“Someone grab me the plate, this steak is about done.”

Beatrice answered her eldest son's request and got up from the table. 

“I love your house, Rebecca. The pool is amazing. Isn't the pool amazing, Bethany?” Stella hugged her daughter close into her side and the little girl flashed my aunt a sickly-sweet smile, while I continued picking at the piece of bread on my plate trying to look anywhere but at her or Dad. Unlucky for me, I was surrounded by people I wanted to avoid. Them on one side. Maverick on the other. There was no bloody escape. 

“Eloise,” my grandma sang. “We still need to arrange that boat trip. Are you free next weekend?”

“I guess,” I grumbled catching Summer's eye across the table. She stifled a snigger, sitting a little straighter when Beatrice reached us and placed the plate of meat down. 

“You too, Summer Ellen. It's been too long since we spent any quality time together. Now dig in, everyone,” she declared and, unsurprisingly, Kyle was first to jump in, helping himself to the biggest steak.

“So, how's business, son?” August cut into his meat with precise, firm movements unlike his grandson who was tearing into the slab of meat like a boy starved. 

“It's good, Dad. Having Robert join us came at the right time, it'll be good for business.” Gentry glanced at my father and they shared a look. I felt like I was missing something but no one else seemed to notice, tucking into their meals. Smiling.

Even if it was all fake.

“This steak is simply divine, Gentry. Thank you for inviting us.”

“You're more than welcome, Stella. You're part of the fam—”

I slammed my cutlery down a little harder than intended. The crystal glasses shook, and all heads whipped up in my direction. Shit. I reached for my glass of water and chugged down a mouthful, flashing everyone a strained smile. “Meat got stuck.”

Kyle thumped his chest to disguise the rumble of laughter in his throat. When my eyes slid over him to Dad, I caught Maverick watching me. l was relieved my glasses hid my eyes because I didn't want him to see into my soul. The one crushed when I saw Caitlin kiss him.

August quizzed Kyle on yesterday's game and soon the men, minus Maverick, were in a heated discussion about the upcoming 49ers game against the Oakland Raiders. I only knew about it because Laurie hadn't stopped talking about it, and I realised maybe she really did love football. Not just the blond-haired, blue-eyed running back who I got to call cousin.

I played with my food, smiled when spoken to and forced the odd answer here and there. The whole thing was a sham. Maverick and Macey barely spoke to Gentry or my grandparents but no one acknowledged the frosty atmosphere. The adults made Stella and her daughter welcome, but failed to recognise how much it was killing me inside to sit there and watch them treat her as one of the family. And I was there in body, but in mind I was planning my escape, preferably via Uncle Gentry's liquor cabinet. 

The urge to run was deep. It flowed through my veins like an addict twitching for their next hit. But where would I go? Aside from Laurie and Devon, everyone I knew in Wicked Bay was here. Seated around this table. 

And I couldn't trust most of them.

My hidden gaze flickered to Maverick again. After stumbling across him and Caitlin at the party, I’d fled the Palmer's house and returned to the pool house. I don't know what I expected to happen with us—Maverick had made it clear I was a mistake—but I was sure he felt the pull between us. It was there, blazing in his eyes, every time he looked at me. 

He really was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Lo?”

My head snapped over to my grandparents. “Excuse me?”

“I asked if you wanted more salad, dear?”

“No, no thank you,” I said pushing my plate away. I couldn't eat. It wouldn't quench the thirst I felt. I needed something else. Needed the superficial high to numb the pain. I wouldn't get high—it was a promise I'd made not only to Dad, but also to myself—but it didn't make the craving any easier to bear. 

Excusing myself from the table, I went into the kitchen under the guise of getting myself another drink. I needed to breathe before I suffocated out there.

“How are you holding up?” Kyle followed me, closing the door behind him.

“I either want to get shit-faced or high, so you tell me.”

His eyes narrowed on me, no doubt trying to figure out if I was speaking the truth. 

“Don't worry,” I said. “I'm not a junkie, but I made some less than stellar choices over the summer.”

“You were hurting.”

“I still am.” I turned my back on him, gripping the counter and closing my eyes. 

“Hey, Cous.” He was closer now. Right behind me, his hand hovering over my shoulder. “If you need to talk, I'm here. I know it's a mess. I know your dad fucked up, but you're not alone.”

I swallowed, the tears building and turned slowly. Kyle dropped his hand and stepped back, giving me space. I smiled weakly. “Thank you, but I'm a big girl, Kyle. I'll be fine.” 

It wasn't like I had a choice. I couldn't run off to Chris's when shit got too much and spend my days and nights high or wasted. 

Kyle sighed behind me and then he was gone. The door opened again, and I spun around ready to tell him I needed space and I couldn't do that with him breathing down my neck. But the words dried on my lips as Maverick filled my vision. 

He filled everything.

The cracks in my chest…

Stole the air from the room…

Made my stomach swim with desire. 

“What?” I snapped, throwing my arms around my waist. Holding myself together. 

He held up two empty glasses and glanced at the refrigerator. I stepped aside letting him do his thing. My eyes fluttered shut as he passed me. So close. And yet so far away. We were strangers, but in some weird way, I felt like I knew the pieces of him no one else got to see. 

And it was screwing with my mind.

Maverick disappeared behind the door, but his voice penetrated my walls. “Just say the word and we'll get out of here.” He reappeared, settling his gaze on my face. His eyes dropped to my mouth, and I sucked in a sharp breath. He wanted to kiss me. Then, like a bucket of ice cold water, I remembered Caitlin kissing him. 

“I called Devon. He's coming to pick me up.”

The muscles in his jaw clenched, and I knew if he had an internal anger-o-meter, it had just exploded. Whatever was between those two, wasn't just some high school beef. Maverick looked ready to commit cold-blooded murder.

Shaking my head with a sigh, I turned to leave, but his voice pinned me to the spot. “You're playing a dangerous game, London. Stay away from Lions.”

I walked away from him with only one thought on my mind. 

Maverick Prince could go to hell. 

~

I did text Devon. Not because I wanted him to bail me out, but because once the words were out of my mouth, I couldn't give Maverick the satisfaction of finding out I'd lied. But I also texted Laurie and the three of us went to The Shack for milkshakes. Autumn and Liam met us there. When the conversation turned to Homecoming, I regretted fleeing the house. Laurie and Kyle were back on, and naturally going together, so were Autumn and Liam. Which left me and Devon. 

He'd stayed true to his word over the last couple of weeks, acting nothing but friendly. But Laurie was right. I didn't miss the way he watched me when he thought I wasn't looking. Like right now, I could feel the heat of his stare as I pretended to check my phone underneath the table. 

“So, we'll all go together, right?” Laurie declared and my head snapped up in her direction.

“All go where?”

“To Homecoming.”

“I, hmm, I hadn't planned on going.” Weren't these things quite formal? All corsages and expensive limos.

Her face dropped. So did Devon's.

“You have to come. It's the first dance of the year.”

“Laurie.” I silently pleaded for her to drop it but she was like a dog with a bone. They all were.

“Yeah, Lo, you have to come. Besides, we hmm...” she glanced to Devon who flushed crimson.

“You already bought the tickets,” my voice was flat as I rolled my eyes unable to hide the irritation flashing behind them.

The fact they thought to include me should have made me feel happy—and, in a way, it did—but I was worried it was an attempt to push me and Devon from friend zone to more. And I wasn't ready for that. Besides, hadn't Laurie warned me about not leading him on?

“If it makes you feel any better,” Devon said, smiling apologetically, rubbing a brisk hand over his head. “I told them it was a bad idea.”

He had? 

It comforted me a little. Maybe he really did know it would never happen between us. Because I was still healing. Because I couldn’t be emotionally available in the way that was fair to someone. It had absolutely nothing to do with the wicked smile I couldn’t forget no matter how I tried.

“Fine. I'll go. On one condition.” I met each of their gazes, landing on Laurie last. “I don't have to wear a dress.”

The table exploded with laughter. And even I found a rumble of amusement spilling out of me. It felt good. Screw my so-called family with their bullshit secrets and fake smiles. As long as I had good friends, I could get through the days.

“It kind of comes with the territory,” Liam said and I groaned, faceplanting the table imagining trawling round the mall being forced into excessive dresses and skyscraper heels.

Laurie and Autumn must have heard my thoughts because their eyes danced with excitement as they both said in unison, “Shopping trip.”

And just like that, it was decided.

We would all attend Homecoming. Two couples with two friends accompanying them. Maybe it wouldn’t be awful—maybe it would even be fun. I’d never been to a dance before, not the way they did it here. Loud chatter pulled my head up. It was a voice I recognised.

Caitlin Holloway’s gaze landed on me and her eyebrows pulled together as if she was confused to see me here. I quickly scanned the group, relief sinking into my chest when I realised Maverick wasn’t with her. That would have been… I shook the thoughts out of my head. I had no claim on him, despite my irrational attachment.

She followed her friends to a booth, but didn’t break eye contact. I’d seen her around at school. We shared a couple of classes. But since the party at her house—when she’d warned me to stay away from her brother—she hadn’t paid me much attention. This was different.

I felt the contempt flowing from her. She didn’t like me. And the feeling was mutual.

“Lo, psst.” Laurie stamped on my foot under the table. “What are you doing?”

I finally dragged my eyes away and faced my friend. “What?”

“The serious death stare you’re sending in Cat’s direction.”

“She’s a bitch.”

“Whoa,” she gasped and our table fell silent. Shit. Had I said that out loud? “Did something happen? You never said—”

“Nothing happened.” I shrugged, taking a long slurp of milkshake. “I just don’t like her.”

My answer seemed to pacify the others, and they went back to making plans for Homecoming. Laurie, however, narrowed her eyes. She didn’t buy my excuse, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t tell her the real reason I didn’t like Caitlin.

She leaned over the table slightly, lowering her voice. “Seriously, did something happen?”

I mushed my lips together and shook my head. This was not good. Not good at all.

“Lo,” she warned. “She’s still staring at you.”

Unable to stand her inquisitive glare, I slammed my hands down a little too harshly and said, “Who wants to do something a little more adventurous?”

Everyone stared blankly at me, no doubt wondering what the hell had gotten into me. But that was for me to know.

And them to never find out.

~

The house was cloaked in darkness when Devon dropped me off. After Caitlin’s appearance at The Shack, I’d persuaded them to go down to the Bay to skinny dip. But the boys chickened out, so we hung out for a while instead. I made him pull over at the bottom of the winding drive. Just in case. I said goodbye and melted into the shadows of the tree-lined path. But something stopped me, and I took shelter behind a giant trunk, craning my head around to get a better view.

Maverick was at his car, hand poised on the handle. Kyle and Macey stood together, the sight of them united threw me for a loop, until realisation punched me in the stomach. It was dark. Late. He was leaving to fight, and they were trying to stop him.

Their hushed voices carried on the gentle breeze but not enough for me to make out more than the odd word. Part of me wanted to run up to them. With three-on-one, maybe he would listen? But the irrational betrayal I felt seeing him with Caitlin rooted me to the spot. And I didn’t want to reveal I knew about his little secret. I suspected that, aside from Luke, no one knew where Maverick had taken me the day I fled from the house. And some sick glutton-for-punishment part of me, wanted it to stay that way.

It was ours.

Another brief moment in time where he had cared.

I didn’t want to taint that. Even if clinging onto it made me pitiful. It reminded me that the boy I’d fallen for on the beach last summer, was still in there somewhere. That my younger, naiver self hadn’t dreamed him up.

Kyle got in his face. He didn’t look happy. Macey neither, but she hung back, her arms folded firmly over her chest, eyes narrowed and cold. My heart skipped a beat when Maverick shoved Kyle hard, yanked the door open and slid inside, leaving my cousin looking defeated—and worried—in a heap on the ground.

The Audi peeled out of the drive, tyres screeching and a plume of smoke billowed into the air. Kyle scrambled to his feet, hands balled into fists. He said something to Macey and her face blanched. The ice queen had a heart after all, the fear evident in her features.

Whatever Maverick was about to do, wasn’t good.

Macey disappeared back inside the house but Kyle stared after the empty driveway. I could have stayed hidden. Could have waited until he went inside too. But I didn’t. I slipped out of my hiding place and strolled up toward him like I was none the wiser. “Hey, what are you doing out here?”

He ran a hand down his face. It was creased with worry. “Waiting for you.” Kyle slung an arm around my shoulder and guided me inside. “You have some explaining to do, Cous.”

It was the last thing I expected to fall from his lips. And I glanced back over my shoulder unable to shake the feeling I was still missing some piece of the Stone-Prince puzzle.