Lies, Secrets, Love

Introduction- 1

A/N: to describe this book, it's a forbidden love, age gap romance. PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION FOR IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFO BEFORE STARTING THIS BOOK

Jasmine felt like an only child and she preferred it that way, she could keep to herself. But the truth is that she wasn't. She has 4 older siblings all boys except for her older sister Hailey who was the oldest of all of them. The age gap between Jasmine and her sister was 11 years but it never seemed to effect the sisterly bond they shared. Whether it was Jasmine's maturity or the fact they are the only girls they were always close.

          It was a regular Friday night and my parents dragged me off to another family gathering. Something that was all too frequent since I am their only kid still living with them. As we made the drive to my oldest sister's house, I was entranced by the Mac Demarco songs blasting through my AirPods. I made sure to have the volume on max and noise cancellation on full effect to drown out my parents nagging and bicker towards eachother.

         The song was in the middle of the chorus when it was interrupted by the familiar ping of a message. Ughhh I thought to myself as a dragged my phone out of purse. A message from my brother Hayden was plastered on the coastal wallpaper of my Lock Screen. "Hey I don't work for a few days would you wanna visit me in Minnesota for the weekend? I can just bring you with after the family thing at our sister's house."

I smiled to myself as I read the message. I have wanted to visit him since he got that house with his friends but never had the chance, and here it was. Not only could I visit my brother but I could escape my parents for a few days. Despite popping out so many babies they hated each other. This trip could give me a break of freedom from the constant stress I experience at home. But then realization hits me and my smile fades. I hadn't packed a bag. We are already halfway into the hour long ride to my sisters house and there is not shot I could get my parents to turn around now.

As the pit of disappointment swells in my stomach I open the message log and start typing. "Yeah of course! But I didn't pack a bag could we drive back to our parents house to pack one?" I quickly hit sent and anxiously waited for a reply.

I chewed on my swollen bottom lip and watched a new message pop up. "Ugh Jaz I'm not driving all the way to Mason city Iowa just for you to pack a bag and then drive all the way back to my house. That's a 3 hour drive. You can just borrow some of my Jenna's clothes while she is out of town." He responded.

"I don't want to use your girlfriend's clothes I'd feel bad. That's her stuff. I'd be a burden" I said.

"I already texted her and she says it's alright. You've known her for five years it's not like you're borrowing a strangers clothes."

A looked at the message. Quietly amused by the stubbornness the inhabits my brother. A trait we clearly both received from our parents. The most stubborn people alive. "Ok ok, that works tell Jenna I said thank you." I hit send and all my previous excitement returned.

I love Minnesota especially just outside Minneapolis where my brother lived. I haven't visited him yet but I have been in the area before and love it. Something about the town was different from mine.

Better.

We arrived at my sisters house and spent hours catching up and playing the familiar games that were the building blocks of my childhood. Over the years my slap jack skills have improved more than all my siblings and I can confidently say I'll win every time.

As the day came to an end and everyone's stomachs were empty and in need of refueling I left with my brother and began the drive to his house.

"So what do you have with you?" My brother asked as we pulled out of the driveway and onto a main road.

I rummaged through my purse to make a mental checklist and came to a conclusion. "Airpods, gum, mascara, lipgloss, blush, mini perfume, mini deodorant , my phone, and my wallet."