❝Why do always call me Cherry?❞
❝Because your lips taste like Cherries.❞
When teenage supervillain Havoc stands up to the head of the League of Villains, Colby Madden's family is forced to change their identities and relocate to a sleepy Texas subur...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
☡
𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐈𝐍 front of her vanity, the early morning sun spilling across her room in soft gold streaks. Her makeup brushes were scattered everywhere — eyeshadow palettes cracked open, mascara tubes rolling to the edge, lip glosses lying out like tiny soldiers waiting for orders. She tied her hair up with a loose scrunchie and leaned forward, dabbing concealer under her eyes.
She still felt warm inside from last night. Babysitting Malachi, Colby surprising her, the sweet things he said, the way he held her like she was the safest place in the world... it all still lingered on her skin.
She brushed on a sweep of highlighter and smiled at herself. She looked brighter today. Softer. Happier.
Her bedroom window made a tiny clicking noise — the same noise it always made right before it slid open — and she didn't even have to look to know who it was.
"Knock, knock," Colby whispered dramatically as he poked his head inside, his hair messy and sticking up like he'd run a marathon to get there. "Morning, sunshine."
Aveline laughed. "You really need to start using the door."
"I can't." He climbed inside, dropping lightly onto her carpet. "The window is tradition now. Part of my charm."
"You call breaking and entering charm?"
He grinned and walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as she applied a bit of blush. His chin rested on her shoulder, his breath warm against her neck.
"Well, I have other kinds of charm too," he murmured, kissing just below her ear before she could protest.
Aveline's breath caught, and she nudged him back gently. "Colby, I'm trying to finish my makeup."
"I know," he said, swaying her a little side to side like he was slow dancing with her reflection. "I'm just distracting you. It's fun."
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "What are you doing here this early?"
"Two things." His hands slid down to hold hers, and he spun her around to face him. "One: I missed you."
Her cheeks warmed instantly.
"And two..." His voice dropped lower, eyes lighting up with that mischievous sparkle she knew too well. "I scheduled us a date for later."
"A date?" Aveline repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Since when do you schedule things?"
Colby placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "I'll have you know I can be extremely responsible when it comes to you."
"Oh really?"
"Really," he insisted. "Like... I set an alarm and everything."
