by Jordan Marie
“A bunch of us are meeting up at the campground for a party,” he mutters, throwing some things in an old thin, plastic, store bag.
“Like who?”
“How is it any of your business?”
“I could always tell Dad you’re sneaking out.” I shrug, being an asshole.
“You’re a fucking dick.”
“Takes one to know one.” I smirk.
“Just a bunch of my friends.”
“Like Luna Marshall?” I press.
“Maybe. Why in the hell do you care?”
“She’s out of your league. You try to tangle with her and you’re asking for trouble,” I warn him.
“Is that why you haven’t made a move?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, flopping down on the bed, opening the top of the old zippo lighter I carry around. I strike it, watch the flame, shut it, and then repeat the motion.
“Liar. You’ve had a hard-on for Luna since day one. You’re just too much of a pussy to do anything about it.”
“You should be glad I haven’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said, little brother. If I made my move on Luna, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“In your dreams. Luna Marshall doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
“Maybe I’ll show up at your party and prove you’re a liar.”
“You show up tonight, Luna won’t have a thing to do with you,” he says. He doesn’t look at me, instead he stuffs the rest of his junk in the bag and heads to the window.
He might not be looking at me, but I’m keeping my eyes on him, and I can see the fear and nervousness that moves over his face. He’s worried. He’d rather kill me than have me show up at the campground tonight.
I really shouldn’t. It’s stupid. I actually agree with Atticus. Luna Marshall is way out of my league too. I don’t want her hooking up with my brother though. Luna might not be meant for me, and I’ve come to terms with that. I can live with it.
I don’t think I could live with the fact she hooked up with my brother.
I don’t care if that does make me a dick.
As the window slams and Atticus disappears down the willow tree, there’s a voice in my head warning me not to do something stupid.
I ignore it.
CHAPTER FOUR
LUNA
It was a mistake.
A big one.
I look around at all of my friends sitting around the fire, laughing and drinking, having fun, while I mainly want to leave. Jules is wasted and sitting in some guy’s lap. I’ve seen him before, but I don’t really know him, and I don’t think Jules does either. If I had my own vehicle, I’d hit the road now. Heck, if I had my license, I’d take Jules’ car. That’s how desperate I am. I’m not having fun, and I keep looking at the road, scared my parents will show up at any moment.
Okay, I realize I’m a goody-two shoes. I do, but, that’s just who I am. I like pleasing my parents. They’re good to me. I like cheerleading and making good grades. I enjoy being hopelessly boring. The only time I’ve ever wanted to take a chance and color outside the lines, to be wild… was when I saw Gavin.
Gavin makes me feel reckless. He makes me want to be something else—someone else. He makes me want to throw caution to the wind and enjoy every minute of it. Gavin might be worth it. I’d risk having my parents show up in the middle of the night, mad, yelling at me, and grounding me for the rest of my life for Gavin.
Not for this.
“Here ya’ go, Luna,” Atticus says, coming to sit beside me and handing me a beer.
I don’t drink. Jules and I had some wine coolers a couple of times when her parents were out of town. It was fruity and I liked them. They were also purple, which is my favorite color. Beer tastes gross. I’m pretty sure my dog could pee in a beer and it wouldn’t change the taste at all. Still, I take it with a fake half-smile.
“Thanks, Attie.”
“It’s a good night, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It doesn’t sound like you’re having fun,” he says.
“I am. Just a little worried about my parents, I guess.”
“Parents are a drag.”
“Mine aren’t. Not really. They’re cool, which is probably why I don’t like lying to them.”
“Relax. It’s not like they’ll find out. You and Jules already called them, right? And she called hers?”
“Well, yeah. But I keep worrying. Like, what if one of my parents or Jules’s is in an accident? What if the house catches on fire? So, they try to find us and discover we lied. My father could have a heart attack or something. My mom would be a worried mess, and then she’d know I wasn’t where I said I was, and she’d panic while already being upset…”
“You’re a freak, Luna. Breathe. None of that’s going to happen,” he reassures.
“Yeah, probably not,” I tell him. “But that doesn’t make me forget the possibility is there.”
“At least your parents care about you. My father won’t even notice I’m gone and wouldn’t for days, if then.”
“Of course, he would.”
“No. I don’t have your kind of life, Luna. Dad barely talks to me. He’s drinking from the time I get home from school until he passes out. I don’t know how he manages to keep his job at the garage. Old Mr. Gilroy threatens to fire him at least once a week. He just never follows through.”
“I’m so sorry, Attie. I had no idea,” I whisper, putting my hand on his leg in silent support.
“It’s okay. I’m used to doing things on my own. I don’t need anyone.”
“Well, you have your brother, Gavin. It’s good you both have each other.”
“Yeah, good ole’ Gavin. He’s—”
“Late to the party.”
My head jerks up at that deep voice and my body experiences an all over shiver. Gavin is standing across from me and Atticus. It’s dark, but the light from the fire highlights him perfectly. He’s wearing jeans and a flannel shirt that I’ve seen him in often. It has different colors of blues and greens in it, and I love it because it somehow makes his dark hair appear like it shines.
“What are you doing here?” Atticus says, and his voice is laced with anger. I’ve never seen Atticus upset at anything or anyone. He’s always been laid back and easy going. The change in his demeanor is shocking.
“You invited me. Remember?” Gavin says, and something about his smile tells me that is not the full story.
“I remember telling you that there was no way you’d get what you wanted. You might as well go back home now.”
“I don’t think so. I’m just now starting to enjoy the view,” he says and this time when he smiles, he looks right at me.
My heart beats frantically in my chest. It’s a dangerous smile. I kind of feel like I’m Little Red Riding Hood and Gavin is the Big Bad Wolf.
“Hey, Luna,” he says.
Oh my God! Oh my God! My brain screams as my palms go sweaty. If I thought my heart was beating hard before, it’s thumping like a runaway train now.
Oh. My. God.
Gavin Lodge spoke to me!!?!!
And he knows my name. Mine.
Holy freaking cow!
“Uh… Hi…. Gav… Gavin.”
Heat explodes through me and centers on my face as I blush so deeply that I probably glow from it.
Can I be any lamer?
I barely could get his name out and my voice cracked. I want to die in shame. I want the ground to swallow me up and bury me alive.
“Want to go for a walk?” he asks, and I blink.
“Me?” I squeak.
“Don’t see anyone else here I’d be asking, Babe. Unless you and my brother are busy?”
Oh my God. Gavin is asking me to walk with him. He wants to be alone with me!
Every freaking dream I’ve ever had has centered on this guy and he just asked to be alone with me.
Me!
�
�Attie? Um… No. We don’t have anything going on. I mean… We’re merely friends. We were talking that’s all. You know…”
I have got to get control of my nerves. I’m not making any sense, Gavin probably thinks I’m insane. He’s probably already regretting asking me to go on a walk.
I expect him to tell me he changed his mind, but then he reaches his hand out.
“Then, take a walk with me, Babe.”
I put my hand in his and watch wide-eyed as his fingers wrap around mine and he pulls me up.
His hand is warm, strong and I memorize the feel of it.
I’ll remember how it molded to mine for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER FIVE
GAVIN
I shouldn’t have done this…
That’s the one thing I keep thinking as Luna and I walk away from Atticus. It doesn’t even help to see the annoyance and anger that flashes over his face.
This is a mistake.
A huge one.
I know that by how great it feels to hold Luna’s hand and the rightness I experience in my chest at finally having her close. It might be a mistake that I never recover from.
I have plans after I graduate. They’re plans that don’t include a woman, they can’t. I don’t have anything to offer one.
Not yet.
One day, I will. One day I’ll work my ass off to have the kind of life I’ve always wanted. When I get to that point, I’ll be ready to have a woman in my life like Luna. One that’s sweet and pretty. One that smells good and blushes when she laughs. One that makes a man want dreams and plans.
I’m definitely not that kind of man right now. Which means I should run fast and hard away from her. Luna’s not like the other girls. She has forever stamped all over her.
“It’s a nice night,” she says after we’ve walked for a bit. I don’t know why I do it, but I lead her down to the old wooden boat dock at the edge of the lake. The wood has seen better days, but it’s still sturdy. I let go of her hand, ignoring the urge to take it back in mine, and sit down. She does the same, sitting close, but we still have a couple of feet between us. I don’t like it, and I immediately want her closer, but the distance is good.
I stare out over the water, not replying to her—unsure of what to say.
It’s definitely a mistake being here alone with her.
“I didn’t know you knew my name,” she says, trying again. She’s not looking at me, she’s gazing out at the water. I can’t see her face clearly, despite the full moon above us. If I had to guess though, I’d say she was blushing because I can hear the embarrassment in her voice. It makes me feel like an asshole.
“I shouldn’t have done this.”
“Done what?” she asks.
“Came out here with you. We don’t fit, Luna.”
“What?”
“I’ve known your name since the day you walked down the hall and smiled at me, Luna. You were a freshman and so damn pretty you got my attention right away. I’ve watched you every day of every year since then. You have to know that.”
“I do,” she says, her voice dropping down into a near whisper. “But you never spoke to me. I thought maybe…”
“Maybe what?” I ask her when she doesn’t finish.
“I thought maybe I was imagining it because I wanted it so much. I wanted you to like me.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“What?” she asks, confused.
I turn to her and she’s looking at me. In the moonlight, I can see the way her forehead crinkles with uncertainty, and I think it’s cute, even if I shouldn’t. Then again, I think everything about Luna Marshall is cute.
“We don’t fit,” I repeat.
“You said that before, but I don’t understand.”
“You’re uptown, Luna. You live in a big house on a hill with a picket fence and a three-car garage.”
“So?”
“So, I live in a house that could probably fit in your garage. My dad walks to work because he had his license revoked for driving drunk. He comes home and drinks the night away. You eat dinner with your parents every night. Atticus and I fix a peanut butter or a bologna sandwich because that’s what we buy from the jobs we go to after school.”
“That doesn’t matter to me.”
“It wouldn’t because you have no idea what it’s like to live the life I do. But I know the real world, Luna, and your kind and mine don’t match.”
“I think we match,” she says shyly, ignoring my warnings. She even manages to get brave and slides her hand back in mine. I want to pull away. Instead, I thread my fingers through hers.
“Your parents won’t. If you ever try to bring me to that fancy house on the hill, you’ll see.”
“I guess we’ll just have to see what happens, won’t we?” she asks.
Unease rises up inside of me when she smiles. Her face is full of happiness that shines bright, despite the darkness. I don’t understand what just happened. She should be running the other way. Instead….
It feels like she just claimed me.
CHAPTER SIX
LUNA
“G avin?” I whisper.
The moon has completely disappeared behind the clouds and the sound of the water sloshing gently against the dock, combined with the crickets chirping and the darkness brings an eerie feeling. My heart rate kicks into overdrive, and I wonder if I can make it back to the party despite the black. I’m not even sure what direction to start. “Gavin!” I call out again, this time slightly louder—but not too loud. I’m an avid watcher of horror films, and it’s always the girl who acts like an idiot, screaming and panicked, that gets slaughtered.
I’d rather not have slaughtered written in my obituary.
“Relax Luna. I’m here,” Gavin says. His voice has the magic ability to make me instantly relax.
“I got scared when you weren’t here,” I mumble, feeling only slightly embarrassed. Then I see him walking through a large clump of trees, carrying a small flashlight, and he’s holding… my blanket.
I smile.
“I went back to get a blanket. I didn’t want you to get cold.”
“That’s sweet,” I tell him, suddenly feeling warm all the way to my toes.
“Not really, I was cold too,” he says, stopping as he gets next to me. He’s got a different look to him than normal. At school he’s always looked so cocky—like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He always gives off the bad boy who will break your heart vibe, full force. Here, like this, he looks relaxed, self-assured but not arrogant, just… real. After years of viewing him as someone akin to a rock star, it’s a huge difference.
He’s… normal—incredibly good looking, cute, sexy and funny, but normal.
He could definitely be on the pages of Seventeen magazine and look better than anyone they’ve ever used. But still, he’s … normal… real.
And I think he likes me.
Me!
He sits down on the dock beside of me. I watch as he bunches up his jacket and puts it on the dock. Then, he spreads the blanket over both of our legs. Finally, he turns the flashlight off, throwing us back into the dark. Somehow, it doesn’t seem as scary with Gavin beside me.
My eyes adjust and I watch as he shuffles around, finally settling by lying down, his head on his jacket. His arm goes around my waist and he pulls me, so I lay too, positioning us so that I’m facing the lake, my back to his front. He holds me tightly pressed against his body.
I’ve never lain like this before. Spooned, warm and safe, tightly held, so close that I can feel his breath fall against my hair, as his arm cushions my head. I close my eyes and drink it in. Committing the entire moment to memory. I don’t ever want to forget it.
Ever.
“What was everyone doing back at the campsite?” I ask, not really caring, but wanting to hear Gavin’s voice some more.
“Still partying. Although your friend Jules was asleep and drooling on Randy.”
“I don’t know Randy,�
� I mumble, figuring that was the guy she was with earlier.
“He’s an asshole.”
“Maybe I should—”
“Your girl is safe enough. She’s not alone with him, besides he’s an asshole, but he won't hurt her.”
I frown, still not sure, but Gavin seems like he is, and I don’t want to move from the warmth of his body, so I let it go.
“I didn’t know you had a flashlight. That was smart.”
“I keep one on my keyring. So, not that smart. It would have been smart if I’d brought a sleeping bag or a pillow,” he jokes.
“Probably,” I grin. “Still it’s nice. I love this lake.”
“Me too. I come out here and sit on this dock to get away from Atticus and Dad. It’s peaceful.”
“You and Atticus don’t get along?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“How come?”
“That’s the hundred-dollar question, Babe. But I don’t want to waste time talking about my dick-head brother tonight. Not when I’m here with you,” he says, kissing the top of my head. I smile so hard that it could almost be painful.
“Fair enough,” I murmur, wondering if you can die from so much happiness.
“Are you sweet on my brother?”
“What?”
“You got a thing for him?”
“Of course not. If I did, I wouldn’t be out here with you,” I assure him.
“Some girls like to play games.”
“I don’t.”
“I didn’t think so,” he answers.
“Then why did you ask?”
“Because, I wanted to make it clear. Although, if I’m honest, he might be better for you than I am.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s more of what you want, Luna.”
“I think I know more of what I want than you do, Gavin.”
“I know you,” he says and for some reason the way he says it, makes it feel like maybe he does. I turn over on my back so I can see him.
“You’re so sure?”
“You’re a forever kind of girl. You don’t look at the present and just let things be enough, Luna. You plan, you dream.”