Hollow Brook is a magical place in the summertime. Not only does half this college town empty out and head for summer vacay before the fall semester begins, but the glory of the mountain is magnified under the duress of the sweet July sun. The flowers have broken out into a riot of color, the rich soil and the evergreens let out their oils and release the heavenly scent of the paradise that Hollow Brook truly becomes. I spent all day in Friar’s Corner yesterday at Sadie’s graduation while Levi stayed back at The Sloppy Pelican in an effort to protect his good name—and face it, his balls from Lisa. But it’s Friday the thirteenth, the lucky day in which Lex here is going to rave about The Sloppy Pelican’s new menu. Of course, I plan on being there tonight when she does—I for one would hate to miss the fireworks that are about to go off between her and Axel the ex.

“I hate walking.” She grunts as she bats the bugs away with each step. I’ve convinced Lex to hike the trails with me up past the Witch’s Cauldron. That steamy hole in the ground is one of Hollow Brook’s six natural springs and the easiest to get to. I’ll have to bring Levi here one day, and we’ll have to do a little coital cauldron hopping per Whitney Briggs’ tradition, seeing that it’s both of our alma maters. That ought to make things scaldingly interesting for sure—not that things haven’t been heated in the bedroom. We’ve found a whole new way to enjoy brownie batter—off each other. Who knew combining my two favorite tasty treats, brownies and Levi Masterson, could take things to a whole new orgasmic level?

“It’s not walking. It’s hiking,” I say, trying to slow down in order for her to catch up. “And we’ve already covered a litany of things you hate this morning. You hate people, wild animals, insects, and dogs that sniff at your crotch.”

“Oh, shut up,” she gruffs. “That was a particularly obscene Great Dane, and you know it. Did you see the balls on that beast? Don’t you even try to tell me that boyfriend of yours is hung like a Great Dane. It was pornographic. And then that frat boy who had him on a flimsy rope purposely let him attack me. I had to beat him off with a stick. He was practically munching me out.”

“Your panache for subtlety astounds me,” I growl at the wind. Having friends is hard.

“Anyway, I happen to have a canine myself. A chubby little French bulldog named Strudel, who might I add has yet to stick his snout into a single love canal.”

“Strudel?” I balk at the unfortunate moniker. “Wow, you are mean.”

“I’m not mean,” she grits it through her teeth like a threat while her ponytail whips around her face as she struggles to keep up.

I nod us over to the bench by the overlook, and we flop down as all of Jepson shines beneath us. “Beautiful.” I take a quick sip of my water. “But we gotta head back.”

“What?” she squawks so loud you would think I just told her we needed to lie prostrate so that Great Dane can finish the job. “We just got here. Good luck getting me off my duff. Don’t forget. I’m your ride.”

“Thanks for reminding me of where I went wrong. But I need to shower and dress and head to the restaurant. It’s the official grand reopening. And I need to make sure my new food critic bestie loves every single bite.”

She gives a maniacal laugh, which seems to be her specialty. “I do love it when you call me your bestie.”

“Aw, is it because you’ve never had one?” As in a single female friend ever.

“No.” She’s back to scowling at Jepson as if it took her lunch money. “It’s because I stole the title from that girl who tried to keep your vagina hostage.”

“That’s one way to put it.” I sigh hard at the thought of Raven finding out what Levi and I have done—are doing. “But rest assured, I have plenty of room for both of my besties in my life.”

My phone burps to life, and I roll it over in my hand, only to toss it like a hot potato once I see who it is.

“Gah! It’s her! I swear she’s got some kind of demonic radar when anyone invokes her unholy name.”

“You never said her name.”

“Smartass.” I glance down to see what Raven has to say for herself.

Aloha! I’m doing the hula and drinking Mai Tais! How is it going back in HB? Any news on Levi and the girl that’s stalking him?

“Ha!” I show the message to Lex, and we share a dark laugh. I’ll admit, it’s been pretty fun to keep the Evie ruse going with Raven. “Say cheese!” I snap a quick picture of Lex who gifts me the finger. I carefully crop that little lovely detail out and shoot it to bestie number one.

With his BAE now! Isn’t she lovely? Have fun hitting the beach! Tonight’s the big TSP reboot.

She texts right back. Wow! Cannot wait to meet her! You don’t know how bad I feel that I’m missing out. I can’t wait to see everyone again. Especially YOU!

A forlorn smile comes as I read her words. I really do miss having Raven around. Even if we do text daily, it’s just not the same as a good old-fashioned hug-fest.

Don’t wait too long before your next visit. We might just have a little surprise cooking up for you!

I show it to Lex before I hit Send. “Too much foreshadowing?”

“Nope. You’ll still knife her where it counts.”

As much as I’d like to roll my eyes at that one, I know she’s right. I hit Send anyway.

Raven texts back. I might just have a little surprise brewing for you, too!

“See that?” Lex flicks her finger at the screen. “Turnabout is fair play. She might just be ready to knife your heart out, too. Now what could possibly be brewing for you in her cauldron?”

“I have no clue.” I’m stumped just thinking about it. “Ooh, I know! A new pair of kicks. Raven is the one who gifted me my first pair of Louboutins.”

“They’re your only pair of Louboutins.”

“You have to think positive, Lex. I can see it doesn’t come naturally.” I give her knee a quick tap. “It’s time for the truth, girl. What are you going to say to Ax the ex tonight when you see him?”

Her face goes white as she stares out in a daze in the distance at Jepson. “I’m not going to say a word. I’ve spent the last few years freezing him out. I don’t see why the big thaw should happen just because I’m in the same air space.”

“Attagirl,” I tease. “I’d hate for you to lose your ice princess persona.”

She lifts a brow, amused by the fact. “Has he called me that?”

“Nope. In fact, he’s as tight-lipped as you are.”

Her eyes narrow in on the city with a vengeance as if she were readying to pounce. “Is that so?” She huffs a dull laugh, and something tells me that little nugget I just shared won’t bode well for Axel.

“But trust me, I can tell he’s desperately still interested. He wants you. Face it, the power of the vajayjay is strong with you.”

“There are a lot of things I’d like to lord over him. My girl parts aren’t one of them.” She snarls before biting down on her lip as if maybe her girl parts are the very thing she’d like to lord over him.

“So, no hope of a reconciliation, huh? I’ll admit, I’m more than a bit bummed. I was sort of hoping you and Ax could get back together and the four of us could go on all these fun double dates. And vacations! Oh, the vacations we could have gone on. And you know that the two of us would have sniffed out all the best food.”

She sniffs the air as if to spite me. “Let’s get back. I’ve got a shower to take myself.”

We start back down the trail, her swatting at the air and me drinking down the sunshine.

“So, what are you going to wear tonight?” I ask, looking for a clue as to how hard she’s going to stick it to poor Axel. Lex is impeccably dressed twenty-four seven. Even now as I’m sweating it out in cutoffs and a tank top, she’s decked out from head to toe in all of Lululemon’s best offerings. “I bet you’re going to slay this. Let me guess—spiked heels and a low-cut top?”

Her lips twitch with the hint of a wicked smile. “There will be spikes involved. You got that half-right.”

Something tells me Alexa Ximena Maxfield is ready to drive an entire spike strip into the giant X that sits over Axel Collin’s heart.

The Sloppy Pelican gleams under the faux starry spray of a thousand twinkle lights I had Levi install throughout the open beamed woodwork that spans the ceiling.

He wraps an arm around me and gives a little jostle. “Well done, Peaches. I think it’s just what we needed to kick it up to the next level.”

“You’re already there, Boobear.” I give him a little wink as I come in for a kiss.

Brody leans in. “Don’t forget the fact I’ve booked three bands for the night. The votes are getting tight.”

“About that.” I wrinkle my nose. “I know I’m backtracking, but I think maybe we should just open up The Sloppy Pelican to all bands. That way you get fresh entertainment on the regular? Plus, it gives the local bands the break they might need.”

Levi gives my ribs a quick tweak. “I think it’s genius.”

Axel walks in, and all the skirts at the bar quiet to a hush. He’s donned his black suit, gold tie, and has his hair slicked back. He’s putting on quite the panty-melting show, and judging by the slack-jawed expression of the girls lined up ready and willing to gift him their undergarments, it’s working.

“Wow,” I muse as he heads for our circle. “You headed to prom later?”

Brody and Levi share a quick laugh at their buddy’s expense.

“Only if your dance card is open, baby.” Ax gives a little wink my way.

“If your dance moves are as smooth as that look you’ve got going on, I just might be free for a number or two.” I give Levi’s ribs a hard pinch, but he’s not laughing. “I’m teasing.” I bat my lashes up at his baby blues. “My dance card is full each and every night with this guy right here.” I steal a delicious kiss before giving a quick little bite. “A preview of things to come.” I lick my lips, and Levi does that sexy as all heck waggle of the brows. This boy has me going all the time. It’s a wonder we show up for work at all.

“Hey”—he winces—“I forgot to tell you my mom called. She said the family wanted to come out and support me tonight.”

“The family?” My stomach bottoms out for a moment. I was hoping to keep The Sloppy Pelican a drama-free zone this evening—but mostly the drama I was concerned with was between Lex and Axel. “Let’s see. Raven’s whooping it up at a luau with a bunch of beefy fire dancers, so that leaves Chip and Meredith.” It’s funny how even saying his soon-to-be ex’s name makes me naturally grimace.

He gives the slightest hint of a nod. “I couldn’t say no.” He shakes his head over at Brody and Axel.

Brody gives him a mock sock over the arm. “You okay, man?”

“Yeah. Chip and I are communicating. Meredith and I—well, the court approved our divorce.” He grins down at me. “I should get my papers in the mail any day now.”

“Yay!” I’m testing out the nonexistent springs on my Louboutins as I bounce up and down. “That means I’ll no longer be fornicating with a married man.” I glare over at the peanut gallery. “Don’t judge.”

Both Brody and Axel raise their hands in surrender.

“All right.” Levi walks me backward. “It’s five minutes ’til show time. I’ve had the kitchen make everything we’ve got. We really need to wow her.”

“Wowing Lex? I’m pretty sure that never happens. I say, if she gets even mildly close to happy, we’ll be sitting pretty.”

Axel huffs, “So, you do know her.”

I hold my breath, unsure of what to say. Axel and Lex are both great people—complex people, but pretty great nevertheless.

“Okay, so I know her,” I finally fess up. “What’s the deal with you two, anyway? Why aren’t you together? What did you do?” No sooner do I snap that last question out in an accusatory fashion than the ice queen herself struts through the door—only she’s a lot less ice and a lot more…porcupine?

“Oh, wow.” Brody groans at the sight of her, and I can feel Axel stiffening at the sight. I bet a part of him wants to get real stiff.

And what a sight she is. Lex is sporting a black leather jacket completely covered with miniature silver spikes. Her hair is vamped out, long and dangerously bloodcurdling red as it springs down her back in full bodied waves. It’s practically an entity in and of itself, and I’m half-tempted to offer it a seat of its own. To complete the look, she’s donned a black leather skirt that’s so short it’s almost an idea than an actual accouterment, sky-high heels, a leather choker with a ring of spikes that are each at least an inch long, and she’s swabbed on her vampiest dark red lipstick to finish off the biker-straight-out-of-hell look.

“No hugs for you!” I tease as I lead her to her seat, and she doesn’t even flinch a smile.

Levi thought we should have her near the bar, which is about as close as you can get to the kitchen, and it’s only now I see the grave error we’ve made. Each and every barfly has paused his or her good time to ogle the queen of mean in our midst. And since Lex here hates people, I’d say all that ogling doesn’t bode well for us.

“Would you look at that outfit?” Levi whispers.

“How about I do, but you don’t?” I give him a playful swat over the arm. I’d introduce Lex, but she’s stoic as a statue. She’s all business tonight, and I can tell she’s extra careful not to make eye contact with the good-looking man in the zoot suit. God, she’s so zombie-like I’m afraid she’s going to crack. “Um, Axel?” I swear on everything that is holy she just straightened as if I zapped her. “Why don’t you help Brody bring out the first round of dishes for our guest?” I wait until they’re out of sight before leaning toward my favorite queen of terror. “You look fab, girl. Trust me, death glam becomes you.”

“You think?” She picks up the knife and blows a kiss into her reflection. “Because I happen to think so, too.”

“That’s my girl.” I glance over to the kitchen, and thankfully Axel is still out of sight. “Are you okay?”

She gives a nervous glance around. Her eyes are outlined perfectly with the blackest pigment on the planet. Her contours are well-defined, and her face gives off that dewy glow without crossing into alien territory. As always, her face is impeccable.

She takes in a quivering breath as if attempting to center herself. “I’m always great. I’m always great,” she says it twice, almost catatonic as if it were her morning mantra she’s been repeating for years, and knowing Lex, it just might be.

“Don’t worry. It’ll be over before you know it. If you need me to meet you at Hallowed Grounds tomorrow morning to help with that fab write-up, I’ll be there with bells on.”

She shoots me a look just as the boys come out carrying two huge oversized plates, each with a smorgasbord of everything on it from foie gras to Sevruga. Not including the fact two of the plates are loaded with our new vegan options for the less carnivorous among us—asparagus fries and cauliflower hot wings that are to die for—and yes, ironically, they taste like chicken.

“I’ll walk you through it.”

“No speaking,” she hisses my way as plates brimming with food land magically before her.

Brody gives an awkward sort of a bow and ducks out of her way before she does something irrational and pins him in the head with a saucer. And Axel just sort of stands there staring at her as if he were in a trance.

“Lexy,” Axel strums it out slow and sedated, and I can’t help but gasp.

Lexy? What is this shit? Even I know the rules of engagement as far as her triple X highness is concerned. Her name is Lex. Under no circumstances does anyone call her Alexa or God forbid Lexy. Is he trying to incite a war?

Lex’s eyes grow wide with fury, but thankfully she keeps her gaze fixed straight ahead, and my foie grois still has a fighting duck liver of a chance.

Levi pulls me in close and plants his mouth near my ear. “What’s going on?”

“She’s fine,” I whisper as I take a step in. “And for our first course, we’d love for you to try the small plate sampler, which has six new menu items to start the palate off on the right course for the night.”

Lex picks up her fork and begins stabbing away as if the appetizers were running amuck on the table and she needed to pin them down with her tines.

I catch Levi stepping away and spot his mother along with Chip and Meredith making their untimely appearance. Great. Levi tries his best to seat them, but they insist on following him over. Of course, they do.

Crap. The more people goggling Lex, the more her blood pressure will skyrocket—and with my luck, her cholesterol levels will, too. Two things she’ll blame me for over coffee tomorrow morning. And seeing that I was unsuccessful in making her ex disappear for the night, I’m out an extra two hundred fifty dollars to boot.

I glance back to find Meredith cozying up to Levi, and my stomach sinks. Did I expect anything less? Now that he’s no longer legally hers, she wants him back. Poor Chip is brooding next to Bonnie, and they both offer a polite wave my way.

Levi makes his way back and lands a kiss to my ear. “She seems happy.”

“Not as happy as Mer.” Sorry, I mouth. “I couldn’t help it.”

“I promise you, there is nothing to worry about in that arena.” He digs his fingers into my hips, and we watch as Lex annihilates all the tiny samplers we’ve set out before her. I provided her with a food map so she would know exactly what she’s noshing on. Lex mentioned that an eatery down in Jepson had done that for her once and scored major points on the write-up, so of course, I utilized my inside information to the hilt. Now, if only my main menu options hit it out of the park, The Sloppy Pelican will be on its way to becoming the new premier eatery in the tri-city area. If we can start hauling them in from Jepson, too, I know for a fact we’ll be out of the red in no time.

“You should start with the truffle wagyu beef burger.” Brody has the nerve to pipe up, and she glares at him, only the way a frosty-hearted woman can.

“Thank you,” she says it curt and stuns the entire lot of us with the simple sound of her voice. She cuts a glance my way that says I want his head on a platter—but only after I whack off Axel’s major apex, I’m assuming. Lex would make a wicked evil queen, and a part of me loves it. She basically amounts to having a real life Disney villain right at my fingertips.

“Surprise!” a high-pitched wail of a voice cries from behind, and the entire bar turns to the entrance to find a beautiful tan bombshell of a girl with long black hair and those familiar killer ocean blue eyes.

“Oh my God!” I gasp along with Bonnie. “Raven!” I scream as my in-the-flesh bestie bolts over, and I pull her into a tight rocking hug.

“I’m here!” she squeals as a dog pile of bodies tries to get in on the action and all attention is diverted from Lex. “I felt so bad that I’ve missed so much I just put my damn foot down.” She covers her cute little bowtie lips with her fingers as she looks to Bonnie. “Sorry, Mom!” She pulls her brothers in. “Chip—Levi! It’s been forever since I’ve held my two favorite brothers. You feel so good. I have so much to tell you. We have so much to talk about.”

Levi does his best to blink back tears, and instinctively I wrap my arms around him.

Raven takes a lunging step back. “What’s this?”

“Oh!” I set my arms back to my sides as if I just pulled them out of a bonfire. “I was about to tip over in these damn heels.” I kick a Louboutin in the air. Dear God, forgive me for lying so blatantly about my blameless beautiful stilettos. I can only pray karma has a forgiving heart and a weakness for a good shoe.

“Oh, hon”—Bonnie waves a hand as if I were silly, little does she know how very fucking silly I really am—“that’s Levi’s new girl.”

Raven’s mouth falls open, and her eyes go red with rage in a flash, cartoon style.

“Why, that’s right!” I say a little too loud as Levi shakes his head at me. Okay, so he’s not so hot on doing the big reveal at the moment, but lucky for him neither am I. “This is his new girl, right here.” I back up and hold a hand out to Lex as if she were the booby prize—and at the moment, she sort of is.

Lex glances up with a napkin paused to her lips. A paper napkin? Who the hell disobeyed my wishes and chose to forgo the damn linen? This entire night is going to hell in a cheap paper handbasket.

Lex flexes a smile, and everyone in an eight-foot circumference freezes. You only need to be around the girl for five solid seconds to figure out her face doesn’t crack. At least not for something as trivial as joy. In fact, she’s the only woman on the planet who can evoke a holy terror in me at the curve of her lips.

Lex stands up and nearly towers me in her six-inch heels. Her vampire red lipstick is still perfectly in place, and it showcases that wicked grin twitching to life like the anomaly it is.

“Well, well”—she looks down at my bestie with those soulless eyes—“you must be Raven.”

Raven swallows audibly, unsure of what to make of the glamazon in our midst dressed like a biker chick on a mission to eviscerate every male in the great state of North Carolina.

“Why yes, I am.” The words come out curt as Raven’s own rock solid beauty comes out strong, and I can’t help but think this feels like a battle of the Titans. “People tell me you’ve been seeing my brother, Levi.”

A smattering of whispers and gasps breaks out around us, because well, Raven, Lex, and I are the only three people who actually think this to be true. And at the moment, I’m doing my best not to glance my new boyfriend’s way. One look and he’ll see right through these shenanigans.

Lex drops that smile on her face like a bad tick and is right back to glaring. She glances up at Levi and gives a simple nod. “You—come here.”

She points to the spot next to her, and he’s slow to comply. I’m pretty sure he’s more interested in garnering a good review than he is in disobeying her dominatrix-like command, but a part of me is purring at his responsiveness. I’ll have to turn up my inner dominatrix once we get back to the bedroom. I glare over at Raven for even thinking of cock-blocking me this evening.

Raven gasps as if mortified to see her brother listening to this needle-laden goddess. “Levi Masterson, what is this skank doing in your establishment? Don’t tell me you’re still entertaining the likes of her. I’ll tell you right now. It’s time to dropkick this ho to the door.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Lex rotates her head as if it were on a swivel. “Did you just call me a skank and a ho? In front of God and my boyfriend, Levi?” she roars it out with such power I’m about to wrap myself around Raven like a human shield. God, I’ll never forgive myself if Lex goes rogue and starts in on a hacking spree. She can take all our eyes out with that regalia she’s armed herself with.

Raven steps up and scoffs right in her face. “Why yes, I did. And now I’m going to ask you to pick your porcupine self up and march right out that door, sweetie. And when the door hits you on the ass, take that as a special goodbye just from me.” Ha! Raven and I are totally on the same wavelength with that whole porcupine thing. But still, Lex is hot as fuck.

Meredith steps in before Lex can catch her next breath. “What the hell is going on here? Levi isn’t dating this Goth zombie.”

Lex growls in her direction, and Mer slinks right back to Bonnie.

Raven tosses back her mile-long hair the way she does when she’s readying for a showdown—or a fistfight. “I know she’s not with him. He told me all about the breakup.”

I glance to Levi, and his shoulders twitch with a shrug. But that guilty look on his face says he sure as hell knows what’s up. We didn’t break up, did we? Never mind. I’ll deal with him later.

Lex leans into Raven, landing dangerously close to my OG bestie who’s about to morph into a landmine. “Oh, sweetie, your big, strong, handsome brother and I are still very much on.” She casts the briefest of glances to Axel, which most likely explains the elongated description of Levi’s good looks. It’s becoming clear Lex is utilizing these unfortunate events to her advantage, just like any ex worth her salt would. I can’t hold it against her. Lex is just a badass that way.

“No, you’re not—at least not for long.” Raven whips out her phone and messes with it for a second. “See? Right here in this text he says he’s about to give you the big heave-ho.” She points hard at the screen that no one is reading, but my heart sinks at the thought that she might be right.

Lex huffs at Raven’s tantrum as if it were a stone in her path. “Your brother and I are solid, and I’ll prove it.” Lex gloms onto Levi so fast and hard the air in the room vacuums around them. Before I can process what’s happening, her lips adhere to his, and he’s walking backward trying his best to push her away. But Lex proves stealth, and soon she lands her legs over his waist while her hands do their best to hold his head steady. Levi trips, and they tumble to the floor, but Lex lands on top—I suspect she does that quite often in life—her face still sucking down hard over his. Levi twists and turns his head like a toddler unwilling to take his medicine, but Lex is unrelenting in her administration of the curious elixir.

“Shit!” I shrill as the room breaks out into sheer chaos. Brody and Chip run over and stop short as Axel roars out something unintelligible.

“Out of my way!” I scream, bolting over and pulling Lex off by the hair. No sooner does she roll over than Levi backs out of her clutches.

Axel helps Levi to his feet. “You piece of shit,” he murmurs before he decks him, and soon fists are flying and Lex is growling at me to let the hell go.

“What is going on?” Raven shouts as she traipses over in her heels, her face rife with worry.

“Let me see that text.” I pluck the phone out of her hand.

Yup. You’re right. She’s an immature brat. A real hurricane in the flesh, too. The girl destroys everything she touches. I can’t wait to get her out of my life, but you know me, I’m too nice to do it. I might just let her use me a few more nights before kicking her to the curb. I never did have good radar for women.

“What?” I stagger on my feet while Levi and Axel tear the place up. My stomach bottoms out right along with my heart. I destroy everything I touch? That weapons grade monkey comes to mind. I shattered it to pieces. I glance up and see chairs flying and customers speeding out of every orifice. This is all my fault, too. A ripe anger boils in me, courses through my veins like venom strong enough to stop my beating heart.

“Come on.” I pull Lex to the door, and Raven follows.

“Damn right, we’re kicking you out!” Raven barks in Lex’s face as we step into the cool night air.

“We’re not kicking her out,” I growl at Lex. “I’m going with her.” I turn to face Raven. “If your brother wants me out of his life, then that’s exactly what he’ll get.” I grab ahold of Lex’s hand and drag her into the parking lot.

“Wait!” Raven calls after us. “Why would he want you out of his life?”

Lex unlocks the doors to her Range Rover and speeds us out of the lot.

“I have no clue, Raven,” I say under my breath. “I’d like to know the answer to that myself.”

Lex drives me back to Levi’s, where she helps me do a thirty-second sweep of the place as we spastically collect my things, and we’re off again.

“Where to?” Lex keeps her gaze set on the darkness in front of us.

“Your place.” I don’t hesitate with the answer.

“Again. Where to?”

“Fine. Have it your way. Friar’s Corner.”

“Friar’s Corner?” She lifts a sharp, angled brow. “My place it is. You can share the spare bedroom with Strudel.”

“Great. By chance, Axel doesn’t know where you live, does he?”

“Heck no.” Her fingers spread wide before gripping the wheel once again with a vengeance.

“Good. That means no one can find me.” And that’s exactly what I want—to be left the hell alone.

Lex drives us to a quiet neighborhood not too far from Whitney Briggs University, to a cozy little house with a white picket fence—the last place on earth I would suspect a ham-fisted vixen like Lex would live. I meet Strudel in all his handsome glory and fall onto the bed in the guest room before letting out a river of tears. I watch as my phone lights up with messages from Raven, from Levi, each begging me to call them, swearing none of it was true. But I don’t call them. I pull the covers up over my head and don’t plan on coming up for the next three days.