He ignores my discomfort. “Lover?”
“Silas …” I warn, my voice wavering as I try to maintain control of the conversation.
“Dog?” He laughs, shifting in his chair, pulling at the collar of his shirt as if it’s suddenly too tight. His neck and shoulders are broader than I remember, and I find myself momentarily distracted.
Without thinking, I murmur, “Your body’s changed a lot since school.”
Silas’s smile widens, clearly pleased with my slip. “Do you like what you see, Bunny?”
I clench my jaw, embarrassed by my own comment. “That’s not what I meant. I just … noticed.” I cross my arms, hoping to hide the heat rising in my cheeks. Why did I let that slip out? Awkwardness strikes again. He lets the silence hang for a moment, savoring my discomfort before clearing his throat.
“I need you in the meeting,” he says, his tone suddenly all business. “Take my calls, and if my father contacts me, let me know immediately.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You want me in there? With you?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?” His gaze sharpens, daring me to refuse.
Of course, it’s a problem! The last thing I want is to be trapped in a room with the Walker siblings. The thought of being scrutinized by all of them makes my stomach tighten, but I can’t show weakness. Not here. Not in front ofhim. “Not at all,” I say, swallowing my nerves.
“Good. Let me know when they arrive.” He turns his attention back to the computer, his fingers already tapping away at the keyboard. “That’s all, Lauren. You can go.”
I nod, gathering my things quickly, grateful for the excuse to leave. As I exit the room, I can still feel the heat of his gaze lingering on me, and I’m all too aware of the tension crackling in theair.
Back Then -Willow High School
The kids at school usually just ignore me. Thanks to Silas, I’m practically invisible to everyone. So, when Mateo sat next to me in calculus and asked for help, I couldn’t stop smiling. After class, he walked me to my locker, and we found out we were into the same bands. His favorite?Linkin Park—just like mine. That was it. We clicked instantly and became best friends.
Mateo’s vibe is different from anyone else at school. He’s always smiling, always kind, with this light in his eyes that makes me feel like things could be better, even here. His hair is always a little messy, and he couldn’t care less about what people think, which feels like a breath of fresh air in this place where I’m constantly trying to avoid attention. Especially fromhim.
“Hey, Lauren!” Mateo’s voice echoes through the crowded hallway, cutting through the noise like a song I’d been waiting to hear.
I turn to see him jogging toward me, his signature grin in place, his backpack slung over one shoulder, and—wait, are thoseticketsin his hand?
“Hey, Mateo!” I call back, still walking fast because I’m late for class. But he catches up easily.
“Happy early birthday!” he says, handing me the tickets.
I stop dead in my tracks, staring at them in disbelief.Linkin Park. They’re coming to town.On my birthday. I try to say something, but my throat catches. It’s like my voice has completely abandoned me.
“I saw them last year,” Mateo says, smiling nervously, “but we could go together this time, you know, like a date.” He stares at the floor, suddenly shy, like the fearless guy I know has vanished. I’m still too shocked to respond, so he starts to backtrack. “But if you’ve got other plans, I totally get it. No worries, I’ll just?—”
I cut him off mid-sentence, but instead of words, my body betrays me, and I awkwardly step forward, wrapping my arms around his waist in a stiff, unfamiliar hug. It’s clumsy, my arms unsure of where to land, and instantly, I feel out of place. I don’t like touching people—physical contact always feels too close, too much. But somethingabout Mateo makes it feel ... almost okay. His warmth radiates through me, and for a split second, I’m frozen in this strange bubble of uncertainty. I want to pull away, but at the same time, the softness of his shirt against my cheek, the gentle rise and fall of his chest—it’s unexpectedly calming, almost soothing.
But my awkwardness clings to me like a shadow, and I’m all too aware of how rigid my arms feel, how unnatural this must look. I don’t know how long a hug is supposed to last. Am I doing this wrong? I can feel my heart racing, the urge to flee surging through me, and just when I think I should let go?—
Over Mateo’s shoulder, I seehim. Silas. Leaning against his locker, arms crossed, eyes burning with disgust. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was ...jealous. The moment shatters, and I let go of Mateo immediately, my hands retreating like they’ve been burned. The last thing I need is Silas’s attention messing with this moment. I force my focus back to the tickets, ignoring the growing knot of anxiety in my stomach. “This is the best gift ever! Of course, I want to go!”
Mateo’s grin returns, but then there’s a loud bang behind us. We both turn to see Silas slamming his locker shut, hard enough to make the walls tremble. People around us stop and stare, the tension thickening, but I ignore him.I have to ignore him.
“Awesome. I’ll pick you up at five. We can get there early to catch the other bands. Sounds good?”
“Totally.” I nod, excitement bubbling up again. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to see them live! Thanks so much, Mateo. I owe you big time!”
“Nah,” he says, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “Hanging out with you is always fun.”
I blush, biting my lip nervously. My eighteenth birthday is in two days, and I’ve never even kissed anyone. Maybe Mateo will be my first. But I shove that thought away, trying to stay grounded.
I asked my mom to cancel all her plans for that day because something way more important than spending the afternoon with my aunt talking about knitting had come up. Mateo and I agreed he’d pick me up at five, but at five thirty, there’s no sign of him. I’m sitting on the front steps of my house, wearing my Linkin Park sweatshirt, ripped jeans, and my clear backpack, waiting. My heart starts pounding faster as the concert time approaches. I rush inside and grab the phone, dialing Mateo’s number. No answer.
