THAT FIRST BREAK (Broken Redemption Prequel 1)

Chapter 2

Lucas

Arriving in her backyard, I spot Embree, Jen, Nic, and Hannah sitting at the picnic table, talking in whispers. At the other end of the yard, Ben, Parker, and Will, stand together, laughing and cracking jokes.

As soon as I enter the space, the magnetic pull between Embree and me draws our eyes together. It's like we're peering straight through each other's skin down to the place that holds our souls.

It happens every time.

Like an out-of-body experience.

No matter where we are or who we're with, the second we get close, our eyes lock. Like we can't not look. Like we're tethered by something neither of us understands.

Though my feet carry me toward the guys, I can't help but smile at her. It's the blush that colors her cheeks that finally forces me to look away. The pleasure I get from knowing I have that effect on her is instantly swallowed by shame. I know I can't have her, so why the hell can't I force myself to stop reacting to her this way?

"Hey man, you get that stick out of your ass?" Ben smirks as he slaps me on the back.

"Look, I've told you before. Keep your hands off the girls. Jen and Embree are mine. My family. Mine to protect. I know exactly how you all treat the girls around here, and I won't let anyone treat them like that."

"Dude, we're just having a little fun. You need to lighten the hell up." The free spirit, "yolo" asshole Parker pipes in like he hasn't noticed how close he is to getting throat punched. It takes everything in me not to swing first.

Stepping into his space, I meet him head-on. At 6' 4", I'm a few inches taller, so forcing him to look up at me feels like a power move.

"Let me clarify this for you, asshole. Have your fun somewhere else, not here, and not with these girls. You got that? That goes for all you fuckers." Though my voice is low and steady, my tone leaves no room for argument. Having known me most of their lives, they can tell I mean business.

Parker steps back with his hands in the air and that arrogant grin he always wears. "Good lord, if it's like that, why don't you make your move already?" He smirks, the dumb fuck loving every second he gets to test me. "I'd be happy to take Becca off your hands if you need the help. Platonically, of course. Bro code and all that."

"Consider this my move, Parker. Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From the girls. Becca, Embree, and my sister. Matter of fact, you can add Nic and Hannah to that list, too." I include all my sister's friends for good measure, keeping my voice even so none of them see how close to the edge he's pushed me.

"Oh really? Now you're calling dibs on Ben's sister, too? And Hannah? Damn. Who knew golden boy Lucas Holt was such a player?" He laughs like this is all one big joke.

"Leave Nic out of this, Parker. Matter of fact, keep my sister's name out of your mouth." Ben steps in beside me, his voice edged with warning. "Lucas is right. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, so go dip your dick somewhere else and leave these girls alone."

As always, my best friend has my back, even as he side-eyes me with that look that says, What the hell is going on with you?

"Okay, boys, time to put an end to this dick-measuring contest and get back to what's important." William Keller, the fourth member of our group, steps between us to break the standoff. "It's our first night of summer break. So, are we doing this or what?"

The "this" he's referring to is the annual Start of Summer Break party hosted by Amanda Kline. She's the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in town, the most popular girl in school, and—according to Parker—every man's wet dream.

To me, though, she's nothing more than a spoiled rich girl who uses her looks and status to manipulate people while feeding off the insecurities of every girl around her. She has zero respect for anyone and even less regard for how her bullshit affects everybody else.

"Let's do it, boys. As history has shown time and time again, it's the only way to start the summer off right." Ben bounces on his toes as though he can't contain his energy.

"You all go. I'm staying back with the girls." I say, nodding toward the picnic table where Embree and Jen still sit.

It's the first night of summer, and all I want is to spend a chill night down by the lake. A party surrounded by loud music, teen angst, and a bunch of drunk, irresponsible idiots doesn't sound all that appealing to me.

"Isn't Becca going to be there?" Ben asks, his eyebrows raised in a hopeful question. By bringing up my girlfriend, he's signaling that he wants to go, but won't if I decide to hang back.

"Hey, Jen, you guys are going to Amanda's party, right?" Parker yells to my little sister across the yard before I can answer Ben.

Immediately, my gut twists at the thought of my sister and her friends—okay, fine, my sister and Embree—going to that party and being surrounded by all the drunken bullshit that comes with it.

"Yep, we're all going." Jen smiles, her eyes locked on mine, like she's daring me to say otherwise. "I already talked to Mom about it."

It's a lie.

It has to be.

There's no way in hell she talked to Mom. If she had, Mom would have told me.

"You did not—"

"Come on, Lucas. Please. Let's not argue about this," Embree interrupts as she stands and walks toward me.

Her long, wavy hair flows in the breeze, matching the slow, sexy rhythm of her body as she moves. Like magic, our eyes connect, and it's like I'm caught in a trance.

"Let's all go together," she whispers as she reaches me, standing only a foot away—close enough that I can smell that sweet, summery scent I can never get enough of. "After the year we've had and how busy we've been, we deserve this. I've missed you guys."

Then, looking around at each of the guys, she adds, "Plus, with the four of you graduating and heading off to college next year, it's our last real summer together. This is our last chance."

In that instant, my body responds as though the "last chance" she's talking about has everything to do with us. Me and her. My heart starts racing, and a rush of heat rolls through me so strongly I wonder if I'm blushing.

God, I fucking hope not.

Worst of all is the pressure building in my shorts as my dick swells, like her words were meant for him—and what she really meant was that this is our last chance to finally get what we want.

Fuck. Becca.

Stop being such an asshole and think about your goddamn girlfriend!

"Fine," I grunt, clearing my throat to shake the gruffness out of my voice. "I'll talk to Mom. But we only stay until ten, and if there are drugs or if things get too out of control, you two," I point at Jen and Embree to make myself clear, "are out of there. Understood?"

"Yes. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Jen runs up and wraps me up in a hug, but it's Embree's eyes I can't tear myself away from.

The happiness radiating from her face fills my insides with something I can't even name. All I know is I want to see more of that look in her eyes. I want more of that smile, the one that feels like a sunrise and sunset all wrapped into one. A smile so breathtaking that, for a moment, all I can see, hear, and breathe is her.

"Okay, let's go," I say, sending one last threatening glare at Parker before turning on my heels and following the girls to Amanda's house.

I'm not happy about the plan, but I'll go.

Because it means more time with the girl who reminds me, there's more to life than hard work and responsibility.