In the charming town of Brookhaven, 17-year-old Charlotte Galloway finds herself at yet another new school, ready to navigate the challenges of fitting in once again. But this time, things are different.
With two captivating bad boys, Lucas Andrews...
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The late afternoon sun painted the parking lot of Brookhaven High in golden hues as I walked with Liam toward my white Honda Civic. The faint chatter of students drifted through the air, blending with the distant hum of car engines. I adjusted the strap of my bag, glancing over at my younger brother.
"So," I asked, a small smile tugging at my lips, "how was your first day?"
Liam shrugged, but the grin spreading across his freckled face gave away the fact that he was actually enjoying himself. "Pretty good, actually. I made some friends."
I stopped by the car, turning to face him. "Yeah, I noticed. You sat with a group of guys your age at lunch, right? I’m glad you’re already fitting in."
Liam nodded, his dark brown hair falling into his eyes. "What about you?"
I leaned against the driver’s side door, my fingers idly playing with the charm bracelet on my wrist. "Actually, yes. I made a friend this morning at my locker before first period. Her name’s Lucy, and she thinks we’ll be best friends."
Liam raised a brow, looking impressed. "That’s good. I was a little worried it might take a while for you to click with someone."
I gave him a teasing look. "You know me. I’m adaptable."
He smirked, folding his arms. "Uh-huh. Who were those guys at the table with you and Lucy at lunch?"
I hesitated, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh, them? One of them is Lucy’s twin brother, Lucas. The rest are his friends."
Liam gave me a long look, then his expression shifted to one of suspicion. "Any of them try to flirt with you?"
I felt my cheeks flush, and I crossed my arms defensively. "Err… Lucas did. But Lucy already warned me about him. Apparently, he’s a flirt, and there’s another guy in the group who’s also a bit of a player."
Liam’s jaw tightened. "Well, if Lucas gets too annoying, let me know. I’ll have a talk with him."
I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. "He’s not that hard to handle, Liam. I’ve dealt with worse."
His expression softened, though his concern was still there. "I just don’t want you getting hurt again… Remember what happened with Edward—"
The mention of Edward made my stomach churn, and I cut him off quickly. "I can handle Lucas," I said firmly.
Liam opened his mouth, clearly wanting to argue, but then thought better of it. I gave him a small, reassuring smile and motioned to the car. "Come on. Let’s get Grace before she thinks we’ve forgotten about her."
With a nod, Liam followed me into the car. As I started the engine, I couldn’t help but think about the conversation we’d just had. Despite my assurances, I knew my brother only wanted what was best for me. I just hoped I wouldn’t need his protection this time.
