Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Seventeen years old

Have you ever felt a pull toward a person, a pull you couldn’t explain? I had, and it was driving me crazy.

My brother Prescott was in the back smoking with his friends while Juliet was in the pool house because it was too cold outside for her liking. Wasn’t being outside the whole point of having a bonfire? Juliet didn’t seem to care, and I was glad because that meant Nikki was with her and not plastered to my side. Nikki had thought of me as her boyfriend ever since she decided to sneak into my room one night when she was having a sleepover with Juliet. I was stupid for fooling around with Nikki. I’ve always been more reserved than Prescott, and when Nikki offered like most teenage guys I took. I know it sounds like a dick thing to say but compared to Freya she didn’t mean anything. Sure, it was cool to get some experience except the whole time I was mortified my little sister was going to walk in looking for her friend.

I wasn’t like my brother, who had an easy time getting girls with our family’s wealth and his Adonis face. Me, I always had a hard time trying to figure out the right thing to say or do. Prescott was the only one who didn’t have a hard time living up to the Dunnett legacy. Often my father and I clashed because I didn’t agree with his ideas.

My eyes involuntarily searched for Freya. It was something I automatically did every day as soon as I walked into school. Tonight she looked real pretty standing in front of the fire, the bright flames making her face glow. I swore when she looked up at me with those big brown eyes and smiled at me, I felt like I lost a part of myself. Ever since I gave her a ride home, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I noticed her before at school—what guy at our school didn’t? Freya was a prettylittle thing; she was wild and funny. Still, it was that same reputation that always made me keep my distance, but driving her home that night, something changed, and now whenever Freya saw me in the hallways, she said hello, and it made my mornings. I would be at my locker, and she would give my arm a squeeze as she passed by and say “Hey” or “Hello,” followed by a smile. Sometimes she would be with Russell and his friends and wave at me from across the hall.

Freya came and sat next to me on the bench. “Hello, Maximilian, why so lonely?” The smell of apples clung to her neck, and damn if I didn’t want to lick her to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.

“Just chilling.” I knew I sounded lame as soon as the words came out. “Does your grandfather know you’re here?” I grimaced after I spoke. Why did I bring him into the conversation? Prescott was right; I had zero game.

“I have meant to apologize for the way Grandpa treated you that night. As for tonight, he knows where I am. I had to fess up after he caught me sneaking out of my room.”

“How did that happen?”

“I was halfway out my window, my feet about to reach the ground, when he asked if I needed a hand. I almost pissed myself. Then he said I could go out as long as I gave him an honest answer about when I was getting home, and he forbade Rusty from drinking tonight. Grandpa also said my driving lessons start tomorrow. Can you believe it, Max? He’s teaching me how to drive in case Rusty ever gets too drunk to take me home.”

My stomach dropped when she turned and looked at Russell with her eyes glowing, and at that moment, I wanted to hate the guy, even though he was a good friend. I wanted her to look at me like that.

“You and Russell?” There was an edge to my voice I had never used before. I looked at Russell; he was with a few guys from the baseball team jumping over the fire. I was about to apologize and say it wasn’t any of my business when Freya threw her head back and laughed.

“Oh God no. I have standards, and dating Rust would be incestuous, like dating a brother.” She put her finger in her mouth and pretended to gag, and I’d never felt more relieved in my life. Shit, what was happeningto me ?

“Maximilian.” She snapped her fingers in front of my face, and I felt myself go warm with embarrassment. I was staring at her and lost it.

“You can call me Max. My full name is a mouthful.” I wanted to pretend like she didn’t notice the way I got lost in her, but this was Freya Pratt, and judging by the wicked smile she gave me, she was more than aware.

“Max-i-mi-li-an—I like the way it rolls off my tongue, don’t you?” she said with a dramatic roll that made my blood boil. I looked down at where we were both sitting so close that if she moved a little more, she’d be in my lap. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but I had no words.

“Max,” she prodded, tipping my chin so I could look at her. If I was at a loss for words before, I was completely mute now. “Are you going to kiss me?” Her voice dropped low.

This was it; she was giving me the okay to do what I’d been dying to do since I dropped her at her grandfather’s trailer, and I couldn’t move. She made the first move for me. Her hands were small, cool, and delicate against my cheeks. There was zero hesitation on her part when she guided my face to meet hers. When our lips finally made contact, I knew that nothing would ever be the same. All it took to snap me out of the trance she put in me in was for our lips to meet. My arm went around her tiny, little waist and pulled her closer, and even then, it still felt like she wasn’t close enough. That kiss wasn’t my first kiss, but it was the one I knew I would remember for the rest of my life. It was the kiss I knew I would hold as a standard from now on. It should have scared me, but for some insane reason, I wanted to run head-on to this new challenge.

“I’ve been dying to do that since I saw you stranded in the grass wondering if you had frostbite,” I said when she pulled away. A beautiful, rosy tint covered her cheeks. I didn’t think she could get more appealing, but she proved me wrong when she smiled, showing a hint of vulnerability.

“I’ve been dying for you to do that.” Her confession gave me confidence, making me brave, so I kissed her again and again until Russell came looking for her and almost caught us making out.

“Come on, let’s go jump.” She extended her hand to me. At that moment, I knew I would follow her anywhere, even to jump through burning flames, and not let myself think about how reckless it was.