The blush on her cheeks deepens as she responds softly, “Hi.”
Before I can say anything else, my twin runs up and grabs my future wife in a huge hug.
My forehead wrinkles, my eyes widen at their interaction. Wait. Reagan knows her. This could either work in my favor—or turn into a complete dumpster fire.
“Mackenzie! I’m so glad I found you. I see you met my twin, Jordan.” Mackenzie—the beautiful girl—stares back at me, her eyes a little wider than before.
“You’re Jordan?” she says it, and thankfully, it’s not with a sneer or disgust. I guess my sister’s been talking nice about me this summer.
I give her my best smirk, trying to play it cool while internally freaking out that this gorgeous girl is talking to me. “Yeah, I’m Jordan. It’s nice to meet you.” I stick my hand out to shake hers, like a freaking old man, but she immediately sticks hers out, and our hands clasp. A jolt rips through me at the contact. I don’t know what’s happening, but fire is running through my insides—and I kind of love it.
I pull back quickly and see it in her eyes—she felt it too. We stand there, locked on each other, while my sister blabs on and on about who knows what. I’d really like her to leave—but I’m not that lucky.
I finally tune in when Reagan says my name. “J, Mackenzie just moved to Carolina a few weeks ago. She’s going to Piedmont this year.” I give myself an internal high five. Piedmont is another high school in our county, just a few towns over. Looks like I’ll be seeing more of Miss Mackenzie.
“Is that right? I have some friends that are going there this year. I can introduce you to them sometime if you want.” Yeah, I am one hundred percent not introducing her to any of those guys, but if it means I get to be around her again, I’m all in.
“Thanks, I’d love that.” There goes that blush and I think I would do just about anything to see it again.
My ever-oblivious sister continues like she isn’t ruining our moment. “So, our parents are already talking over there and I think we are going to have y’all over for the Fourth of July next week! We can totally have sleepovers, too.” Reagan doesn’t have many close girlfriends because we have a famous dad, and people want to get close to him—and sometimes even me.
Mackenzie gives my sister a genuine smile and while I want to get to know her for myself, I’m happy that she seems like a real friend to my twin.
From across the way, I hear my mom. “Jordan, it’s time to go!” Of course, when I decide I don’t hate being here, she decides we’re leaving.
I hug my sister, then give Mackenzie a weird side hug that’s incredibly awkward, but also I got to touch her, so I’ll take the win. “See you in a few days, Sister. Nice to meet you, Mack.”
“Oh, you’re officially in, Mackenzie.” My sister gives her new friend a giant braces-filled smile. “Once Jordan gives you a nickname, there’s no escaping our group.” They both laugh, and I gotta say—this girl, Mack, she has the best laugh I’ve ever heard.
“Nice to meet you too, J.” She gives my nickname back to me and I’m flying high.
About an hourinto our drive home, Mom turns around in her seat. “What did you think of Reagan’s new friend?”
I think I’m going to marry her. That’s definitely not what I say. Trying to play my role I respond with a bored tone, “Which one?”
My dad starts laughing as he eyes me from the rearview mirror. “The one you were drooling over at the bonfire, Son. Mackenzie.”
Thanks for that, Pops. Now Mom is going to be all over it, and I’ll never be able to talk about anything else with her.
“Jordan! You like her?” I have never shown much interest in girls as anything more than friends because basketball takes up all my free time and then some.
“Mom. I’m not five. She’s cool and I think she’ll be a great friend to Rea.” There, hopefully that diffuses the situation a little.
“Uh-huh…” Dad. Throw me a bone here, dude. Bro code. I give him a glare, and he busts into a laugh that eventually makes my mom and I join him. The man’s an NBA legend but still has the goofiest hyena cackle around. You can’t help but laugh in return.
We pull into the driveway not much later and I head up the stairs to my room. My parents let us redecorate them this summer since we’re starting high school. Royal blue walls are covered in posters of all my favorite NBA players, from Jordan to Kobe to Curry. My dad built a few shelves that hold trophies and other awards I’ve received for playing. I outgrew a twin bed about a year ago, so now a king-size, four-poster bed takes up most of the space with a small side table and a desk over in the opposite corner.
It's too late to try to make an appearance at the party, so I change into sweats and a CTU Titans t-shirt before climbing into bed. Sleep evades me, and all I can think about is the blonde hair, blue eyes, and pink cheeks of the girl I can’t wait to see again.
CHAPTER
TWO
MACKENZIE, AGE 14
It’s officially the end of my first summer in a new town, and nothing is what I expected it to be. Having moved around most of my childhood, I was prepared to continue my long-time loner status, but Reagan Mills simply wouldn’t allow it.
I walked into summer camp reluctantly, to say the least. My mom thought it would be a fun way for me to get to know other kids, and she wanted me out of the way while all the house remodeling was going on. The first person I met changed my life forever. A pretty brunette with grey eyes and braces ran up to me and introduced herself. We’ve been attached at the hip ever since.
