Chapter one
Cameron shifted out of the bright Texas sun and into the shade. Behind him, the people in line did the same, inching closer to the building's shadow, all except for the guy in front. Standing directly in front of the hot barbecue grill and under the baking sun, the guy stood in a sleeveless hoodie, clearly unbothered by the heat.
Like a row of hungry ducks, everyone waited in line in front of the grill as the sweet smell of sizzling barbecued meat surrounded them, reminding them why they were out here on this hot August day. The Family Basket, Stardust Cove's main grocery store, had a tradition of serving barbecue in the parking lot on the weekends. With only the shade from the building and the promise of delicious barbecue, people endured the wait on the hot tarmac.
A man in a black apron stepped around from the open grill, his face gleaming from sweat and smiled at everyone in the long line. "Okay, it's almost ready." His eyes flicked to the first person in line, the guy in the hoodie, before settling nervously back on the rest of the people. "Umm remember it's first come first served," he called out, his voice wavering in a plea.
Cameron frowned at that. Pulling his attention from his phone where he had been scrolling mindlessly on social media to pass the time, he took a good look at the guy in front of him. The guy had yet to turn around or even shift the entire time. He just stood there as still as a statue.
Looking behind him, Cameron caught the confused yet worried looks of a few other people in line. They too were looking at the hoodie guy. Tilting to the side, Cameron tried to get a glimpse of the guy's face but the dark blue fabric of the hood was pulled too far forward.
A prickling unease crawled down his spine, one he only got from one person in the whole damn town. Who was crazy enough to wear a hoodie in August? Who else would make a grown man look so nervous? Cameron sighed and shoved his phone in his back pocket as all the evidence stacked up. He should've known. There was only one white boy crazy enough in all Stardust who fit the bill.
"Gavin, whatever you're planning, don't you even think about it!" Cameron growled.
Behind him, Cameron could practically hear the intake of breath from all the people in line as the guy in the hoodie finally turned around, revealing himself. Gavin Rosebank wore a maniacal grin, his shocking blue eyes meeting Cameron's before glancing to the people in line.
"I want to say sorry in advance," Gavin said with a smile that held not one shred of remorse.
Everyone in line groaned. Two men in the back just left, no doubt cursing Gavin's name as they stomped away.
Cameron glared back at Gavin's shameless grin. Even after three years of friendship with the lunatic, Gavin's bright ice blue eyes still freaked Cameron out. Maybe it was just the sheer brightness of the unnaturally blue eyes against his small dark pupils or the bubbling madness within them set against a six-foot four muscled-up rich kid; either way they were chilling.
Knowing what Gavin intended to do, Cameron shook his head and stepped closer to him. "I'm leaving with my order." Cameron vowed. He had been waiting all morning for their brisket; he wasn't going to let Gavin take it away from him.
"Yeah!" Someone in the back of the line shouted in agreement.
Gavin's grin grew wider and he shrugged apologetically. "As the man said, first come first served."
Cameron was just about to grab his so-called friend in a headlock when a voice spoke.
"Gavin," a clear feminine voice filled with gentle warning stilled both him and Gavin.
Standing there holding two large white bags was easily the most beautiful girl in all of Stardust County. Ebony Rosebank, stepsister to Gavin, heiress to the wealthy Rosebank family and the only person who could reign Gavin in with just one word.
Cameron swallowed while Gavin's eyes locked onto her. She was wearing small cut-off jean shorts and a white tank top with three little buttons down the middle of her chest. The sun caught bits of bronze flecks across her dark skin, making her shimmer in the light, as if she rubbed herself down with gold dust. She looked good—very, very good.
Ebony lifted the bags. "Come on," she urged. "I called in our order last night."
For the first time, Gavin shifted nervously. He looked back to the barbecue grill and back to Ebony with a desperate look on his face. "But did you get enough? You know I need a hundred and fifty grams of protein every-"
Ebony made a noise under her breath and swung around on her heel. Cameron's mouth went dry as he watched the muscles in her toned thighs ripple at the movement. But he wasn't foolish enough to be caught staring. Next to him, Gavin debated for a second longer before ditching the line and jogging to catch up with her.
"There better be enough," Cameron could hear him complain.
Everyone in line sighed in relief at Gavin's departure. They watched as the pair walked side by side, no doubt bickering as they got into their cars. Seconds later, the loud growl ofEbony's black 1977 Camaro came to life before pulling out of the parking spot, followed by an equally classic 1966 blue Ford Bronco.
Absently, Cameron placed his order and stepped to the side and waited. His mind was still on the Rosebanks. A little over three years ago the Rosebanks had been strangers to him. With the whole town being a new and unfamiliar place, he had entered the high school prepared for the usual awkward conversations and curious stares as the new kid. What he got instead was Ebony Rosebank greeting him in the principal's office. At the time, Cameron had no clue the weight of the Rosebank name. He just knew the warmth of the girl's smile as she guided him around the school. He didn’t understand the wide-eyed stares of confusion and the looks of clear warning when other students watched them walk together down the halls. Cameron had just focused on Ebony.
It wasn’t until he had a class to himself when he finally checked his phone—and frowned at the odd text and the accompanying link.
Unknown number:I suggest you read this, new kid. It's for your own safety.
www.reddit.com/r/WatchingTheRoses
It was a Reddit page with a little over a thousand members. He didn't even have time to read the about section of the subreddit because the most recent post was a picture of him walking with Ebony titled:New Guy, Read This.
Even now Cameron could remember the post word for word.
