"HEY GUYS!" I gasp at Mason and put my finger right in his face, pinching his nose hard. Luckily, Esme, who just walks in, saves me from a very, very embarrassing moment. "Speaking of sex lives," Ramon says, glancing over at Jace, "Remember that chick you hooked up with last week?" What the hell? I almost drop the pan of bolognese sauce. A little spills onto the floor, but I quickly set the pan back on the stove to save the rest. "Kind of," Jace replies casually. I stay as quiet as possible, while Mason, oblivious to my internal freak-out, grabs more beers from the fridge. How do you 'kind of' remember someone you slept with? "She’s been asking for your number," Ramon continues. "Should I give it to her?" At that exact moment, Esme strolls into the living room, and I hear her stop mid-stride. "Why not? Hey, Esme," Jace says smoothly. I throw my hands up in exasperation. How does he know Esme? And who the hell did he sleep with last week? I'm not jealous. I just need to know w
"I'd rather walk," I quickly say with my eyes still on my shoes. "No," Jace replies immediately, his voice firm. "Li, don’t be rude," Mason chimes in, throwing a water bottle onto the couch beside me. "Jace, please? I’ll come too. And drink that," he adds, pointing at the bottle. "Why?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. Mason sighs and gestures to the bottle. "You haven’t eaten, you’re heading to a club, and you don’t want to drink water first?" I smirk. "Isn’t that the way it’s done?" He gives me a flat look. "Remember when you downed about half a bottle of Jack at 10 in the morning?" I ask with a tilt of my head. I set my feet down on the ground and try to ignore the heavy presence next to me. "Yeah, I remember. I was 19. I’m older and wiser now," Mason says with a serious tone, his arms around Esme. "I wouldn't say much," I say with a grin. "Didn't you down half a bottle of wine last weekend?" Esme suddenly announces, making Mason sigh deeply. Ramon starts grinning behind us. I
Esme laughs as she tosses the red lace panties at Ramon's head. Mason shakes his head, trying to look disapproving, but I catch the amusement in his eyes. I, on the other hand, am still in shock and do my best to avoid looking into the rearview mirror. "Ah yeah, someone must've left them here," Jace says, sounding utterly bored. Left them here? A woman just left her underwear behind in his car? I stay silent. What could I even say to that? Luckily, the club is just around the corner, and I let out a sigh of relief. The tension in my body keeps building, though. He had sex in this car. Maybe on the spot where I am sitting. Biting my lip, I glance at the mirror again. Jace's brown eyes meet mine, and I quickly look away. A forbidden image flies through my head for a second, and I grit my teeth at my stupid brain. Jace, naked, in this car. "Stop here, Jace. Before any students see us," Mason says, as the car slows down. Ramon has already tossed the panties into the trunk and is n
I storm outside, fury fueling every step. Carter is such a fucking asshole. Four years of cheating on Charlotte, and now he dares to call her a whore? "Nora!" Connor shouts behind me, but I don't even glance back. The cold air hits my face as I push through the club doors, but it barely registers. My eyes lock on Carter instantly. He must sense my rage because he turns and smirks at me across the street. "Here comes the other whore!" he yells, voice cutting through the night air like a knife. I storm toward him, my anger boiling over. "You're such a fucking pussy!" I shout. Carter, still smirking, downs his drink and carelessly chucks the glass against a car. The glass shatters, leaving scratches in its wake. "Hey, man!" someone yells, but Carter doesn’t even acknowledge them. “You are such a weak, weak person, Carter. So pathetic.” I hiss at him. He gets right in my face with a burning cigarette between his fingers. “Am I, whore?” he hisses back. "You cheating piece of shit." I
I turn to Mason, who’s staring at my torn dress and my bruised cheek. "What happened to you?" he asks, concern written all over his face. "Well, I just tripped over SOMEONE'S shoes and nearly cracked my skull," I say, still lying on my back. I’m too exhausted to get up. "Someone hit her," Esme blurts out. Mason's head snaps toward her. "Wait, someone hit you?" "Ah, yeah, someone did hit me," I slur, pointing at Esme to back her up. "Who hit you?" Mason's eyes narrow, his voice laced with anger. "Carter," I huff, the mere thought of him fueling my frustration. "Carter who?" Jace's voice comes from closer now. I look up and see him hovering over me too, his gaze locked on my cheek and arm. "Carter Smith?" Mason says, piecing it together. "Charlotte’s ex? The senior?" "That’s the one," I say with a click of my tongue. The bright light above me has my head throbbing. "Why did he hit you?" Mason asks, his tone still angry. I sigh out. "Well... I called him a pussy. And weak. And
My head is pounding when I wake up. "God," I whisper, dragging a hand over my face. I need coffee—and I need it fast. As part of our morning ritual, I grab my phone and connect it to the speaker downstairs. Knowing Mason, he’s already up. Esme will be in bed for a few more hours. I play Kiss me bij Lola Jane and then lay back down for a few minutes. Every morning, I play a song on the speaker to let Mason know I’m awake. He then turns on the coffee machine so I can have a steaming cup of caffeine right away. Too tired to put in my contact lenses, I grab my glasses and run downstairs, running my fingers through my hair to detangle it a bit. It’s still straight from last night, so luckily it isn’t too bad. My cheek is almost back to normal, just a slight red mark remaining. When I open the door and slam it shut again, I see Mason sitting at the dining table, working. He eyes me up and down, frowning. "Put on some clothes, Li." I huff and practically sprint to the kitchen. "These ar
“The swimming cave,” Mason answers. My face instantly lights up; it’s probably my favorite place in the world. Nestled in the forest, about an hour away, is a pond half inside a cave. You can climb into the cave from the outside, and jumping into the water is an exhilarating thrill. “We’re all going?” Jace suddenly asks. No. Please, not him. My phone vibrates, and Mason glances at it quickly. I grab it before he can and put it on my lap. Mason narrows his eyes. My phone vibrates again. “Who is that?” he asks, nodding toward my lap. “Well, I don’t know, do I? I haven’t checked,” I reply with a shrug. Esme sets two coffees in front of us, and I take that moment to look down and peek. -Char: Hey, girl. Thank you for defending me last night. -Mr. Grumpy: You have no homework? I try to keep a straight face as I open the chat with Jace. -Norali: None. Is typing... -Mr. Grumpy: Not even pages 75 to 105? -Norali: Not that I can remember. -Mr. Grumpy: You have bad memory. And bad
“Can you please eat today?” Mason asks. I skillfully flip a pancake and put another pan on for more. “Can I make my own decisions?” I respond with a sigh, irritation creeping in at everybody around me. “Not when those decisions involve drinking too much, hanging out with people who sniff coke, and not eating,” Mason replies calmly. “You're not Dad, you know,” I mutter, flipping the other pancake. As soon as I say it, I turn to him with a sigh. “Don’t compare me to Dad,” Mason warns. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’ll eat,” I quickly apologize. My eyes flick to my phone, and I bite my lip, guilt creeping in. Mason doesn’t notice and instead ruffles my hair in his annoying way just as my phone rings with an incoming call. “Love you, sis,” Mason says with a smile before walking away to the living room. I grab my phone and hesitate for a moment before answering. “Hey,” I say to Ryker. “Nooooooraaaaaaaaallliiiii!!” he responds cheerfully. “We’re picking you
"Do you think we can keep doing this for another year?" I ask, lying down on the ultra-soft blanket in front of Jace, staring at the fire. His hands immediately entangle in my hair, massaging my scalp softly. I’m in one of Jace’s shirts, nothing else. He’s wearing sweatpants, also nothing else. "What do you mean?" he asks, his voice distant as his gaze remains fixed on the fire. "You being my teacher, and us pretending nothing’s going on. Ignoring each other at school," I clarify, trying to suppress a moan under his expert touch. “We’re doing it now. A year’s nothing,” Jace responds with a casual shrug. “Besides,” he adds, "your internship is next year, and you’ll be doing it at my company. That’s half a year where you’ll be with me—no prying eyes.” I snort. "There’s no way I’m doing my internship at your office." His head dips down, lips brushing my shoulder. "We’ll see." "No, we won’t. I’m not doing it," I reply, my tone soft but firm. "What if I promise you something you can’
He comes in my mouth, filling it completely, the taste salty and strange but somehow intoxicating in this heated moment. I swallow quickly, savoring the intensity of it, before glancing up at him. His eyes are closed, his body still tense, hands braced against the wall as if to steady himself. His expression is utterly peaceful, serene, and it’s a breathtaking sight—one I take pride in knowing I caused. I did that. Slowly, he opens his eyes, the sound of the shower cascading around us, creating a private cocoon. He gazes down at me with an intensity that makes my stomach flip before he reaches for me, lifting me effortlessly, pushing me back against the cool tiles of the shower wall. "Oh my god," he whispers, breathless, his forehead pressing against mine. "I think I just died." I smile, eyes fluttering shut as the moment wraps around us like the steam in the air. "I fucking love you. So much," he says, his voice thick with emotion, and it hits me deep. "I still can't believe you'
We drive along the highway for what feels like hours until Jace finally takes an exit that leads into a small town. I frown at the sight of the distant, sparsely spaced houses. I’ve never been here before. “Where exactly are we going?” I ask, my curiosity piqued. “Up in the mountains,” Jace replies, his voice filled with a sense of mystery. “The mountains?” I repeat, turning to face him. Ahead of us, towering snowy peaks rise against the horizon, their rocky sides jagged and steep. The landscape looks barren, like nothing could survive out here. “With a big bath,” Jace adds, a mischievous glint in his eye. My cheeks immediately redden. “I didn’t bring any of my things,” I say, glancing back at him. “I’ve got you covered,” he replies with a smirk as he nods over his shoulder. There's a big weekend bag on the backseat. I roll my eyes. Mr. Control Freak. As we drive higher into the mountains, the road narrows. The path is barely wide enough for Jace’s car, and the sheer drops on
Mitch doesn't show up the next day. Or the next. Or even the day after. Jace is still keeping his distance, and Mason still parks his car as far from Jace's as possible. Every night, I get another lecture about ending things with Jace, but I only half-listen. I've told Hannah everything, and now she avoids Mason like the plague. I ace my English exam, but my business one was just okay—not that I care much. I can’t stop biting my nails. Mitch has to be somewhere. He didn’t just vanish from the face of the earth. “Maybe he’s sick?” Hannah suggests, sitting beside me as I stare at the door, waiting for Mitch to reappear. “Maybe he’s dead?” Ryker chimes in helpfully, his arm slung around Hannah’s shoulders. I groan and drop my head onto my knees. The grass tickles my fingers as I drag them through it, feeling the nerves coil tighter inside me. “Something's wrong. I can feel it,” I mutter into my knees. “What’s the worst he can do?” Ryker shrugs, completely unbothered. I wish I coul
“Pictures of our car, our house, you in class, you shopping, you at Hannah's house... He's really stalking you,” Mason mutters, his eyes on the phone as Jace scrolls. “Should we go to the police?” I suggest, the anxiety rising in my chest. “Let’s not make an official report,” Jace responds, more focused than worried. I nod, my head spinning slightly as I try to process everything. “The video’s gone. I’ve checked every app,” Jace adds as he pulls something out of his pocket. “I’m just going to install something on here.” He holds up a small device, attaching it to Mitch’s phone via a lead. I frown but trust him. “What about his hard drive?” I ask. Jace’s eyes soften when he looks up at me, almost tender despite the situation. “There are some friends of mine at his house right now,” he says casually. I frown harder. “What?” “They’re erasing everything. It’s all gone. These guys are the best at what they do. That video is erased from existence,” he promises, his voice i
"Yup. He'll be out within seconds. No suspicious wounds or concussions," Jace replies, a hint of pride in his voice. "Why do you even have that?" Mason asks, narrowing his eyes. "For situations like these," Jace says, gesturing to all three of us. "That's so-" The doorbell rings. Loudly. "Go!" I hiss, pushing Jace toward my brother. They quickly crouch behind the couch, and I adjust the cushions to hide them better. The doorbell rings again, and I sigh, steeling myself. "I want you out as soon as this is over," Mason mutters behind me. I smack the couch in warning and rush to open the door, revealing Mitch standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Uh, hi," I say, forcing a smile. "Hi, love," Mitch replies, stepping into the house. It feels like I'm inviting the devil in—just not the one I want. "These are for you, beautiful lady," he says, offering me the roses. "Thanks, that's... sweet," I reply, trying not to look toward the couch where Jace and Mason are hi
By the time Math class rolls around, I'm a tightly wound ball of nerves. Every time Mitch gets close, my skin crawls, and all I want to do is swat him away like a fly. He's constantly touching me, wrapping an arm around my waist, and keeping me away from my friends. He's also inserting himself into every conversation, trying to play the role of Mr. Popular. Ryker and Brent awkwardly laugh at his stories about the weekend, but it’s painfully obvious they’re uncomfortable. Mitch either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, bragging nonstop about all the hot girls while keeping his grip on me. It's fucking torture. Finally, Jace rounds the corner, and I can’t stop the relieved sigh that escapes me. It's like a god walking in to save me from hell. He’s talking to Simon and doesn't even glance our way, but just seeing him makes my entire body relax. God, he’s hot. Jace walks with his usual confident stride, an arrogant smirk that only makes him look more perfect. He's carrying his laptop, p
I missed half of my first class, so I don't even bother going in. Instead, I wait outside my next class, lost in thought. "I'm so happy, Jace. It's great to hear you're staying with us," I hear Sarah, our principal, say, pulling me from my daydreams. I glance up to see her walking with Jace, his eyes already locked on me. "I'll stay as long as I can," Jace replies with a respectful nod, all gentleman-like. "Norali! What are you doing here?" Sarah asks, noticing me, her expression confused. "I... I was late. Missed my first class," I admit with an apologetic smile. She tuts disapprovingly. "You're never late." Before I can reply, Mason rounds the corner, instantly spotting us. His face hardens even more. "That's not like you at all, Nora," Sarah continues, shaking her head. "You can blame me for that," Mason calls out, drawing both their attention. "Mason?! I was wondering why there were students wandering around. It’s exam week; you shouldn’t miss any classes," Sarah scolds.
Mason hasn’t spoken to me all weekend. I’ve come downstairs for food, but each time he heard me on the stairs, he went outside to smoke. I can’t really blame him. But it's Monday and we only have one car to drive. And so when I come down, Mason sits at the kitchen table, drinking coffee. He looks at me when I enter. And scowls. I’m wearing jeans and my favorite top, with a high ponytail and Jace’s jewelry. "Good morning," I say nervously. "Is it?" Mason’s tone is sharp, seething with anger. Right. "You can’t stay mad forever," I murmur, trying to sound calm. "Watch me," he snaps, not even looking at me as he gets up and heads outside to the car. I sigh. There's no coffee for me. Not that I was expecting any. But I'm too late to make any for myself, and I definitely can't ask Mason to stop along the way. Resigned, I follow him out and slide into the passenger seat. Mason starts the car in silence. I open my Math book, hoping to study for the exam today, but it’s hard to focus