Prologue
Mackenzie
Age10
“Do you have everything you need?”Mom asks as we walk up to Tracy’shouse.
“Yes, Mom. You already asked methat.”
She rings the doorbell and only a few seconds later the door swings open revealing a boy I’ve never seen. Instantly, my face flushes and my stomach turns at the sight of his brown hair and cuteface.
“Hello, are your parents home?” Momasks.
“Sure, come on in. Mom,” he yells as he walksaway.
Tracy comes running around the corner, grabbing my hand to take me into herroom.
“Give me a hug, sweetheart.” Mom reaches for me and wraps her arms around me tightly. “Be good tonight. Listen to everything Mr. and Mrs. Haydensay.”
“I know, Mom. Loveyou.”
Tracy pulls me into her room where she has every color of string imaginable set out for us to make friendship bracelets. Not long after we get started her door swingsopen.
“Tracy, don’t forget, I get the movie room tonight, Derek is coming over,” the same boy who answered the doorsays.
“Whatever, butt-face. You already told me that. Now get out of my room.” Tracy shoos himaway.
His eyes meet mine for a brief second before he leaves. My palms instantly turnclammy.
“Who was that?” Iask.
“Ugh. That’s my stupid brother, Connor. He’s soannoying.”
He’s so cute though, is all that runs through my head as I glance toward the emptyhallway.
1
Connor
PresentDay
As I pullup to my childhood home, I notice a few cars I don’t recognize. This was supposed to be a family get-together, so I’m a little confused about who could beinside.
I enter without knocking or using a key, still shocked my parents leave their doors unlocked. I've lived in San Francisco too long and have forgotten what it's like to be in a small town where everyone knows eachother.
My sister, Tracy, runs up. "There you are," she announces, wrapping her arms around me. "Happy birthday,bro."
I hug her back, smiling at her joy. It's been a few months since I've been back to visit. It's only an hour drive from the city, but with my crazy schedule, I don't get away as much as Ishould.
"Hey, squirt," I tease, winking when I turnaway.
She slaps my arm. "Stop calling me that. I'm twenty-five yearsold."
"You'll always be squirt to me. Sorry, it's a big brother’s right to call his sister whatever he wants. You should be glad. I can think of many other names to call you." I walk down the hall into thekitchen.
"Butt-head," sheyells.
"Dummy-face," I throw over my shoulder, laughing. It's sure good to beback.
