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To my two little hellions—love yourselves for who you are, not what you can give to the world.
My husband—who puts up with my absolute craziness when I’m staring down the devil (deadlines), you are an absolute CHAMP. The kids and I would be lost without you.
Mitzi and Marisa, my ‘dream duo’—you all are absolutely AMAZING! Honestly, I would probably be braindead if I had to edit this big bertha.
My Alphas—Bibi and Laura … Lawd, girls, you all are damn great. You both don’t give a shit and lay it on me if something doesn’t stick right. You both helped carve Hunter and Harloe out of marble and you didn’t even know it. Much love!
My Street Queens. Honestly, you all are awesome. You all keep doing the damn thing.
Last, but certainly not least, the bully babes/gents that read my books. I couldn’t have made it where I am now without you all. And while this book isn’t as dark as I tend to go on some, I hope you all will love it, nonetheless. Thank you so much for giving a newbie like me a chance to spread her wings and fly.
He may be the town's Golden Boy, but he's my worst nightmare.
Hunter Prince tossed me away like discarded trash.
His cruelty, among other things, forced me to leave town and never look back.
Until now.
Now I’m here with only one objective in mind—to better my future.
This is my only shot, so I can't screw it up.
However, that may be out of my hands it seems.
After nearly three years of silence, I come face-to-face with the enemy.
I wasn't prepared to see him, just like I'm not prepared for the ultimatum that falls from his sinful lips, either.
He’s bigger, meaner, and still stuck on hating me.
If he finds out my little secret, he'll have a valid reason to.
Because my secret is really our secret, and it has ten fingers, ten toes, and a mouth just like his daddy.
Oh, yeah, freshman year just got a bit more interesting.
In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.
- Maya Angelou
This is it.
My future starts today. Now. By the time the clock strikes three p.m., I will officially be a Golden Oaks Eagle!
A smile breaks out across my face when I see the old, weathered sign on the side of the road, welcoming newcomers to the glorious Golden Oaks community. Glad to see nothing has changed, I say to myself. A buzz of awareness skates up my spine as I dance a little jig in my seat from excitement.
Before long, I’ll be able to take care of us without the added efforts of my dad and older brother. No one will be able to look at me like I’m a disappointment. Disgust will no longer shadow their gaze, even when I mess up. Instead, they’ll be impressed that I’m going at it alone. That it’ll be me taking care of Maverick and me all on my own.
I can’t wait!
Passing the sign, the whiz of my tires rolling over the pavement is the only thing I hear. No music, no talking—just pure, blissful silence. Doing this allows me to take a moment and catch up with my thoughts, so I don’t feel quite as overwhelmed that I’ll be leaving for four months.
“Stupid school,” I grunt, looking back in my rearview mirror at the old sign that looks like it’s about to fall over at any moment.
The only thing I don’t care for at Golden Oaks is the fact I have to attend my first semester before any kind of help kicks in through my financial aid and student loans. Sucks, but it is what it is. I’m hoping the days go by faster so we can see each other soon. I miss him already.
As I crest to the top of the hill surrounding the town, my heart jumps into my throat. Not from nervousness, but excitement. This is the first time in three years that I’m doing something somewhat selfishly.
Going to school and leaving him behind sucks. These years are impressionable to my little two-year-old. I’m just tremendously glad that Maverick understands what Mommy is doing. He’s very smart for his age. Beautiful, kind, warm—my son never meets a stranger, which could inherently be a terrible thing in the near future. But right now, it’s perfect.
Turning on my signal, I take a right on Pineview Road and drive to the very end. Tall, wispy weeping willow trees line the road like a shield. Even though it’s halfway through August, they’re still as wispy as willows can be. Full of draping branches and thin, silky leaves with plenty of coverage to hide what’s happening behind them.
They’re beautiful, and one of the things I missed when I had to move away sophomore year in high school. Hell, I missed this whole town and everyone in it.
Well, almost everyone, that is.
Shaking my head, I push that asshole as far from my mind as I can. Even though it’s been three years, I still have a hard time shaking his presence from my mind. He’s like a ghost that won’t go away, haunting me everywhere I go. With his mismatched eyes and strong, chiseled jawline, I can’t forget him, no matter how hard I try.
A sigh slips from between my lips as I feel the excitement start to dwindle. Everything that boy touches turns to shit—especially me. Nothing lasts for me anymore—particularly happiness. No matter how hard I try to forget, something happens, and I’m thrust right back in the fray, remembering everything he’s ever done to me.
And all the things he never did.
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I will thoughts of him away. He’s no longer here, so he won’t cause any problems for me. He’s not even on my radar. I’m better than him and his petty games.
I’m better than the whole Golden Crew. F them.
I release my lip and resituate myself just as I get to the middle of town, less than a few miles away from the school. Buildings and businesses draw my attention like a moth to a flame. They’re bright, charismatic, and all of the small, quaint shops are on point with their front window displays.
Laughter bubbles up my throat when I see the Samson family with their vegetable display in the grocery store window. How they got that cucumber to look like that, I’ll never know.
As I drive past, the front door of the shop opens, and my eyes catch on none other than Mr. Samson himself. I wave, because you can in a small town like this where the speed limit is about fifteen miles an hour. Without delay, he tosses his hand up in return. But that doesn’t last long when he gets a good look at me. A frown mars his features as he drops his hand.
My eyebrows slant in confusion as I watch his throat bob, and then he turns his face away from mine before hustling back into the shop. Well, that was weird, I think to myself.
Pushing his reaction away, I come to the only stoplight we have in town and catch the red light. This gives me about five minutes to look around, assuming the town hasn’t changed its timer—and I’d bet my car that they haven’t.
Just as a lady crosses the street in front of me, tugging on her little toddler’s hand, my phone buzzes in the cupholder. Smiling softly, I watch as they continue to cross the street. The little girl gives me a giant smile and a wave, even as I multitask and answer my phone.