The Foundation Series Box Set

by Kira Adams

  Before, the sight of my girlfriend naked could make me hard in a nano-second. Now, it just annoys the crap out of me. She snatches her purse from the ground and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “See you later?”

  “Sure.” I shrug, not even bothering to feign excitement. She whips her head around and takes off.

  Sophia Thompson, cheerleader, queen bee, socialite, and my girlfriend of four years. Most guys would kill for the opportunity to date her. I’m not most guys. Over time, I’ve grown to hate almost everything that makes up the person she is, and I’ve mastered the art of faking it.

  She’s stubborn, opinionated, rude, condescending, vain, and completely self-centered. She wasn’t always like this. I met her at the end of middle school and she was funny and fun to be around, sweet and even endearing. A lot has changed. Mainly, her popularity skyrocketed and her personality flat lined.

  I know I should break up with her, but I’ve grown used to our social status and the hierarchy. Everyone in school wants to date us or be us. Knowing this, makes it hard to dump her like the trash she is. Power has always been something I’ve loved controlling.

  The problem is, I’ve been hiding my true feelings for her for so long that I just don’t give a shit anymore. Faking it feels normal, so I continue on with the charade. I found out six months ago Sophia was fucking my best friend, Joe. It wasn’t even a surprise to me. I actually felt relieved. If he was giving it to her good then maybe I wouldn’t have to try so hard. It’s a fucked up situation, I know, but I feel numb about it all.

  I head downstairs and quickly begin setting the table. It feels like forever that my father has been sneaking around with his new girlfriend. I always thought I would have met her sooner, but good for him for getting the chance to act younger than he is.

  My mother died when I was just a baby. I don’t even remember what she looked like. My father has shown me plenty of pictures, but she’s always felt like a stranger due to the fact that I was too young to remember her. He’s dated a few women since, but it’s mainly just been the two of us. He owns a couple of car lots and is rarely ever home, so I’ve grown accustomed to being on my own.

  After setting the table, I help myself to a glass of water and glance at the clock on the stove. They should be here any minute. I wonder if his new lady will have kids. I wonder what she’ll look like. His past choices in women have been very eclectic. I’m not even sure what to expect this time around. I hear the garage open and my eyes lock on the door. Any minute now.

  I hear muffled whispers as car doors shut, and then shuffling of feet toward the door. Moment of truth. The handle turns and my father walks in, carrying his briefcase. His Armani suit is immaculate as always, and his dark hair is gelled to perfection. I peek my eyes around him and notice another man walking in. He is thin and pale with short blond hair and a more, laid-back look to him. He wears a blue striped button-down shirt and jeans. So much for dinner…I wonder who this guy is.

  “Topher,” my Father exclaims, startled. “I didn’t know you were there.”

  I nod, my eyes dancing between my father and his unfamiliar friend. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

  My question seems to make him uncomfortable. He clears his throat before speaking. “Do you want to sit?”

  Why is he acting so strange? I shake my head as if to say no, then fold my arms across my body.

  “Um, Topher, this is Clarke,” my father introduces us, and his friend extends out his hand apprehensively for me to shake. I take it, and it’s seriously the most puny hand shake I’ve ever received.

  “Hey Topher, I’ve heard so much about you,” Clarke says smiling slightly.

  I nod stiffly. “Do you work at the lot?”

  Clarke swallows, his adam’s apple jumping up his throat. “No.”

  Okay. Now I’m confused. “Then how do you guys know each other?” I address the question to my father.

  He sets his briefcase down on the kitchen counter, taking a small step toward me. “Topher…” The way he says my name makes my heart race, leaving me uneasy. “Clarke and I…”

  My mind instantly goes into overdrive. What. The. Fuck. My eyes shoot back and forth between my father and Clarke. No fucking way…

  “Topher,” my father says again, concern lacing his voice.

  “You’re a fucking fag?” I exclaim angrily, pounding my fist into the granite countertop.

  My father’s eyes widen and I see a flash of hurt pass across them. Clarke gasps at my outburst.

  “I will not have you talking that way to me in my own home!” my father cries out angrily.

  “This has to be some bad fucking dream. This is not my real life!” I throw my head into my hands, my body beginning to convulse. I feel someone’s hand lightly touch me and I throw myself back before realizing it is my father. “I have somewhere to be…” I mutter under my breath as I turn my back to them and race back up the stairs.

  I can hear my father calling out after me but my body is on autopilot. Before I even know what is happening, I’ve grabbed the keys to the Porsche and I’m out the door. I don’t think I’ve ever driven this fast in my life. I know I should slow down but I want the image that is seared across my mind gone. How can my father be…how…none of it makes any sense.

  My phone is vibrating in the pocket of my jeans. I pull it out and see that it’s my father. I chuck it to the floorboard of the passenger seat angrily.

  This can’t be my life.

  I end up at Sophia’s out of habit. Her red Mustang is in the driveway so I know she’s home. I jump out of my car and quickly make my way to the door. I pound harder on it than I intend to. Luckily, I notice her sandy brown hair coming to answer it.

  “Topher?” she says, confused. “I thought you had to do dinner with your dad?”

  “Screw my dad,” I reply, letting myself in and pulling her into me. I cover her lips with mine, kissing her more passionately than I have in a very long time.

  “What was that for?” she asks breathlessly, as I break off the kiss.

  “I know I’ve been distracted lately, but I want you. I want you now.” I pick her up in my arms, and slam her against the door, kissing her neck, her jaw.

  I need a distraction.

  Sophia’s breaths are becoming labored. “Topher…not here.”

  I put her back down on the ground and she reaches for my hand, pulling me further into her familiar household.

  “Hi Topher,” I hear her mother call out from inside the kitchen.

  “Hi Mrs. Thompson,” I shout back as we continue to make our way to her bedroom.

  After we are securely inside and the door is locked, I throw her onto the bed and pounce onto her.

  “What has gotten into you?” she asks, playfully.

  “Less talking…more action.” I don’t want to think about anything that transpired earlier at my house. All I want to do is have fucking sex.

  “Okay.” She giggles and then I shut my mind off. My body goes back on autopilot and I give an award-winning performance. Unfortunately for me, the distraction is short-lived and before I know it, I’m back in my car pounding my steering wheel with my fist. I know I can’t avoid my house forever…but I never saw this coming. I can’t even imagine the response if I tell Joe or Sophia about what happened. I’d never be able to separate myself from the stigma. The problem is, I don’t actually mind gays…but my father? I’ll never live it down. Everyone in my high school will find out, and I know my life will become a living hell. I know it’s not about me, but, all I can focus on is the repercussions of his choices, and how they will affect my comfortable life.

  * * *

  “Dude, Sophia Thompson is staring at you,” Joe whispers, chuckling.

  I take a bite of my bologna sandwich and then glance over my shoulder. Sure enough, green eyes are staring directly at me. A blush takes over her face when she realizes she’s been caught.

  I shift my eyes back to Joe. “What do you know about her?” I’ve on
ly been in Oregon for the past seven months. We moved from California because of my father’s line of work. He’s a businessman. He owned multiple car lots across California and sold them all before we moved. He opened a new one in Portland, and that’s where he’s been ever since.

  Joe glances at Sophia as if he is studying her, and then back to me. “She’s about to be initiated as one of us, but first we have to pry her away from her best friend.”

  I glance back at him inquisitively. “Why would we need to do that?”

  He chuckles like I’ve said the most ridiculous thing in the world. “Have you seen who she hangs out with? We have an image to uphold, bro. Do you want to be popular or not?”

  I shift my eyes back to Sophia and to her right. There is a blond haired girl seated beside her. She has braces on only her front four teeth, and her hair is a tangled mess. She is wearing overalls that are ripped up in multiple places. I can see why Joe wouldn’t want to be seen with her. We’d be the laughing stock of the school.

  When I first got here, being popular wasn’t important to me, but after you reap the benefits of being one of the school’s elite, you never want to go back. I’m invited to a least three parties a weekend, I know of a handful of girls who have crushes on me, and I have a group of nerds who do my homework just because I ask them to. Life is seamless and easy.

  “So, what’s the game plan?” I ask, ready to follow whatever ridiculous plan my friend comes up with.

  Acknowledgements:

  I just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who gives my characters and my writing a chance. If it weren’t for you, I’m not sure where I would be right now. Thank you for loving Peyton and Jace as I hoped you all would.

  So much of myself, my world, my friends, and my life was weaved throughout The Foundation series and it’s always so comforting when I’m told by readers that they can relate. Most people love me or hate me, there is not really a middle ground…this is how most readers felt about Peyton. I’m glad so many of you could see the strength and courage in Peyton, and the heart and pure selflessness of Jace. Jace is one of the only characters in the series that was not based off of someone I know in real life. He was my portrayal of what I’d love to have seen back in my high school days. I was never bullied or terrorized to the extent Peyton is throughout this series, but just the way he cares about her is beautiful.

  Thank you for giving me an outlet to post my lyrics. Words mean everything to me, and I am working at becoming a master wordsmith.

  I can’t tell you that this is the end for #Jayton, because I’m not sure it is. I can tell you that they are happy, and maybe someday in the future we will get another glimpse into what they are up to. Until then…

  You can find the original DarienMae tracks here.

  Don’t forget—if you’re not doing something you love, you’re not really living.

  Kira Adams

  About the author:

  Krista Pakseresht has always been a dreamer, from the first time she opened her eyes, creating worlds through words is one thing she is truly talented at. She specializes in Young adult/New adult romance, horror, action, fantasy, and non-fiction under the pen name Kira Adams. She is the author of the Infinite Love series, the Foundation series, the Darkness Falls series, and the Looking Glass series.

  Want to stay up to date with all the new releases, cover reveals, never-before-seen-excerpts, and more? Sign up for the Kira Adams newsletter here.

  Books by Kira Adams:

  The Infinite Love Series

  Learning to Live (Ciera & Topher)

  Life After (Destiny & Topher)

  My Forever (Madalynne & Parker)

  Beautifully Broken (Jacqueline & Lee)

  Against All Odds (Austyn & Avery)

  The Foundation Series

  Pieces of Me

  The Fighter

  The Road Back to Us

  Darkness Falls Series

  Into the Darkness

  Emerging from Darkness

  Standalones

  A Date with the Devil