We finished cleaning up breakfast, everyone grumbling about the wake-up calls in the house being really inappropriate. I placated their bleary eyes by filling their stomachs with delicious food. The blues and greens of the house mixed with the top-of-the-line everything were starting to feel like home, and returning to my dad’s place would be rough. Maybe I should stay with Emmett for a while until I could find a place to live…or maybe I’d stay with him.

Moving in together seemed like a one-way trip to getting my heart ripped out. Finishing up my food, I leaned back in my chair. It was one hell of a meal, if I did say so myself. I tucked my plate into the dishwasher then left everyone else to finish the cleanup. It had become our routine, and I was more than happy to never have to wash a dish.

I hopped into the shower. The rich soapy lather washed away the sweat and smell of Emmett still clinging to me, and I was wrapping a towel around myself when my phone went off in my bag. I dug it out and tapped the screen. I could barely understand the words through the tears on the other end.

“Max, calm down. Take two deep breaths and then tell me what’s going on.” Panic set in, a clawing, chest-tightening sensation. Had something happened to Syd?

Her labored breaths came through the phone. “They’re taking the shop.”

“What? Who?” I threw on the closest top and shorts I could find.

“The suits. Syd screwed up something. It was nothing you did. She said that like ten thousand times, but she missed something—property taxes, maybe, and now the city is coming after her. They’re going to take the shop. There’s a lien on it.”

I went in search of a laptop, anyone’s laptop. Finding one at the kitchen table, I opened it up and searched for property records.

“Okay, Max, hold on. I’m checking on it right now.” A little searching got me what I was looking for. Sure enough, a nice round number sat there in big red lettering. The pit in my stomach grew.

“I don’t know what she’s going to do. She’s always joked about closing the place down, but not like this, not because of someone taking it from her.”

An idea was brewing in the back of my mind. “I’m going to need to call you back.”

I didn’t even let her respond before I ended the call and made another one. My heart raced and my hands shook against the edge of the table.

“What’s up, kid?” Syd’s gruff voice wasn’t enough to cover the emotion she was holding back.

“Have you ever wanted a partner?”

“What?”

“Max called me.”

An expletive-laden tirade exploded from the phone ending with, “I’m going to seal her lips shut with molten sugar next time and shave that multicolored head of hers.”

“I have the money, Syd.” I’d been saving for so long, for my future—that was what I’d told myself during every missed happy hour or while thrift store shopping. That winter when I’d duct-taped my shoes together to trudge through the snow, I’d known it was for something bigger for me. Turned out I had been wrong about what the future held. It was this, and it felt so right.

“What?”

“I’ve got the money to pay off the lien.”

“Do I seriously pay you that well? I can’t let you give me that money, Avery. It wouldn’t be right.”

“That’s why I didn’t say I’d give it to you. I asked if you wanted a partner.”

“You want to be partners? What about college?”

“I can still go to college—later. It would be on a much more extended type of path if that’s what I wanted to do, but I’ve always been unsure about it, never really knowing if I wanted to go or if I just thought I should go, but this…I’m ready to do this with no questions asked.”

“Avery—”

“Don’t say no. Just don’t say no, okay? I can come up tomorrow.”

Leaving Emmett and our pretend world where summer fun was all that existed was the last thing I wanted to do, but Syd needed me and I had to go.

“I don’t want you ending your trip early.”

“Check the schedule—I’m on it for the next day. I’d have to come up tomorrow anyway. Can you have someone find out if all that needs to be done is to pay the lien and then there are no more issues?”

“I can do that.” The uncertainly in her voice at least meant she’d check it out.

“Please, Syd, don’t give up. We can do this. I know we can.”

“You sound awfully optimistic about this whole thing.”

“I am. I really am, and I want you to be too. We can do this! Bread & Butter will be better than ever. Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do. You think I’d give a fifteen-year-old kid the freaking keys to this place if I didn’t?”

“It will be awesome.” It was like the path was suddenly unveiled in front of me. The future snapped into crystal-clear clarity, and I knew exactly what I needed to do.

“You really want to use your money to go into business with me?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, with maybe just a few changes here and there.”

“What kind of changes?” Any trace of sadness was gone. She sounded like her old self.

“Maybe some menu improvements, change up the décor, but that’s stuff we can talk about as partners.”

She harrumphed, and I couldn’t hold back my laugh.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ending the call, I sat back in my seat and stared at the doorway filled with a wall of muscle. His t-shirt clung to his chest. Shorts hung from his trim hips. Every time I looked at him, the flutters in my stomach threatened to carry me away.

“Hey.” I closed the laptop.

“Hey. So…you’re buying a business?”

I bounced in my seat. “I guess so. We haven’t worked out the details, but I think that’s what I’m doing.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. It was the same kind you gave when you were already trying to figure out how to re-gift something someone had just given you.

“What’s wrong?”

He raked his hands through his hair and squeezed the back of his neck. “It’s nothing. Did you want to get some ice cream?”

“We just ate breakfast, and it’s not nothing.” I pushed my chair back and stood. Crossing to him, I wouldn’t let him dodge my gaze. “What is it?”

“I thought…I thought that might be something you’d talk to me about before you did it, but then I realized it isn’t my place. We’ve only stopped trying to burn each other to a crisp with our eyes a week ago. We haven’t figured everything out yet.”

My throat tightened. Figured everything out. “We definitely haven’t, but I’m here to talk it through.”

“What about college?” He ran his knuckles along my jaw.

“I was never really sure about it. I was put on that path early—get good grades, go to college, get a good job…but I already have a good job. I have a great job. Other than waking up at two in the morning to go in, there isn’t another job I could imagine having.”

“Your own business.” He stared at me, trying to make that smile work.

“Em, what’s going on?”

He threw back his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Opening them, he pinned me with his stare. “I think part of me hoped maybe you’d come to LA with me or at least be able to visit during school breaks. Alyson’s in California, so I thought I could entice you out, but if you’re running a bakery, you’re not going to have time to do that.”

A leaden loaf sank in my stomach. “Oh.”

“Yeah, ‘Oh.’ I know we haven’t talked about what we’re doing here, but I need you to know I want this to be real. I’m not looking for a summer thing. This is us starting up Emmett and Avery.”

The silence between us was deafening, or maybe it was all the blood rushing to my ears.

He slipped his hands into mine and brought them to his mouth. Pressing his lips against my knuckles, he gazed into my eyes. “We’re doing this.”

My head nodded along with his. He was a puppeteer, and I his marionette. “I want to do this.” That bright, glowing ball in my chest grew even bigger.

“Do you think you’ll get some time off later in the summer? Maybe even just a couple of days? I have to go back to the Hamptons to see my parents. They keep driving me crazy with calls and texts. I could use some backup, and it will keep them from trying to set me up with their friends’ daughters.”

It was another bucket of cold water filled with ice cubes from the deepest corner of Antarctica. This was the time. Just tell him. Tell him what they did, what you did, how you’d had no choice…

“It’s annoying to have them doing normal parenting things. Trying to set up their single son, pestering me with phone calls and texts…” While he spoke of irritation, the happiness in his voice made my stomach clench.

How did I tell him this? Maybe they’d changed. Four years was a long time. Maybe they’d turned over a new leaf and were on a different path now, one that brought them to Emmett and even more happiness to his life. I couldn’t kill that. I wouldn’t.

The gentle knock at the front door saved me, and I dashed out of the kitchen. The guys sat on the couch watching TV, completely oblivious to the visitor, whoever it was.

“Hey, do you have a minute?” Imogen popped up on the landing outside the door. The sun reflecting off her Surf Shack t-shirt made her hair shine even brighter.

I glanced over my shoulder. Emmett had followed me out.

“I’ll be back soon.” Something was up with her and I needed to find out what.

Emmett nodded. “Sure, of course.”

She glanced back through the screen door at the guys crowded around the TV.

“Did you want me to get one of them?” I motioned over my shoulder.

“No.” Her voice was a low, forceful whisper as she shook her head. “Let’s just walk for a little bit.”

I followed her down the steps, and we walked in silence. I was starting to wonder if that was all she needed. The beach was so quiet down at that end, a private respite with no crowds, only the gentle rumble of the waves and a salty breeze off the water.

She stopped abruptly and sat down, crossing her legs in front of her. She ran her fingers through the sand and let handfuls pass through her hold into small mounds.

“Thanks for coming out here with me.”

“No problem.”

We sat so long staring out at the rolling water I wondered if maybe she just needed someone to sit beside her for a while in companionable silence.

“It’s hard…” Her throat worked up and down as she swallowed.

I turned to her.

“It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t…didn’t know Preston. He was pretty popular.” She gave me a watery smile.

My throat clogged at the pain in her eyes. “I’ve heard that. The guys all talk about how awesome he was.”

“He was the best.” Her voice cracked. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “But now he’s gone. I try not to let myself have moments like this too often, especially not around Preston’s parents.”

“No one expects you to not be hurting.” My heart ached for her. In the few interactions we’d had, I’d seen the cracks in her armor. She’d worked so damn hard to make them as small as possible, but they were still there.

“I was just his girlfriend, but he was their son. It’s different.”

“Of course it’s different, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. A friend, sibling, parent, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, child—those are all going to hurt in different ways, but none of us can judge which one hurts more. There’s more than enough pain to go around.”

She wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “He proposed.” Her voice was so quiet, almost less than a whisper, and I barely heard her.

“What?”

“He proposed, the night of his accident. He’d asked me to marry him before. He asked me to marry him all the time.” Her smile was so sweet, it made my heart ache even more. Just like Emmett.

“What did you say?” My own voice was barely audible.

She turned to me with her eyebrows furrowed. “I said yes. I said yes, every single time since the first time he asked when I was thirteen.”

“Why?”

“Because I loved him. Our love was inevitable, like he was made just for me, and that night…” She slid her hand into the pocket of her apron. “He had this.”

Tears sprung to my eyes at the sight of the small velvet box. She opened it and stared at the delicate ring inside.

“This time it was real. We were bundled up at an outdoor rink. My cheeks were so cold, but I didn’t let go of his hand to fix my scarf. He got down on one knee and proposed. Everyone clapped.” She smiled, caught up in the memory. “His knee was soaking wet when he stood up. We laughed all the way to the car.”

Every time Emmett had asked, I’d wanted to say yes. I’d wanted to throw my arms around his neck and feel his arms around me and know it would be forever—but I hadn’t been able to. We were too young. We were so different. But here was Imogen saying she’d known from such a young age that Preston was the guy for her, that he was her forever. There was a dull ache in my chest that I hadn’t been able to be so sure and believe that what we’d had could weather anything.

“I was too afraid to wear it. I didn’t want to lose it or have it stolen or something, so I made him put it away, and then the accident happened. That night…the night you found me out in the rain, the police had just found it and returned it to me.” She ran her fingers over the scarred velvet covering the box. Deep gouges ran along one side of it, like it had been dragged along the ground.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. “I had no idea. No one told me you two were engaged.”

Her eyes got big and she shook her head. “No one would. I didn’t tell anyone. You can’t tell anyone.” There was a panic in her voice as she shifted so she was facing me straight on.

“Why not?”

“Everyone’s dealing with so much already. I’m not going to add anything else to stress them out. It doesn’t change anything anyway. What does this change?” She snapped the box shut and shoved it in her pocket then her trembling fingers wrapped around mine. She stared into my eyes. “I’ll be okay. It will take time, but I’ll be okay. I shouldn’t have even asked you to come, shouldn’t have told you…I’m sorry.” Running her fingers through her hair, she shook her head.

“No, please don’t say that. I’m glad you came to see me, glad I could be someone to talk to, and I won’t say anything. I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.”

“I’m sorry for dumping all this on you, but I needed someone on the outside, someone who wasn’t dealing with their own pain from his loss, to hear me, maybe.” Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she glanced up at me. “Kind of messed up, isn’t it?” She pushed up off the sand and offered me her hand. I took it and stood, brushing the sand off my butt.

“It’s not messed up at all. You can talk to me whenever you need to. I’m glad I could help, even if it was just letting you get it all out.”

We walked back toward the house, and the guys were out on the beach throwing around a football—athletes through and through.

“I’ve seen you with Emmett. He seems really nice.”

“He is.”

“You two dated back in high school?” She looked over at me.

“We did. We’ve reconnected this summer.”

“I’m glad you found your way back to each other. It’s a chance not many people get. I hope things work out.” With a crooked smile, she walked off, waving to the guys before climbing up over the small dune and disappearing.

Her words stuck in my head as I walked across the sand. Emmett and I had found our way back to each other, but what did that mean? How did we move forward when there was still so much I hadn’t said? How could I? His parents… It would kill him to know.

Emmett’s eyes brightened as I approached. His comforting embrace wrapped around me, and I nuzzled my face into his chest. He smelled so damn good. His cologne hadn’t changed since high school, leather and mint. While other guys were going through a bottle of Axe a week, he’d always worn classic, subtle scents that screamed money, but I hadn’t been thinking about that then. All I’d known was how much I liked the way he smelled and felt safe.

It was his lips on the side of my head, his fingers stroking over my shoulders, his forearms stretched across my back…somehow the circle of his arms was the one place I’d always felt safe and never doubted what was between us. I held on tighter, squeezing him to me, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

“What’s up?” He leaned back and stared down at me, his gray eyes full of concern.

“Nothing, I just really needed this. I missed you.”

Mirth filled his eyes. “Missed me? You’re starting to sound like me now.”

“What? I’m not allowed to miss you? To miss these arms and this heart?” I pressed my hand against his chest. “These lips?” I trailed a finger down over his mouth, and all the laughter faded from them. We’d lost so much time.

Unknown: Your dad’s gotten himself into a shitload of trouble

A chill shot down my spine.

Me: Who is this?

Unknown: Someone who doesn’t appreciate people stealing from him

Me: What are you talking about?

Unknown: Your dad stole from my locker. You know what that means.

Bile rose in my throat.

Me: Fischer

Fischer: Yes. Now what are you going to do to fix this?

Me: Where are you?

Fischer: At your boyfriend’s party. Maybe I should get what’s owed to me from him? Go find Emmett and tell him all about it?

Me: NO

My hands shook and the phone nearly fell out of my hands.

Me: I’ll be right there. Please don’t say anything. I’ll fix this.

The text from Fischer had me tearing the house apart to try to find the stash of drugs my dad had taken from our local drug dealer, but Dad had gotten better at hiding things from me—or he’d already used them. I didn’t have time for this. I needed to get to Emmett’s before Fischer said anything to him.

I ordered a taxi and stopped at the bank. With trembling fingers, I typed in my PIN at the drive-through ATM and took out as much as I could, hoping it was enough. Squeezing my eyes shut, I leaned back against the seat. I needed to make it there fast.

Taking deep breaths, I stared out the window as the houses transformed from one-story 70s bungalows to three-story colonials and beyond. No matter how many times I went down that street, I felt like I was seconds away from being turned around at a no-poor-kids-allowed checkpoint.

I climbed out of the taxi and paid the driver. My fingers were tight around the bills when his fingers wrapped around them, but a taxi had been the only way I could get there without calling Emmett since Percy was in the shop. Jumping out, I closed the car door. The ground shook with the bass from the sound system outside, but not as much as my hands.

I couldn’t believe my dad had done this. He’d been so irresponsible and risked everything, not that it was any different from any other day. At least he’d managed to hold down a job—for the time being. Stealing from someone at the school? From those privileged kids with their powerful families? I stared up into the cloudless night sky praying Emmett didn’t find out, praying Dad didn’t get himself fired and jeopardize Alyson’s education.

Graduation was so close. My stomach churned. Emmett would go off to college wherever he wanted and then he’d be gone. I’d lose him. Our three years together had shocked just about everyone, myself included. His parents’ words rang in my ears about never being good enough for him. Maybe they were right.

Rushing up the steps, I pushed open the frosted glass door, and sound exploded from the other side. People bounded through the living room in bikinis and swim trunks, the required attire. The bars were open, the kegs were flowing, and laughter rang through the triple-story foyer.

I grabbed someone who ran by. “Have you seen Fischer?”

The girl shrugged. I didn’t want Emmett to know I was there, not yet, not until I’d spoken to Fischer and cleaned up this mess. I asked two more people before I spotted him.

With his sunglasses propped up on top of his head, he spun around and grabbed a girl around her waist before flinging her up onto his shoulder and smacking her ass. He went down the hallway to one of the downstairs back bedrooms.

I cringed. Taking a deep breath, I darted down the hall after him. Better to get there right away before he started something I did not want to walk in on. I leaned against the wall outside the door he’d just closed to gather myself. If he got to bang his way through the party, he’d be in a much better mood, but this couldn’t wait. Once Emmett knew I was there, he wouldn’t leave my side. There was no other way. I couldn’t take the chance that Fischer would be distracted enough by sleeping with someone to not blow up my life.

Giving the slightest of knocks, I pushed open the door, and the girl on top of him rolled off onto the bed. I’d shared a couple of classes with her the year before.

“Can we help you?” she asked, snidely.

“We need to talk.” I closed the door behind me.

“Can’t you see I’m busy?” He leaned back against the headboard with his hands propped up behind his head.

“You’re the one who messaged me. We need to talk now.” I turned my gaze on the girl beside him. “Out. I’m sure he’ll be available later.”

She glanced between the two of us.

“Go ahead, I’ll find you later. If you want your extra treat, don’t disappear on me.” He winked and ran his fingers over his lips.

She giggled and leaned in for a kiss. He fisted her hair in his hand and mauled her. It looked like he was trying to devour her whole face, but his gaze stayed locked on me.

My skin crawled. I resisted the urge to cross my arms over my chest, to shy away and hide, make myself smaller. He’d only see that as a weakness to pounce on.

He released her and smacked her ass again. She glared at me as she left, closing the door behind her. The muffled soundtrack of the thumping party happening all around us filtered its way into the room.

“Avery, Avery, Avery. It’s a real shame your dad went and stole from me. He was one of my best customers until he fell behind on his payments.”

“You’ve been selling to my dad?” I squeezed my hands at my sides. My pulse hammered in my veins and my wrists twitched.

“I’m running a business.” He said it like it absolved him of the lives he was trying to destroy. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, the fly of his jeans open and showing off his white boxers.

“How much does he owe you? I’ve got money.” The wad of twenties shoved in my pocket burned against my hip.

He let out a laugh. “I’m sure it’s not enough.” He stood from the bed and walked closer to me. My stomach churned and I steeled myself, planting my feet so I didn’t run away the first chance I got. I needed to fix this.

“How much does he owe you?”

His lips tilted in a crooked smirk and he walked behind me. His hot, beer-drenched breath skated across my neck and made me want to puke. The amount he told me almost finished the job.

“Your dad was a very good customer, like I said.” He stood in front of me and backed up to the bed, flopping down with his hands behind him, propping himself up.

“I can pay you in installments. I’ll come up with the money by the end of the summer.” I could work triple shifts at the bakery, maybe get Syd to give me an advance.

“Not going to work, Avery.”

“Why not?” The desperate edge of my voice wasn’t hidden anymore.

“I’m willing to give you a one-time reprieve on your dad’s debt, a graduation present of sorts. We’ve known each other for a long time now, and Emmett does always throw these killer parties.”

“What do I have to do?” I swallowed against the lump in my throat.

“Beg.” The word hung between us like a coiled viper ready to strike. His smile got even wider until it was a shit-eating grin big enough to swallow a canary whole. “Get on your knees and beg me.”

“Fuck you.” The words barely made it past my clenched teeth.

“Oh, wow, the price just went up, or I can call the cops right now and tell them any number of things were stolen from my locker—money, jewelry, electronics. I can make sure it’s a tidy sum that would get your dad some serious jail time, so you might want to start being nice to me.”

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. I’d seen this so many times before. He could say whatever he wanted, get away with anything because his family had money.

“What do you say? Are you going to do this one little thing, or do I need to call the cops? I could have them arrest your father in the middle of school. How embarrassing would that be? What would Emmett think about that?” He tugged his phone out of his pocket and dropped it onto the bed. “The clock is ticking.” He tapped his naked wrist. “Beg.” The satisfaction glinting in his eyes made me want to punch him in the face.

Like I was made of rusty metal, I slowly bent my knees. With each inch I got closer to the ground, another little piece of me died. Staring into his eyes the entire time, I fisted my hands at my sides when my knees hit the floor.

“There you go. It’s exactly where you should be. Maybe I should have you clean the floors like your old man. Go ask Emmett where the mop and bucket are.” The glee in his voice almost made my stomach revolt. “Does he know your dad’s a junkie?”

I clenched my jaw tight. You’re doing this for Alyson, to protect her, Dad, and Emmett—and yourself.

“Now I see what Emmett likes about you. I have to say, you’re even prettier on your knees.”

A fiery rage burned deep in my gut.

“I don’t have all night,” he sneered, but his smile said he was enjoying this so much I was surprised he didn’t jump up and dance around the room.

“Fischer, please—”

“I can’t hear you. You’re going to need to come closer.” He cupped his hand over his ear.

Gritting my teeth, I inched forward on my knees. He was the asshole rich guy from 80s movies who always ended up getting punched in the dick. It made me even more thankful for Emmett. He’d never pull something like this, would never lord his wealth and family status over someone else.

“Don’t worry, Avery, I won’t bite.” He beckoned me closer, curling his finger.

I moved forward until my thighs hit his feet. The plush carpet rubbed against my knees. “Fischer, please forgive my father’s debt.”

“I think you can make it a little sweeter than that.” The flash of hunger in his eyes didn’t match his relaxed pose.

Get this over with. Give him what he wants and then clean everything up. “Please, don’t turn my dad in.” I pressed my palms together. Hysteria bubbled up and warred with my intense need to slam my elbow into his junk.

He moved so quickly, I didn’t have time to stumble back from my kneeling position.

His fingers sank into my hair, tugging me forward. “I think you can do a hell of a lot better than that. Make me believe you want it.” He shoved my head toward his crotch.

My hands shot out and panic welled in my chest then a wave of sound filled the room as the door behind me opened.

“Avery?”

Time stood still. Please not now. The hysteria clawed for the surface. I shot up from the floor, whipping around.

“Emmett.” I rushed for him.

He stared back at me with wide eyes, glancing over my shoulder.

I wanted to sink into the floor, disappear forever. How did I explain this? Shame coursed through me even though I’d done nothing wrong, but the words to explain it stalled in my throat.

“Killer party, Emmett. Avery was just playing the part of good hostess.” The smug satisfaction in Fischer’s voice should have made me want to launch myself across the room at him, but I was pinned by Emmett’s stare.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Emmett, it’s nothing.” My words came out in a panicked frenzy. Shaking my head, my eyes pleaded with him to believe me, to not ask more questions I couldn’t answer.

“It didn’t look like nothing. What the hell is going on?” He stepped forward, his gaze shooting to Fischer.

“Why don’t you tell him exactly what got you on your knees for me?” Fischer’s mocking voice carried above the pounding music.

I pressed my hands against Emmett’s chest and stared into his eyes. “Please, Emmett, don’t. Nothing is happening.”

His gaze darted to mine, nostrils flaring. “Tell me what’s going on.” The muscles in his jaw ticked.

“Tell him, babe.” Fischer chuckled from behind me. “Tell him everything.”

I flinched at Fischer’s words. “Shut up!” I screamed at him over my shoulder. “Please, Em. I…I…” There were no words.

He stepped away from my touch like he’d been burned.

“Don’t make me ask you again. What were you doing in here with him?” His eyes glittered with unshed tears and something inside me cracked.

Could everyone else hear it break? It felt so loud, like it had created a crater in the Earth’s crust. “Please, Em.” My voice wobbled as he blurred and swam in front of me, my eyes filling with tears. What could I say? My mouth opened and closed. I didn’t want him to see me as the daughter of a junkie, confirming what everyone else thought—that I wasn’t good enough. I couldn’t let him know. There was nothing else I could say if he wouldn’t just believe me. Why couldn’t he just believe me?

And then the look was gone. Steely resolve filled his gaze. He’d never looked at me like that before.

I wanted to shrink away and hide. He spun around and stormed out of the room. Bile rushed into my throat.

My feet finally unfroze at Fischer’s cackling laugh, and I rushed after Emmett. I’d find the words—I’d lie to him and lose him or tell the truth and face the same fate. Or I say nothing and try to figure out a way to get him to forgive me someday…