beach is practically empty. Just the way we like it.
Xander and Andrew set up our spot with a blanket and towels as I shimmy out of my sundress, revealing my skimpiest bikini because, hey, I like playing with fire.
Hiding behind my sunglasses, I watch as Xander peels off his black T-shirt.
I swallow a gasp as the sun glows on his already-bronze skin. Holy cow. Where did that six-pack come from?
My cheeks and ears flare as I lick my lips for the second time this morning.
Thankfully both of the guys are too preoccupied to notice.
“Catch!” Andrew yells over to me as the football comes whizzing for my chest.
I don’t miss a beat. The pig skin lands perfectly in my arms.
“Nice one!” Xander jogs a little farther away, setting himself up for the game.
As the ball passes between the three of us, I soak in the moment. It’s everything. Mornings like this are my absolute favorite.
Especially when they start a lot later.
No pressure of Hawthorne Manor.
No prying parental eyes.
No riding lessons.
Just the three of us in our little bubble.
“I’m going to hit the water,” Xander calls out, breaking into a jog.
I wave at him. “Sounds good.”
I collapse next to Andrew on the blanket and twist off the cap of my water bottle, chugging the cool liquid.
“Are you going to tell him?” Andrew asks, sinking down next to me before rubbing the sweat away from his brow with a towel.
“Tell who, what?” I cock my head to the side at my brother.
He chuckles. “When are you going to tell Xander that you’re in love with him?”
“I am not!”
“Whatever you say, sis.” Andrew lifts his glasses so I can see him wink at me. “Your secret is safe with me. For now.”
I roll my eyes. “Enough, Andrew. How many times are we going to have this conversation?”
“The fact that we’ve had it more than once should tell you something.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
He grins. “Like ‘shit or get off the pot.’”
A huff escapes my lips and I swat at Andrew. “Cut it out. He’s coming back and I don’t want him to hear your kind of crazy, okay?”
I watch Xander’s leg muscles ripple as he trots toward us. It’s mesmerizing and it doesn’t go unnoticed by my brother, either. I catch him smirking at me and I clear my throat, looking away.
A faint beeping noise sounds in the distance, getting louder and louder with every step Xander takes toward us until suddenly, it is deafening.
“Char?” Xander screams at me as I slam my hands over my ears, the ringing like clashing cymbals between my temples. He drops to his knees right in front of me. “Charlotte? Talk to me! Are you all right?”
I open my mouth to respond but no words come out. The incessant beeping consumes me as a sudden and intense searing pain snakes throughout my body, rendering me paralyzed with fear.
What the hell is happening?
My eyes flutter open as I am sucked out of my dream.
Was it a dream?
It felt like a memory.
It was all too real.
All of a sudden, I realize where I am.
The hospital.
Everything is hazy.
Nothing seems real.
What happened?
How did I end up here?
Just then, I feel him. I know he’s here, but I can’t move my head to look over at him.
“Xander...” I rasp.
Chapter 1
Xander
“She what?” I grab the sides of Chase’s navy-blue crested blazer and pull him close.
“It was an accident, Xan. A bad one. Happened right after she took off with Blaine Montrose.”
“How do you know it was bad?” I scream into his face.
He exchanges a look with Asher.
“I saw pictures. The car was totaled. I don’t know how anyone could survive that crash.”
I sweep a hand through my hair. “And Montrose was driving? You’re sure?”
“Yeah. They didn’t make it too far from school before it happened. People saw her get into his car. They said she’d been crying.”
“How did it happen? Is she—?” Blood surges through my veins as Chase stammers a response that basically tells me nothing.
“The car was hit on the passenger side while they were going through a light,” Asher volunteers.
I throw Chase backward, releasing my death grip on his jacket. “I’m going to the hospital,” I growl, running toward my car in the student parking lot of Ridgeview Prep. I pull open the door, jump into the front seat, and gun the engine. Chase and Asher don’t follow me this time like the minions they are. For once. They just stare at me like I’m a goddamn crazy