A chuckle leaves me. “So the blonde whose name I don’t even know?”
“The blonde,” he confirms. “Now, no more talkin’. Let’s go. Bass needs to hear, in person, how I’m the manliest man of us all, not that we’re surprised.”
With a laugh, we do exactly that, and not just me and Royce.
The whole damn family.
Exactly as it should be.
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Note From The Author
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I can’t believe we made it to the end!!! Those who discovered Royce for the first time with this book may not know this, but I have been in this world for almost two years!!! I have lived and breathed all things Brayshaw and writing THE END in a world that literally changed my life was SO hard! I cried. Several times. Stressed more than ever before.
Some may have noticed the tiny tweak in timeline from the previous sneak peek in Captain’s book (the start of Break Me was no longer four months prior to Cap’s HEA), and if you did, trust it was made for the overall benefit of the story. It had to happen and I’m so happy with that decision. I’m so proud of Royce and Brielle’s book, and I hope you are as well!
I just want to say that I am so grateful for everyone who took the time to read this book, and any others of mine you may have read as well! I knew from the beginning Royce would be last and that he would give me the most trouble, and man was I right.
Insiders scoop?
I wrote, rewrote, deleted, and flipped this book on its ass to get Royce’s story out the way he was telling it in my head. It was tough, my toughest challenge yet and I’m so extremely proud of the end result. Again, I hope you loved it!!
NOW! If you ARE new to this world, you don’t want to miss where it all began. You can find Maddoc and Raven’s beginning, Boys of Brayshaw High here: https://www.meaganbrandy.com/books
But before you go, I want to leave you with something that maybe you or someone you know may need, and that is the phone number listed below:
American Council of the Blind NATIONAL Hotline: 800-424-8666
A quote from their website (please note, I am not affiliated with this program. This has been included strictly as a resource for those who may need it): “The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.”
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DEMI
Chemistry, my least favorite subject, but the class I’ve looked forward to the most since school started last week, and even more so today.
Finally, we’re being assigned our lab partners, and I know exactly who mine will be.
Not counting myself, there are only three others left standing, two being uninterested, academically opposed football players while the third is second in our class, also on the team, but possesses the brains and the brawn.
It’s an obvious choice.
Mr. Brando looks to his paper, ready to announce another pairing, and I can hardly hold in my grin.
“Nico Sykes.”
I step toward Alex only to freeze, my frown cutting to Mr. Brando, who just read off the wrong name!
“Wait.” I glance from Alex’s tense expression to Nico, already on his way to the lab table. I turn toward Mr. B, keeping my voice low. “Are you sure? Shouldn’t I be with—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Ms. Davenport,” he cuts me off. “While I asked each of you to list the person you’d prefer as a partner, I gave no guarantees. So, if you are about to make a judgment call on one of your peers, I suggest you don’t finish your thought. I’m aware you’re a bit of a teacher’s pet, however, in my class, you won’t make, nor influence my decisions,” he states scornfully.
My ears heat in both anger and embarrassment, but my hair works as a shield to cover it, my expression giving no sign his words meant a damn thing.
Talk about a judgment call.
Asshole.
“Go, Ms. Davenport. Mr. Sykes is seated and ready to go.” He dismisses me, turning to the last two standing.
Defeated, I head for the back of the classroom where my ‘partner’ has chosen to sit – of course the last space up front wasn’t the one he wanted.
And ready to go? Please! He hasn’t even opened his backpack.
Nico is simply sitting there with his elbows on the tabletop, waiting.
As I approach, he pushes off the cement slab, now lazily leaning against his chair with those eyes, as dark and impassive as always, locked on me.
I stop in front of him. “Guess we’re stuck with each other all year.”
His gaze narrows. “Guess we are.”
When I don’t move, he drapes an arm over the back of my seat, tipping his chin.
“Sit down, D. I don’t bite without permission.”
A heavy sigh leaves me as I walk around, dropping beside him. “Sure you do. Third grade, Ms. Fisher’s class, and I’ve got the scar to prove it.” I flip him off with my ring finger, right where his bite mark was left.
“That’s called leaving my mark. I was smart at eight.”
“Too bad it didn’t carry over to eighteen, huh?”
He only stares, not a word spoken, no sign of a functioning train of thought on his flawless face.
I shake my head, pull out my materials, and set them in front of me.
Mr. Brando makes his way to the front of the room to go over how the class will work now that we’ve been paired up, but I lose track of what he’s saying when I notice Alex’s attention pointed in my direction.
He’s focused on Nico, so I peek over to find Nico hasn’t a clue. Or at least he pretends not to as his face is buried in his phone. When I look back, Alex’s stare slides to mine.
His shoulder lifts in a small shrug, and he nods toward Mr. B as if he doesn’t understand the teacher’s choice either.
For the last two years, he and I have been partners, and it’s worked perfectly. We put in equal time and effort, and the end result is less stress and a perfect grade.
This unpredicted switch, though, means I’ll likely have to pull double hours to make up for what, I’m sure, will be a consistently ill-prepared Nico, but hitting the books harder isn’t even the worst part of this.
Being paired with Nico puts a twist in my plan.
It’s senior year, and I was finally going to bite the bullet and go full schoolgirl mode on Alex, make my interest obvious since he’s never seemed to catch on. Yes, he typically dates the Round Robin girls, the ones who make their way through all the teams in the school depending on the season and don’t care about the commitment side, but still. It could happen.
We’re friends, we run in the same crowd for the most part, and usually go to the same parties. We both want to do well in school and sports and have a good time along the way.
We would work well together.
Alex begins to turn to face forward, but suddenly his glare cuts back to my partner.
In the same second, warm air fans across the hollow of my neck and my body responds to the heat, the knot in my stomach tightening even more when Nico’s unexpected whisper follows.
“Not that you could be more obvious, but don’t waste your time, D.” His voice is low and raspy. “He’s already chasing tail, Sandra Black.”
An instant frown forms, and I force my eyes to Nico.
“Been braggin’ about how he’s got it locked in at practice all week.” He shrugs, focusing back on his phone.
I glance to Alex again.
He’s observing Nico, a question I can’t decipher written across his face, and I don’t have much time to try either.
Mr. Brando walks up behind him, slapping a palm on his table to get his attention.
Alex turns around while I sit and trip on Nico’s words.
He’s not one for gossip, or conversation for that matter, so his bothering to mention it must mean it’s true.
Sandra Black.
Five-eleven, gorgeous caramel skin, and my competition for this year’s valedictorian, not to mention, the nicest person you’ll ever meet, Sandra Black.
Awesome.
I flip open my booklet, about to tell Nico what he can help with when his hand covers mine on top of my paper. My eyes flash to his.
“I got the answers.” He doesn’t look away as he slides his already completed packet over with his free hand. “You can thank me later.”
“Thank you?” I deadpan, attempting to tug myself free of his hold, but he presses harder. “For getting one of your fans to do your work for you?”
He shakes his head, a smirk now playing on his full lips.
“Nah.” His grip lessens, his fingertips dragging along my skin with their retreat.
My eyes fall to the contact, a heavy tension tugging at my muscles as I force my gaze back to his, but Nico is no longer looking at me.
His focus has fallen to my chest, and he takes his sweet time bringing it back, leaning the slightest bit closer as he does.
My frown deepens.
“For being the reason lover boy can’t stop slantin’ back.”
With his last word, an angry, almost annoyed, arrogance slips into his gaze, and I realize I’m being mocked.
“I don’t need your help getting his attention.”
“You sure about that? You’re not exactly the forward type.”
I glare. “Don’t pretend you know me.”
“Don’t forget, I do.”
“Did,” I correct in a low hiss. “Past tense.”
Nico leans forward, his frown sliding between mine with unmistakable tenacity, but his lips remain sealed.
I eye him a moment, slowly moving my focus back to my paper. “Whatever, I don’t care what you think of me.”
“Lies.”
His instant response has my head jerking his way again.
Now it’s him who glares. “You care what people think, it’s why you’re friendly to everyone when they don’t deserve it. Like Alex Hammons, for example.”
“It’s called human decency, you should try it sometime, and I didn’t ask your opinion, nor do I care what you think of me or Alex or anyone else for that matter.”
“You care he’s still lookin’ back?” he quips.
He is?
A quiet scoff leaves him, confirming my curiosity isn’t hidden well.
“’Course you do.” Leaning even closer, a tight scowl in place as he tips his head all cocky like. “Go on, D. Look at him,” he dares. “See if what I’m saying is true, you know you want to.”
My lips press into a firm line and I’m damn near twitching to know if he’s lying or not, but I cover my interest with a glare while commanding my eyes to my paper. It takes all my strength to keep them there.
Nico’s low, snide chuckle is proof my struggle isn’t lost on him.
I kick him under the table when five minutes later, he rasps, “Your boy’s lookin’ again.”
Asshole.
*Find and fall hard for Nico and Demi here:
meaganbrandy.com/fitybi
More by Meagan Brandy
Read Maddoc and Raven’s story --> BOYS OF BRAYSHAW HIGH
TROUBLE AT BRAYSHAW HIGH
REIGN OF BRAYSHAW
Start their story today: https://www.meaganbrandy.com/bobh
--
FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU BREAK IT
FUMBLED HEARTS
DEFENSELESS HEARTS
WRONG FOR ME
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Find these titles here:
https://www.meaganbrandy.com/books
Acknowledgments
There are so many to thank in this process!
To my readers, thank you! You are literally what keeps me pushing along when things get tough! I am so grateful for you and I hope you follow me into my next adventure...he’s really going to HEAT the pages!
Melissa Teo. My PA and main B! You always go above and I’m so thankful for that! You’re the only reason things get done and I’d be lost without all your help.
Serena and Veronica, love you girls and I’m so happy to have you on my team.
Ellie. Thank you for working on such a tight timeline and going beyond!
Lisa! Thank you so much for being an awesome friend and always being there when needed.
Danielle, my publicist! People don’t realize how much you do to make this amazing process go round. Thank you for all of it and more!
STREET TEAM! GIRLS!!! You guys forever shout from the rooftops. Thank you for being such a hard-working team, and most of all, thank you for making our groups such a fun and kind place to be!
Stefanie and Kelli! I appreciate you guys taking the time, especially during all the crazy right now, to read and help me through this process!
Sarah Grim Sentz! It happened with the first book in the series, and it’s only fitting it happened with the last. You were so beyond amazing and helpful. I can say with 1000% certainty this book would not be what it is without your help! THANK YOU!
To my review teams, thank you for wanting to be a part of this crazy ride with me, and taking the time to spend evenings with my words!
Bloggers and Bookstagrammers, thank you for participating and helping spread the word! I hope you loved Royce and Brielle’s story, and are here for what’s to follow!
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About the Author
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Meagan Brandy, writes New Adult romance books. She's a candy crazed, jukebox junkie who tends to speak in lyrics. Born and raised in California, she is a married mother of three crazy boys who keep her bouncing from one sports field to another, depending on the season, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.
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