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ANYA

Three Years Ago

MY BEST FRIEND HUFFS beside me, drawing me out of my sleep. I blink groggily. We’re sunbathing by the pool, and I must have drifted off at some point. Phoebe pushes to a seated position, stretching her long arms out in front of her. Her skin is tanned and smooth, and her hair so streaked from the sun, it looks like she’s had highlights. She has the most startling blue eyes I have ever seen, and they’re intimidating as hell when aimed in my direction.

‘You have the best life,’ she says, and I can’t quite decipher her tone as she lowers her sunglasses, eyes skimming across the backyard before sliding them back up.

‘I do?’ I question, reaching for the iced latte perched at my side. The condensation has left a perfect ring on my towel. I bring it to my mouth and take a long sip. It’s bordering on undrinkable, but I still enjoy it.

‘Look at this pool. This house.’ She gestures her hands in front of her. ‘And, like, you hang out with the two hottest boys in school, and no one will ever give you shit because of that.’

‘One of those is my brother,’ I point out, wrinkling my nose.

‘So? It doesn’t change my point.’

‘I am very grateful for what I have. You have a nice place too. You and your mum are literally best friends. Not many people can say that.’

‘We live in a cramped two-bedroom apartment.’ She scowls, lying back onto her elbows. ‘Far from nice .’

Phoebe and I have different understandings of what makes a home nice, but I don’t have the energy to argue with her. She argues just for the sake of arguing, I’m sure of it. Besides, we only have this house because my stepfather owns it. Before my mum was with him, we lived on the South Side, known for being the worst part of town, in a house that was falling apart around us.

I tap on my phone and the screen brightens. I glance at the time.

‘I gotta go,’ I say, practically leaping to my feet.

‘Of course you do,’ she says, and a look crosses her face that makes me pause for a moment. She shoots me a teasing smile, and I relax, wondering if I imagined seeing something.

‘I did tell you I had plans before you invited yourself over.’

‘Yeah, yeah.’ She exhales, flopping onto the towel. ‘I’ll still be here when you get back.’

‘Okay,’ I reply. ‘I’ll bring us back some iced coffees.’

‘Appreciate you.’

Making an excuse to get out of the house, to spend time with Mason, was fairly easy. Considering I spend most of my time reading or studying at the library, everyone is used to me being out. And he is often at work – conveniently located just up the road – so getting alone time together isn’t much of an issue.

‘Hello, Anya,’ Mrs. Taylor greets me, her warm smile prompting one from me. Deep wrinkles border her eyes and the corners of her mouth. She is dressed in a fuchsia top with matching earrings and lipstick. Her wardrobe must be an entire rainbow with the vibrant colours she always wears.

‘Hi, Mrs. Taylor.’

‘You have some books to return?’ she asks, putting down the book in her hand. Nodding, I shrug off my bag, and pull out the three I borrowed last week. She peers at me over her half-moon spectacles, giving me a pointed look. ‘You have that young gentleman waiting for you at the back.’

A wide grin breaks through and I duck my chin, trying not to show my reaction, even though it’s too late. ‘Oh?’

‘Mmhmm,’ she hums, eyebrows raised. ‘That boy never sets foot in here unless you’re around, you know.’

My cheeks are flaming red as I step back and try to shield them with my hair. ‘I’ll be back soon. With more books.’

‘I don’t doubt it.’ She smiles, her gaze burning holes in my forehead. ‘Off you go. Behave.’

I basically trip over my own feet as I rush down the aisles, towards the right-hand corner of the library. My heart stumbles in my chest when I see Mason’s long frame come into view. His messy hair is hidden with a black, backwards cap. He’s dressed in the plain black clothing he wears to work. With the afternoon sunlight filtering through the blinds, his tall, muscular body perfectly proportioned and a book in his hand, he looks soft and casual, which is my favourite look on him. He gazes down at the book with a relaxed, unguarded expression, the usual tension in his shoulders momentarily gone. I wish I could frame this moment and hang it up on my bedroom wall. He is so damn attractive; I can barely function when I’m around him. I love that I get to see this side of him; I’m almost positive no one else does.

‘Good book?’ I question, leaning against the shelf, trying to appear nonchalant and most likely failing.

Grinning, he snaps the book shut. His eyes drag slowly over my legs, up my torso, before settling on my eyes.

‘Yes, actually.’ He takes a step towards me, and my heart thumps loudly in my ears. He holds the book out, and when I take it, his thumb runs up the length of mine. We’re both single right now, and the tension between us is palpable. We have been fighting this pull between us – or at least he has been – but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore. I don’t want to ignore it. Not anymore. ‘I read it and it made me think of you.’ His fingers trail up my arm, and I shiver at the touch. He leans closer, and I breathe him in.

‘What’s it about?’ I murmur, eyes fluttering closed as he inches towards me.

His lips move to my ear, and his warm breath brushes against my earlobe.

‘A boy who falls for a girl he isn’t supposed to,’ he whispers, and I release a shaky exhale. ‘But inevitably, they can’t avoid falling in love.’

Swallowing, I keep my eyes closed, breathing hard. ‘It sounds like a good read. Does it have a happy ending?’

He cups my right cheek in his hand, and I lean into it. He lightly presses his lips to my left cheek. He trails soft, lingering kisses across it, over my nose, and onto the other cheek. He loves doing that. Kissing my freckles.

‘Yes, Blush,’ he whispers, causing goosebumps to scatter over my entire body. ‘It does.’