Maybe I’ve read too many romance novels and have a false expectation for the reality of dating. I mean, for the sake of being honest, it’s not like the over-the-top declarations of love actually happen—except for in my best friend Savannah’s case. Her boyfriend, Grayson, really messed up before realizing his mistakes, and she made him grovel for his redemption .
Unfortunately, I’m not nearly as confident as she is. Somehow, while sharing a womb with my twin sister, Tessa, I ended up with all the angelic qualities like book-smarts and a moral compass. Tess, on the other hand, got the better personality. She’s outgoing, spontaneous, and absolutely wild. There are times that I wish I could be more like her… until she comes home in the middle of the night sporting a massive hickey, and I have to listen to our father scream at her until sunrise. Let’s just say he isn’t the biggest fan of her current boyfriend.
I’ve always been destined to be the innocent one. The one who never gets into any trouble. To say I’ve lived up to that expectation would be an understatement. I’m in the running for valedictorian. I get perfect grades. I’ve already been accepted to four different Ivy League universities. Anyone looking at my life from the outside would probably say it’s perfect, but they’d be wrong. Sometimes, I’m just itching to get out of my own skin. To be able to let loose for once. To not care what I’m doing wrong or how I could be doing better.
Writing poetry has become a secret hobby of mine—a way to let out all my pent-up emotions without doing something I may regret. I keep all my thoughts inside a leather journal, hidden away from the world. For my eyes only. Despite how much I trust my sister and my best friend, I don’t think they’d ever understand this feeling.
My bedroom door flies open, and Tessa comes in without a care in the world for my privacy. She throws herself down onto my bed and sighs.
“What if I was naked or something?” I ask.
She chuckles and rolls her eyes. “We’re twins, idiot. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“Fraternal twins, and that’s not how that works.”
Flipping over onto her stomach, she ignores my comment completely. “What are the plans for our birthday?”
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, like, are we being forced to go to some swanky restaurant for family dinner? Are Mom and Dad throwing us a party with all their friends and none of our own? What are the plans?”
“They haven’t told you?” She shakes her head. “We’re celebrating our birthday with them a week early. Apparently, Ainsley is getting an award for something, so Mom and Dad will be visiting her in Rhode Island.”
Tessa lights up like a firecracker. “Halle-fucking-lujah! Anal-beads turned out good for something after all!”
I can’t help but giggle at the nickname. “She will be livid if she finds out you call her that.”
“Don’t care.” She shrugs.
Our older sister Ainsley is the golden child of our family. One would think that would be me, but for some reason, no one can hold a candle to Daddy’s precious first born. She graduated first in her class a few years ago and earned herself a full scholarship to Brown University. The day she left was one of the best days of my and Tessa’s life. I love my sister, don’t get me wrong, but she tends to act less like a sibling and more like a parent—and that can get irritating.
“Okay, so, let me get this straight. We’re going to be turning eighteen, with this big-ass house all to ourselves?” The devious look on her face already has me on high alert.
“Tess,” I warn.
Her smile grows until she’s full on beaming at me. “We’re so throwing a party!” I go to protest, but she jumps up to cover my mouth with her hand. “Don’t say it! Come on, just live a little. Please. We are only going to turn eighteen once. And besides, do you really want to be the only freshman at college who hasn’t been to a party?”
I lick her hand, making her grimace and pull it away. “I have been to parties.”
“Oh yeah? When?”
“I go with Savannah to Jace London’s all the time.”
Tess scoffs. “Please. Those aren’t parties. They’re rich people get-togethers at best. I’m talking an actual, balls to the wall, no law left unbroken, rage until the sun comes up kind of party.”
Eyeing her carefully, I start to nod. “So, you’re looking to get our house burned down. Got it. Why didn’t you say so?”
“Ugh,” she groans. “You’re such a buzz kill. At least try coming to one before you completely rule it out.”
“I’ll pass.”
The idea of going to one of her boyfriend’s public-school parties makes me even more nauseous than the first time Savannah forced me to go to Jace’s. Tessa, however, doesn’t seem to be taking no for an answer. She juts out her bottom lip and pouts.
“This is why they call you Saint Delaney.”
Laughter bubbles out of my mouth. “No, it isn’t. Carter only calls me that because I won’t sleep with him.”
She throws her head back in frustration. “Laney, come on. Please? Just come to one. If you’re still completely against a raging birthday bash, I’ll consider throwing it somewhere else.”
“That sounds really assuring.” She doesn’t say anything—just gives me puppy dog eyes. “Ugh, fine,” I cave, and she starts to cheer. “But just one. If I don’t like it after an hour, I’m leaving.”
“Make it two and you have a deal.”
The counter offer is so typical of her. I roll my eyes. “Two it is.”
WALKING THROUGH THE HALLWAYS of the school I’ve spent the last four years at is bittersweet. On one hand, I can’t believe we’re graduating in only six short months. I don’t know what I’m going to do without this place. On the other, however, I can’t wait to get out of here. As people walk by, ignoring me like I’m invisible, it does nothing but remind me of the truth—I let high school slip through my fingers.
“Laney, there you are. Thank God,” Savannah, my best friend, says in relief. “Maybe you can talk some sense into Grayson.”
I cringe, knowing that regardless of what she’s talking about, there probably isn’t a thing I can say that will have any influence on Grayson. The four of us—me, Savannah, Grayson, and Tessa—go all the way back to pre-kindergarten days. I was four when Sav moved into the house next door. Before she came, Grayson was just the boy across the street I was always too shy to talk to. Once Savannah was around, though, she brought us all together.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple forever. Grayson moved away suddenly when his father was unexpectedly arrested, and Savannah’s life completely changed. In a matter of a year, I lost two of my closest friends. It was hard, especially when I came to Haven Grace Prep freshman year to see my former best friend for the first time in years—only she wasn’t the girl I remembered. She was cold. Heartless. Didn’t even look my way for a while. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I finally understood why. Now, I have both Grayson and Savannah back in my life, and I couldn’t be happier.
“About what this time?”
She crosses her arms and levels Gray with a look. “Grayson wants to have sex with his mom home, but I think that’s weird. Isn’t that weird?”
Gray runs his fingers through his hair. “Shout it a little louder, Savi. I don’t think the kids over at NHH could hear you.”
“Oh, please. Don’t be such a pansy.”
He snickers and takes a step toward her, wrapping his arm around her back and pulling her close. “Pansy, huh? Say it again and I’ll show you what a pansy I am.”
Like she always does, Savannah immediately melts into her boyfriend and smiles contently. It’s nice to see her this happy, and it’s no surprise at all to see these two end up together. Even when we were kids, they were just one of those things that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Salt and pepper. Grayson and Savannah. After the hell the two of them have been through, they deserve everything good in the world.
“Well, if
it isn’t my favorite saint,” a familiar voice says from behind me.
I refrain from rolling my eyes as I turn around. “Hey, Carter.”
Carter Trayland is one of the most popular guys at school. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a killer smile. He’s captain of both the football and baseball teams, but sports aren’t the only thing he plays. His reputation for sleeping around isn’t a secret to anyone, and somehow, his sights are now set on me. It would be endearing if I wasn’t certain the only appeal I have to him is the fact that he sees me as unattainable.
He wraps his arms around me for a quick hug, and the amount of dirty looks I get from other girls in the hallway isn’t lost on me. Meanwhile, the rest of the guys walk past us and over to their lockers.
“I can’t decide if your PDA is sickening or envy-inducing,” Jace comments, looking at Gray and Sav.
Grayson narrows his eyes at him and pulls Savannah impossibly closer. He’s caveman-level possessive with her, especially when it comes to Jace. There was a point in time where Sav used Jace to make Grayson jealous, and apparently he’s never gotten over it. Not even a little.
Savannah chuckles, knowing exactly what he’s thinking, and at the sound of it, he sighs. His head burrows into her neck, and I watch as his whole body relaxes instantly.
I wish I had someone who loved me as much as he loves her.
FIRST PERIOD DRAGS EVEN more than usual. Last semester, I had class with all of the few friends I have. This one, however, I’m not with them until third. Plus, I don’t think AP Calculus could be fun no matter who is in it with you.
As soon as the bell rings, I jump out of my seat and rush out the door. Tessa is waiting for me at the end of the hallway—the smile on her face makes me fear for my safety. She glances down at her phone and back up at me.
“Please don’t tell me you bought another puppy on the internet,” I say as soon as I’m close enough.
She throws her head back and groans. “That was one time.”
I keep my face completely stoic. “You blamed it on me.”
“It’s not like anyone believed me.”
“Still rude.”
Giggling, she shows me a text on her phone from her boyfriend. “Easton said there’s a party at Zayn’s this Friday.”
Crap. When I agreed to go to one of these with her, I didn’t think she would find one so soon. Then again, it’s Tessa, and I really shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve always wondered what she’s doing when she sneaks out of the house every night and asks me to cover for her. I guess this is it—crazy parties with her gang-banger boyfriend and his degenerate friends.
“I…” I hesitate. “I, uh, have something planned Friday night. I can’t go. Maybe the next one.”
Turning, I go to walk away but she stops me. “Yeah, I don’t think so.” She grabs my wrist and pulls me back. “You told me you would come to one with me, and this is perfect. I need time to plan our birthday party so I need your approval ASAP.”
I want to tell her no, to come up with some legitimate excuse that would make it so I don’t have to go with her, but I can’t. I promised her I would, and one thing we’ve always done is kept our promises.
“All right, fine. But you’re helping me get ready.”
Her smile beams brightly. “Deal.”
WITH MY CAR IN the shop, I hitched a ride to school with my sister. However, she wanted to leave and go directly to Easton’s after, so Gray and Savannah offered to drive me home. It’s not like they’re going out of the way. Savannah lives with Grayson now, right across the street from me.
“Want to get something to eat before we head home?” Sav questions as we get outside.
Grayson’s face says he’s completely down for it, and I could go for a bite. “Yeah, that sounds good. Where do you want to go?”
The three of us all toss out options as we stand in the cold, ruling each place out for one reason or another. It isn’t until Sav recommends hibachi that we all finally appear to be in agreement. Just as we’re about to leave, a voice rings out.
“Pretty boy,” someone calls, his eyes focused on Grayson. “I need to talk to you a minute.”
Savannah tenses beside me, and that’s when I realize who this guy is. Knox Vaughn. The first time I saw him was at Jace’s New Year’s party. When I asked Sav who he is, she simply told me his first name, that he’s trouble, and not to pay any attention to him. At the time, I couldn’t understand why she was so dismissive about it. He stood there with Grayson, looking so cold, but there was more to him—something hiding in his eyes.
I dreamed of him that night, and the next morning I started to do my research. It wasn’t hard to find out what kind of guy he is. His criminal record is longer than the essay I needed to write for my application to Yale, but all petty misdemeanors. I found out that he lives a few houses down from the shack Sav used to live in, which explained how she knows him, and that he’s the captain and quarterback of North Haven High’s football team.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Sav asks me as Knox hands Grayson his phone and Gray’s calm and collected attitude falters for a moment.
I shrug, trying not to get her stirred up. “Could be anything, really.”
A few more hushed words are spoken before Knox starts to grow angry. He levels Grayson with a look and tosses a final comment over his shoulder as he walks away. I watch as he crosses the street and gets into a car with one of his friends. Meanwhile, Grayson gets ahold of himself and comes back over to us.
“Everything okay?” Savannah questions hesitantly.
He smiles. “Yeah, everything’s great. So, hibachi?”
And just like that, the two of them leave the situation behind us. I, on the other hand, can’t seem to keep thoughts of Knox Vaughn from flooding my brain.
3
KNOX
Friday comes quicker than I had hoped, but I guess that’s what happens when you dread something as much as this. The fight on Wednesday only helped release a fraction of my anger and frustration. However, half of the five hundred dollars I won was spent on some high-quality weed, and that helped a lot more.
I’m standing behind the school, watching as the guys fuck around with a hacky sack, when an irritating brunette comes around the corner. In an instant, Easton stops what he’s doing and pulls her against him, kissing her deeply. She giggles against his mouth as he grabs her ass.
“Either get a damn room or stop practically fucking in front of me. I’m getting hard over here,” I tell them.
The two of them laugh, and Tessa takes a step back. “Nice to see you, too, Knoxie.”
My eyes narrow. “Call me that shit again. I fucking dare you.”
She doesn’t seem the least bit afraid, which means she’s getting entirely way too comfortable around me. Still, Zayn notices that I’m only half kidding and pulls the attention off me.
“You coming to the party tonight, Tess?”
Taking a hit off Easton’s cigarette, she nods before exhaling. “Yeah, and I’m bringing my sister.”
Surprise overtakes my features as my brows raise. “You have a sister?”
“A twin,” she clarifies, and my eyes rake over her body—wondering what qualities of theirs are the same. Tessa notices my expression and rolls her eyes. “Don’t get any ideas. You don’t have a chance in hell.”
I chuckle. “CBP, have you met me?”
“Are you ever going to tell me what the hell that nickname means?” Her tone reveals her frustration until she shakes it off. “Never mind. But seriously, Laney isn’t that kind of girl.”
“Laney? What the fuck kind of name is that?”
“It’s short for Delaney. I’m sure you’ll meet her later, but no messing with her. She’s my favorite.”
I raise three fingers in the air. “Scout’s honor.”
Zayn snorts as the rest of the guys try to hide their amusement. It’s no secret that I’m full of shit. If I want to fuck with her precious sister, I’ll do whatever I
damn well please. Orders from my friend’s fuck buddy are not something I obey.
I’M WALKING TO MY locker after third period when I spot someone leaning against it. Her back is to me, but I’d recognize that ass anywhere. I consider walking in the other direction until she turns around and her gaze meets mine. She smiles brightly and slips her phone into her back pocket.
“Hey, babe,” she greets me.
“Hailey,” I deadpan. “What are you doing here?”
Confusion graces her face. “Going to school?”
Immediately, I shake my head. “Cut the shit. I mean what are you doing at my locker?”
“I’ve missed you.” She reaches out to grab my hand but I pull it away before she can latch on.
“You mean Jason dumped your ass and now you’re crawling back.”
Hailey Waterman is toxic—the sludge from the bottom of a fucking barrel kind of mess—and the closest thing I’ve ever had to a girlfriend. I don’t do commitments by any means, and most girls don’t seem to understand that. Therefore, when I hook up, it’s a one and done kind of deal. Hailey, however, is the exception to that rule. We’ve messed around on and off since freshman year.
Every time she starts to develop feelings, she pulls some crazy shit to try to get me to make promises I know I won’t keep. So far, she has lied about being pregnant, dated guys in an attempt to make me jealous, and tried to have me jumped so she could nurse me back to health. This chick makes psychotic little Tessa look like an angel.
“Oh, come on.” Her pleading voice goes right through me. “Don’t be like that.”
“I’m not being like anything, Hails. I just don’t have time for your bullshit.”
With that, I push my way past her and straight out the side door. I need a fucking smoke.
WAITING OUTSIDE THE LIQUOR store for Grayson to pick me up is a harsh reminder that I should start saving money to buy a car. I could have borrowed Stone’s or even Zayn’s, but they both would have asked way too many questions. This is something I need to take care of without them. The less people who know about this, the fucking better.
The Saint: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Haven Grace Prep Book 2) Page 2
