or Remy, but that's only because I have a thing for guys with dark hair. He's got that boy next door charm thing going for him, though.

I stare at the stone paved driveway, not meeting his stare. "I live here," I volunteer, reluctantly.

Remy cracks up. "She's funny. I love this girl. But no really…are you like stalking me now?" He runs a hand through his dark chin length hair.

"Dream on." I stroll past them, taking the walkway two stones at a time.

"Dude, I don't think she's kidding," I hear Gauge's voice growing closer behind me.

My pulse speeds up because it's dawning on me that I'm alone with not only Kyson, but Remy and Gauge. I enter the house and try to close the door and lock it before they enter, but the door catches on Remy's giant jerk foot.

"What do we have here?" Kyson is leaning against the entryway that leads from the foyer to the kitchen by the stairs.

It's been years since I was last here, but I still remember the guest bedroom I stayed in as a kid is upstairs and three doors to the left. Hopefully that's where Helen, my Uncle John's wife, wants to put me, because I don't stop to respond to Kyson. My feet hit the stairs, and I run as their laughter echoes behind me.

I count the doors as I pass by them and twist the knob on the third one. Rushing inside, shutting it quickly behind me, I can't catch my breath. My heart is in my throat as I slouch against the back of the door and slide down to the floor. I let out a sigh of relief when I open my eyes to see my boxes stacked in the corner next to my luggage. The walls have been freshly painted a shade of mint green to match my room back home. I appreciate the sentiment. Though it's not the same. My father didn't paint these walls or take me shopping for the white duvet with mini peach roses embroidered in the seams.

No matter what, though, these walls will never be home.

I should probably unpack and find something to snack on, but there is no way I'm going back downstairs while they're here. I can't believe Kyson expected me to walk like five miles practically up what seems like the size of a dang mountain.

My phone buzzes with a text, interrupting my thoughts of self-pity.

Just got home. I still can't believe you live with Kyson Allen.

I don't get what the big deal is. He's a total ass.

Only the most popular and fine ass in our school and possibly the planet.

I hear what sounds like the front door closing and then a truck revving up.

Heavy steps sound on the hardwood stairs. A door slams shut, and I exhale.

Guess this means the kitchen is safe. I didn't get to eat lunch today, and I didn't have anything for breakfast other than a granola bar.

Downstairs in the kitchen, I open the fridge to grab a bottled water. There's not much of a selection to choose from When I close the door, I nearly jump out of my skin. Kyson is right in my face.

"Good. You still have your shoes on. Let's go."

"Where?"

"No one is ever home for a family dinner in this house. So, if you want to eat, let's go."

"Why? That way you can leave me stranded again? No thanks."

"You seemed to make it here in one piece." He grabs a tendril of my hair and yanks on it. I slap his hand away and he grabs my wrist. "You engaged or something?" The pad of his thumb rubs over the heart-shaped diamond on my ring finger.

"It's a purity ring."

His lips twitch. "What, like you're a virgin or something?"

"None of your business."

"Whatever. Do you want to go get food or not? Mom's on one of her health kicks. Unless you plan to survive on air and water, I'm your ticket to greasy pizza heaven."

My stomach gurgles in response.

"Okay. I just need to grab my phone and wallet."

"You don't need them. My treat to make up for leaving you at the school. I was pissed and took it out on you. Let me make up for it."

I'm skeptical of why he's being so nice all the sudden. Maybe he's afraid I'll tattle on him for ditching me.

Either way, I'm starving.