"Get in the car, Kay." His voice was harsh as he snapped at her through the open window, the brown haired girl glared at him.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. Even if my mom said I had to. You know why?" Kayson paused and his eyes narrowed, "Because you're an ass." She pointed her finger at him and wiggled it slightly.
Then he acted as quickly as she blinked he was out of the car and was coming at her. Panic filled her, turning on her heels she took off into the house. Under her breath she whispered, "No. No. No." His footsteps got closer as she went, she had just made it to the stairs when his rough hand grabbed her wrist and stopped her from moving. Kayson looked at him like a child in trouble, "Why do I even have to come? Your 23! You can go by yourself, Cliff!"
"But your mom wants you to come get her with me." His grip eased and his eyes grew gentle. "It wont be that bad... I mean cheap motels and gas station food, but still not bad."
"But no Netflix."
"But I'll be there, you know you love me." With that and a small squeak he picked her up and threw her smaller frame over his shoulder, "Time to go."
****
When Kayson Jones mother got remarried to a jerk, she had no problem with his son (her new step brother) Cliff. But after two years their marriage goes down hill and they have to go to marriage camp leaving the two behind for a week. When Kaysons mom calls telling Cliff that his father just left her at the camp, he decides to go get her. He and Kayson are off to go get her mom and try to find his dad, but along the way they find that they aren't that different; and a romance starts to form.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]