The prom dress store loomed before Tiffany like a pastel-colored prison. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her scowl deepening as Riley practically dragged her towards the entrance.“Come on, Tiff! It’ll be fun,” Riley chirped.“Fun? More like torture,” Tiffany muttered, digging her heels into the sidewalk. “I’d rather eat glass than try on frilly dresses.”Riley rolled her eyes and gave Tiffany a gentle shove through the door. “Drama queen. Just give it a chance, okay?”As they stepped inside, a wave of perfume and excited chatter washed over them. Tiffany’s eyes darted around, taking in the sea of tulle and sequins. Racks of dresses in every color imaginable stretched as far as she could see. Groups of girls giggled and twirled in front of full-length mirrors, their faces glowing with excitement.Tiffany’s stomach churned. This is so not my scene, she thought, fidgeting uncomfortably.“See anything you like?” Riley asked, already flipping through a rack of emerald green g
Jacob couldn’t stop thinking about River Foster and the comments he had made about his mother. He knew he should ask his mother about it eventually, but he hadn’t had the chance. She had been coming home late from work and going right to sleep.So when she was finally home early tonight, he had to ask.“Hey, Mom,” Jacob said, his voice steady but cautious. He leaned against the doorway, watching her turn the TV on. “Can I ask you something?”His mother, Shelly, looked up, pausing her show. “Sure, honey. What is it?”“Do you know a guy named River Foster?” Jacob asked, watching her expression closely.At the mention of River’s name, his mother’s face went pale, and her hands froze mid-motion. The dish towel slipped from her grip and fell to the floor. “River Foster?” she repeated.Jacob’s heart raced. “Yeah. Do you know him?”Shelly quickly composed herself, but the fear in her eyes didn’t escape him. “How do you know him?” she asked, her voice shaky.Jacob narrowed his eyes. “I know h
Tiffany sat at her desk, her fingers drumming impatiently on the smooth surface. She hated how distracted she’d become lately, her eyes drifting to the door every few seconds, hoping—no, waiting—for him to walk in. Jacob had somehow wormed his way into her thoughts, and it was driving her mad.She frowned, tapping her pencil harder. She shouldn’t care. She really shouldn’t be this eager to see him, with his stupidly adorable dimples and that infuriatingly laid-back attitude.But here she was, actually looking forward to seeing him.Tiffany let out a quiet sigh, staring at the door again. He was late, which only made her more agitated. Normally, she’d roll her eyes at how he always strolled in right at the last minute, but today, she found herself counting the seconds until he’d show up.What’s wrong with me? she thought, chewing on her lip. I shouldn’t care if he shows up or not.But she did. She was hoping to catch a glimpse of those dimples, that infuriating grin that always made her
Tiffany’s pulse quickened as Jacob made himself comfortable, resting his head on her lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She stiffened, unsure of what to do with her hands. Her mind raced, and she couldn’t decide if she wanted to shove him off or…not.“What are you doing?” she repeated.Jacob peeked up at her, a lazy grin on his face. “I’m exhausted,” he said, closing his eyes briefly. “Had a long night. Only three hours of sleep, so… I’m just gonna borrow your lap for a bit.”Tiffany blinked, her brain scrambling to come up with a retort, but all she could manage was a weak, “You can’t just—”Jacob cracked one eye open, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur. “You know, you don’t seem too mad about it, Tiff.”Tiffany felt like she should protest and push him off, but she hesitated. There was something oddly calming about his presence, even if he was infuriating. Her hand hovered over his head, unsure whether to touch his hair or keep it far away. “This is…weird,” sh
“Are you going to tell me, or what?” Riley demanded when River got home.He looked at her with confusion. “What are you talking about?” he asked.“About Jacob. And his mother,” Riley said firmly.River’s expression darkened at the mention of Jacob and his mother. He rubbed the back of his neck. “It wasn’t anything crazy,” he muttered.“Don’t give me that bullshit, River,” Riley growled.River chuckled. “Jeez, wife. Feeling a bit feisty today?”Riley narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she glared at River. “Don’t try to dodge the question, River. This is serious.”River sighed, his teasing demeanor faltering as he sat down on the edge of the couch. “Look, it’s not what you’re thinking,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “Jacob’s mother…I met her ages ago, and let’s just say…not under the best circumstances.”“What do you mean?” Riley asked.River took a deep breath. “It was years ago. Tiffany had just turned six. I had this enemy, he was always trying to encroach on our territo
Tiffany’s eyes darted to the clock for the hundredth time that afternoon, her stomach twisting as she registered the empty seat beside her.Two days. Jacob had been absent for two whole days now.She forced her gaze back to the textbook in front of her, but the words blurred together. Her pencil tapped an anxious rhythm on the desk.“Miss Foster, is there a problem?” Mrs. Hawthorne’s stern voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.Tiffany’s cheeks flushed. “No, ma’am. Sorry.”As the teacher resumed her lecture, she tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering back to Jacob. Where was he? Was he okay?Stop it, she chided herself. It’s not like he’s your boyfriend or anything. You’re just friends.That’s all.But even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t true. At least, not for her. Somehow, without her permission, Jacob had become more than just a friend. His absence left an ache in her chest that she couldn’t quite explain.Tiffany sighed, resting her chin in her hand. It’s probably no
Tiffany slid her jacket on and glanced in the mirror, running a hand through her hair to smooth it down. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to do.He will definitely make fun of her for showing up like this.“Be back before dinner, okay?” Riley called after her.“Sure!” Tiffany responded, already stepping out the door.She headed toward the car that waited for her in the driveway. The car her father assigned to her with the driver, John, to take her anywhere she wanted, including school. For once, she was thankful to have that privilege.“Where to, Miss?” John asked.Tiffany gave him the address and leaned back in her seat.Her heart was pounding hard. Was this a mistake?Jacob told her not to come to his house and he sounded very serious. What if he got angry at her for showing up?But then again, this could be a good revenge because he was always intruding into her life!Tiffany smiled. Yes, this was a payback. Stupid Jacob…always following her around an
Jacob complied, lifting his arms as Tiffany carefully pulled his shirt over his head. The warmth of his skin against her fingers sent a shiver through her, and she quickly averted her gaze to the floor. She couldn’t focus on how close they were or how her heart raced at the thought of being so intimate with him.“You have to take your pants off too,” Tiffany said, trying not to blush.Jacob’s lips curled into a small smile. Or what looked like a ghost of his usual charming smile. “Oh, my princess. I didn’t know you were so…forward,” he drawled.“Jacob!” Tiffany snapped.“Okay, gosh,” he said weakly.Tiffany sighed as she watched him struggle with the simple task of opening his zipper. “Let me,” she said, putting her hand on his.Jacob paused and looked at her dazedly. “We haven’t even kissed yet, and you want to take my pants off?”“I am done messing around!” Tiffany exclaimed. She wanted to slap him.“S…sorry,” he murmured and swayed.Tiffany quickly grabbed his shoulders and led him
Lucas turned to Amy and smirked. “Well…”Amy raised an eyebrow. “Well?”Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Some date night, huh?”Amy let out a laugh that was half-exhaustion, half-hysteria. “Oh yeah. Kidnapping, gunfights, your sister going all James Bond on us. Is this really what your life is like?” she asked, sinking onto a nearby sofa.Lucas sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched. “Not usually this dramatic.”“Says the man who kidnapped me the first time we met,” Amy pointed out.“That was a special circumstance,” he defended with a small smile.Amy leaned her head against his shoulder. “I should be running for the hills right now.”“Are you going to?” he asked softly.She turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his. “Not after your confession. Did you really mean it?”Lucas’s face. “I meant what I said back there, Amy. I love you.”Amy put her arms around him, drawing him closer. “When did you know?”Lucas leaned down and brushed his lips over hers
Taking a deep breath, Lucas reached for the bar. His hand hesitated for only a second before he pushed it.The door groaned open, and for a split second, neither of them breathed.No alarm.Lucas let out a sharp exhale and grabbed her hand. “Move.”They bolted outside into the chill night air, the sharp scent of gasoline and metal in the wind. The alley was empty, dimly lit by a single flickering streetlamp at the far end.“Which way?” Amy whispered, adrenaline surging through her veins.Lucas pointed left. “There’s a road a few blocks down. If we can make it there, we can steal a car or flag someone—”A gunshot cracked through the air, splintering the bricks near their heads. They both ducked instinctively, pressing themselves against the side of the building.“They know,” Amy gasped.Lucas clenched his jaw. “Run.”They took off, weaving through trash bins and broken crates. Another shot rang out, ricocheting off metal behind them.“STOP! Or I will shoot your head this time!” A voice
Lucas shifted in his chair, the zip ties digging into his wrists as he avoided her gaze. “Not exactly the most romantic setting for this conversation.”“I think we’re past worrying about ambiance,” Amy said dryly. “So?”He exhaled slowly. “I was going to say… I love you, Amy.”No one said anything for a while.“You… what?” Amy finally asked.“I love you,” he repeated, his voice steadier now. “Have for a while. It’s why I couldn’t stand seeing you with Asa. Why I acted like such an idiot.” He gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. “And now I’ve gotten you kidnapped by the mafia. Stellar boyfriend material.”Amy blinked rapidly, processing his words. “You love me.”“Yes.”“And your way of showing it was to tell me to kiss another man?”Lucas winced. “It was a stupid thing to say.”“So you stalked my date and then jumped me in a bathroom to prove it?” she asked, unable to hide her amusement. And her happiness.“When you put it that way…”“And now we’re tied to chairs in some abandoned war
Amy and Lucas were marched across the parking lot toward a black SUV with heavily tinted windows. Two more men in suits opened the rear doors.“Ladies first,” Scar-face sneered, shoving Amy forward.“Touch her again and I’ll kill you,” Lucas growled, the threat so cold and certain that even the thug hesitated.“Big words for a man in zip ties,” Baldy laughed.They were forced into the backseat, the leather cool and buttery soft against Amy’s bare legs. The door slammed behind them. The bearded man slid into the passenger seat while Scar-face took the wheel.“Where are you taking us?” Amy asked, her voice steadier than she felt.No one answered.Lucas shifted closer to Amy, his bound hands awkwardly seeking hers. When their fingers touched, she clung to him, drawing strength from the contact.“I’m sorry,” he whispered, so quietly only she could hear. “I never wanted you involved in this.”“Involved in what, exactly?” she whispered back.Before Lucas could answer, the bearded man turned
Amy knew she should stop this madness. They were in a public bathroom, for God’s sake, with her date sitting just outside. But Lucas’s fingers were working magic, and rational thought was rapidly abandoning her.“This doesn’t change anything,” she gasped as he slid one finger inside her, her hands still fumbling with his zipper.Lucas smirked against her neck. “Doesn’t it?”“No,” she insisted, even as her body arched into his touch. “You can’t just—oh!—show up and expect me to—”He curled his finger just right, and whatever argument she was building dissolved into a soft moan.“What was that?” he murmured, adding a second finger.“You are insufferable,” she managed to say, finally getting his zipper down.Lucas chuckled, the sound vibrating against her skin. “And you’re still on a date with the wrong man.”He entered her in one smooth thrust, swallowing her cry with his mouth. The feeling of fullness, of rightness, was overwhelming. Amy clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulde
“Oh, Hi, Harpy,” Lucas said casually as he leaned against the closed door.He drove as fast as he could to get there, and he would not leave until he got a real answer from Amy. He was tired of playing games.“Lucas. What the actual fuck? You can’t be here. This is the women’s restroom,” Amy hissed.“Actually. This is a unisex bathroom,” Lucas declared.“It doesn’t matter!” she screeched.Lucas moved fast, and soon, he was towering over her, pressing his palm to muffle her voice. “Shh…you want us to get caught?”Amy’s golden hazel eyes widened above his palm. She pried his fingers away from her mouth.“Caught?” she whispered fiercely. “You’re the one barging into bathrooms like some deranged stalker! How did you even know I was here?”Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “I had someone watch you.”“You had someone—” Amy closed her eyes briefly. “You are insane.”“How could you kiss him?” Lucas asked abruptly, his jaw clenching.Amy stared at him, incredulous. “Are you kidding me right n
Asa paused before getting in the car and looked at Amy, a small smile teasing his lips.“What?” Amy narrowed her eyes and asked.“You’ve got something in your hair,” Asa said, reaching out to pluck a tiny piece of confetti from her curls. “Looks like the victory fountain at the eighteenth hole got a little enthusiastic.”Amy touched her hair self-consciously. “Is there more?”“No, just that one.” His fingers lingered near her temple for a heartbeat longer than necessary.Amy felt a flutter in her chest that had nothing to do with the strange man who’d been following them. “Thanks for getting it.”“No problem,” he said. “I’m having a really good time,” Asa said, his voice genuine.“Me too,” Amy said.“I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while.”“You have?” Amy couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.“Since the day you helped me carry groceries up the stairs when the elevator broke. You were wearing paint-splattered overalls and complaining about your sister borrowing your car wit
“What are they doing now, Jimmy?” Lucas texted the man he hired to spy on Amy and Asa.Lucas stared at his phone as the message sent, his fingers tapping impatiently against the edge of his desk. His thoughts churned, the irritation growing with every passing second.His phone buzzed with a reply.Jimmy: They’re still on the mini golf course. No sign of anything strange. They’re just playing, talking, looks like having fun. She seems relaxed.Lucas narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.Lucas: Keep watching. I want to know if they kiss.Jimmy: They are on the last hole now. Looks like they’re finishing up. Could be wrapping up soon.Lucas: I want to know everything. Stay close, don’t miss anything.He stared at the screen, watching the little dots indicating Jimmy was typing. The delay felt agonizing, each second stretching longer than the last. Finally, the message came through.Jimmy: They are finishing up now. No kiss yet, though. She’s laughing at something he said. Looks like a prett
Amy paced across the bedroom.Seventeen steps to the window, pivot, fifteen steps back to the mirror. Her new sundress swished around her knees – impulse purchase, one size too optimistic. Twenty-seven minutes until he arrived. Twenty-six, actually. The clock on her microwave was fast.“You are a grown woman,” she told her reflection, which stared back with unconvinced eyes. “You’ve been on dates before.”“Why am I so nervous?” she asked herself in the mirror. “It’s just Asa, your nice neighbor.The sundress was yellow – “Daffodil Dream” according to the tag – with tiny white flowers scattered across the fabric like stars on a summer night.She’d spent forty-three minutes and all her remaining dignity in the fitting room deciding between this one and a blue number that made her look like a corporate retreat brochure. The yellow won because it didn’t take itself too seriously. Amy wasn’t sure she could say the same about herself right now.Amy paused at the window, fingers fidgeting wi