“What’s up, fuckers?” Oakley greets them as he steps out of his car.

Like a scene out of a movie, I watch as Oakley, some other guy, and Britney’s crew of mean girls form a circle around Jace and Britney.

I almost do a double-take as my gaze snags on a pair of piercing green eyes and razor-sharp cheekbones. Evidently, Jace isn’t the only one who’s changed. Even though they hardly resemble one another, his younger brother Cole is every bit as good looking as he is.

Only unlike Jace, who’s silently leaning against his car and observing everyone, Cole’s shamelessly flirting with Britney’s posse.

None of them seem to mind, though. Quite the contrary—they’re all soaking it up.

My chest pangs when it hits me. There’s a Covington brother missing.

I don’t know the details, but Cole’s twin, Liam passed away around the same time I left town.

I tried to reach out to Jace after I saw someone post RIP Liam on social media, but he never responded to my messages or calls.

My dad promised we would take a trip back to Royal Manor so I could see how he was holding up—but as usual, his new job and new wife took precedence over my needs.

As much as it kills me, I can’t blame Jace for shutting me out.

Jace always looked out for Liam and they were close. Losing him must have been absolutely devastating. As his best friend, I should have been there for him.

But I wasn’t.

And it doesn’t matter why or whose fault it was. All that matters is I was nowhere to be found during the hardest time of his life. The time he needed me the most.

Squaring my shoulders, I start walking toward his car.

I’ve always been the type of person to own my shit. So even though Jace might not accept my apology, it doesn’t take away from the fact I still owe him one.

Not a single person looks my way as I approach their little circle, which is fine by me.

I’m not here for them.

“Hey.”

As though I were invisible, Jace pulls his phone out of his pocket and proceeds to type something.

Adjusting the strap of my bag, I clear my throat and try again. “Listen, I know you’re busy, but I was hoping we could talk in private for a minute.”

Nothing. It’s like I don’t even exist.

Annoyance skitters up my spine. He wants to hold a grudge? Fine. That’s his prerogative. I, however, refuse to be treated like a second-class citizen by the boy I used to call my best friend and tell all my secrets to.

For fuck’s sake, we’re turning eighteen soon, not eight.

“Jace.” The bite in my tone has everyone looking at me.

Everyone except him.

“I’m sorry, hon. Are you lost?” Britney snaps. “It’s obvious no one here wants to talk to you.”

I open my mouth to respond, but something passes in her gaze. “You look familiar.”

It’s not surprising that a selfish bitch like her doesn’t remember the girl she used to pick on.

Before I can inform Britney who I am, her mouth widens in surprise.

“Dylan Taylor.” She looks at her posse with a mischievous gleam in her eye before turning to Jace. “You two were like best friends forever ago, right?”

My heart stops when his eyes finally connect with mine.

“No.”

It would hurt less if he plunged an actual knife right through my heart.

“That’s a lie and you know it,” I whisper as he pushes past me.

I understand he’s angry, but there has to be some small part of him that still cares. Some chip underneath the block of ice I can get through to.

Slowly, he turns. “You’re right.”

The ominous feeling in my gut intensifies as he steps forward, closing the distance between us.

“Welcome back, buddy.”

The smile he shoots me is so cruel I nearly wince.

“Damn,” Cole declares as his brother walks away for the second time. “Being on Jace’s shit list is—” He laughs to himself as he slings an arm around some girl’s shoulder. “On second thought—why ruin all the fun?”

I glare at him. Cole’s always been a cocky punk, but evidently, he’s upgraded to a full-grown asshole.

“Wow—”

“Ew,” Britney screeches, looking at her phone screen in disgust. “Desperate much?”

I have no idea what she’s talking about. And I don’t have the chance to ask because she tosses her head back, giggling with her cronies as they amble toward the building. My asshole step-cousin doesn’t even spare me so much as a parting glance before he chases after them.

For a moment, I consider calling my aunt to pick me up.

No. I won’t give them the satisfaction of getting under my skin so easily.

Whatever it is, it will blow over soon. High school gossip has the shelf life of fruit. There’s always a new rumor that upstages the one before.

My steps are steady as I walk inside.

Besides, how bad could it be?

Chapter 6

Jace

“Thanks for the heads up, man,” Oakley calls out as he approaches me.

Second period only ended thirty seconds ago. Word got out quicker than I thought it would.

Then again, Britney’s rumors tend to spread fast…just like her legs.

Even still, I’m not sure why Oakley’s wasting his time and mine with this little confrontation in the first place. He knows damn well there’s a better chance of getting struck by lightning twice than getting an apology out of me.

I slam my locker shut. “If I told you ahead of time, I’d have to hear you bitch about it even longer.”

He considers my statement for a moment. “Fine, you have a point.” He runs a hand down his scalp. “But now Hayley’s pissed and she won’t talk to me.”

“And that’s different from any other day because?”

“Because he was this close to getting her to agree to anal,” my brother Cole declares as he joins us.

Oakley sighs as we start trekking down the hall. “Did you two make a pact to screw up my life today or something?”

“Stop being so dramatic.” Cole shrugs. “The way I see it, you’re down one annoying girlfriend and up one hot freaky cousin.”

Although his jab was directed at Oak, he looks at me for a reaction.

I don’t give him one.

Cole grins. “If you don’t want her, I might take a crack at her.”

Before I can tell him to fuck off, a chubby brunette with black-rimmed glasses, who’s carrying a stack of books, crashes into him.

Cole scowls. “Walk much?”

“Yes, I walk with my Lord and Savior daily,” the girl deadpans as she fixes her glasses.

My brother opens his mouth then clamps it shut, looking visibly uncomfortable.

The girl gives him a saccharine smile. “But he’s on a break right now. Therefore, eat shit and get crabs, Covington.”

“Jesus. She’s annoying,” Cole grits after she stalks off.

“Careful,” Oak mocks. “Her Lord and Savior might hear you.”

Cole flips him the bird before he ducks inside a classroom.

“Look,” Oakley says as we reach our next class. “I’ll go along with the rumor because I want the blue-haired bitch gone too, but I’m gonna need you to do me a solid and come clean to Hayley.”