CHAPTER ONE
Phoenix
21 years ago
It was the first week of summer and I was at a field party with some of my buddies from the football team. If this one was going to be anything like the last two summers, we would practice every day during the week and find somewhere to party all weekend. Rinse and repeat. I wasn’t a huge fan of partying all the time, but this was the first one of the summer and I was pretty excited.
My best friend, Aaron, grabbed the cooler from the back of my truck and we made our way over to the other members of our team by the bonfire.
I was enjoying shooting the shit with the guys when Aaron nudged me with his elbow. “Those two over by Douchey Dave’s Camaro have been looking over here every few minutes. Let’s go over and talk to them.”
I really wasn’t interested in picking up a girl, but I was the dutiful friend and played his wingman. “Lead the way.”
“Dibs on the brunette.”
I rolled my eyes, thinking he didn’t need to call dibs because he could have whichever one he wanted. As we neared the girls and my eyes landed on the blonde, I was quick to lay claim to her. She was breathtaking. I quickly scanned her body from the golden blonde hair that fell below her shoulders leading to her ample chest, to her flat stomach and curvy hips, to her bare, tanned legs. As we got closer, her baby blue eyes flicked to me and her pouty lips curled into a shy smile. “Dibs on the blonde,” I muttered.
He slapped me on the back. “That’s the spirit, my man.”
Aaron sauntered up to the girls and introduced us. “Hello, ladies, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Aaron Marshall and this is Phoenix Black,” he said, extending his hand to the brunette with a smile that he’d used to charm the pants off many.
The brunette grasped his hand and returned his smile. “I’m Macy McManis and this is Annabelle Burnett.”
Annabelle shook his hand and turned her eyes to me. “Hi,” she said with a shy smile.
“Hi,” I repeated and proceeded to stare at her like an idiot.
Aaron cleared his throat. “So, you girls must not be from Croftridge because I would most definitely remember seeing your beautiful faces.”
Macy giggled. “I live in Cedar Valley. Annabelle’s family just moved to Croftridge last week.”
“Where did you move from?” I asked Annabelle.
“A little town not far from Reedy Fork.”
“Which one? I have some cousins that live up that way in Devil Springs.” When her cheeks turned pink and she ducked her head, I knew. “You lived in Crapper, didn’t you?” I asked softly.
She nodded. “I’m so glad we moved.”
She was obviously uncomfortable. Not only did Crapper have a shitty name, it was also a very poor town. I was afraid she was going to bolt, so I quickly changed the subject. “So, how did you girls meet?” I asked.
Macy started to answer, “Annabelle’s mother—”
“—and Macy’s mother work together,” Annabelle interrupted. Macy shot her a sideways glance, but didn’t say anything else.
“So, you’ll be going to Croftridge High in the fall?” I asked.
“Yes, I’ll be a senior.”
I smiled. “Me, too.” She looked down and shuffled her feet. “It must suck having to go to a new school for your senior year,” I said, trying to get her to talk to me.
She looked up and shrugged. “This will be my third high school, so it’s not really a big deal.”
“Oh. So, what brought your family to Croftridge?”
She grimaced. “My grandmother passed away and my mother inherited her house.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
