PROLOGUE
KEEGAN
“Keegan! Are you ready? People are starting to show up!” Nolan, my twin brother, shouted from downstairs.
Adjusting my glasses, I took one last look in the mirror.
I decided to end my high school career by putting more effort into my appearance, just this once—a very subtle suck it to everyone who underestimated me for the last seventeen years.
My younger sister Maeve was more of a girly girl than I ever was, so I enlisted her to help with my hair and makeup.
Thanks to her efforts, I was sporting a very tasteful smokey eye and perfectly bouncy curls.
I wore a pair of skin-tight jeans that frayed at my ankles and a cropped t-shirt that my older sister, Ryleigh, made for me.
The shirt was split—half Coastal Crest University and half Columbia University—since it was tradition in the Kelly family to rep the school that you planned to attend in the fall for part of your party. I was still undecided.
“Coming!” I shouted back and headed downstairs.
As I took in the crowd, I felt myself starting to shrink away.
Our entire high school was here; every kid I had ever seen in my life was currently in the backyard of our Hartford, Connecticut home.
My dad went all out for the party—as he did for every celebration these days.
There was a big main tent set up with various sizes of tables and chairs, a full buffet on the right, and a full bar off to the left side.
Servers with hors d’oeuvres were moving around the yard in a coordinated rhythm, ensuring our guests were constantly supplied with options to soak up the vast amounts of alcohol being consumed.
The sun was starting to set and a DJ was currently setting up in front of a black-and-white tile dance floor that my dad had laid out this morning.
Despite my nerves, I confidently walked around the party and mingled with family members and friends over the course of the evening.
I dodged questions about my half-and-half shirt and looming college decision, keeping the conversation light about my plans for this summer.
Where I would spend the next four years was constantly on my mind and I just wanted to enjoy my party without the pressure.
By the time the sun was setting, the adults had all but filtered out. It was time for the epic—albeit cliché—end-of-high-school rager to begin.
I snuck back into the house to change. Despite the reservations that everyone had only ever seen me in oversized t-shirts and hoodies that usually belonged to my brothers or Luke, I planned to look different tonight.
I planned to Laney Boggs the shit out of this party.
After bugging me for literally non-stop, Maeve convinced me to put in the contacts that I bought but rarely wore. She also spent a whole month pressuring me to finally wear the fitted corset top that I spontaneously bought after it went viral on social media.
Taking a deep breath, I hazarded one more glance at myself in the mirror, taking in the cute lace and mesh top. I looked like someone else—someone more confident that I could’ve been if I didn’t care so much what people thought. With one last coast of lip gloss, I headed back downstairs.
When I stepped back out onto the patio, I was suddenly very aware of the way that the stiff lace fabric felt against my skin. My thoughts raced.
This was a stupid idea.
Why do I even care what these people think?
Swallowing some of my fears, I held my chin up high and continued into the party.
Much to my horror all eyes were suddenly on me, and my very well-displayed cleavage that most of them probably had no idea existed.
I made my way over to a bar nestled between two overly tall shrubs.
The bartender winked as he passed me a cute pink drink with a sugar rim.
I took it with a sheepish smile and held it up to my lips.
That first sip of liquid courage relaxed my shoulders as the music picked back up.
It wasn’t my first drink, but I definitely wasn’t known as a party girl in high school.
I was grateful that everyone seemed to lose interest in my new appearance with the start of the next song. While most of this party was underage there was an understanding between the kids and parents—they didn't ask, and we didn’t cause any property damage.
It was win-win for everyone involved.
I moved to step away from the bar but, someone saying my name caught my attention over the music.
I slowly turned and noticed some junior girls huddled in a group nearby.
Casually, I lifted my drink and bobbed to the music to act like I wasn’t eavesdropping.
Using the tall shrubs to my advantage, I inched close enough to hear their conversation without being obvious.
I heard one of the girls ask, “Who does she even think she is?”
The girl to her right spat, “A loser never loses her stripes, or whatever.”
A girl who was clearly a little too addicted to lip filler snarled, “If she thinks that she is suddenly going to nail down Luke Cavan, she’s going to have to fight me first. I am next in line for a dance.”
The first girl spoke again, “I heard that Luke is actually contemplating deflowering her out of pity as a favor to her brother. A bitch would be so lucky.”
They all burst into laughter at my expense and continued gossiping about how embarrassing this was for me.
I had heard enough. I turned on my heel and quickly walked out of earshot.
I thought I was strong enough to do this, but apparently it wasn’t possible to overcome my old reputation.
I was also mortified at the possibility that I wasn’t as subtle about my crush as I initially thought.
My mind began spiraling as I questioned if Luke truly knew how I felt. My eyes stung as I replayed all the moments where he joked at flirting with me. It came off of as fun and innocent, but what if Luke was just mocking my feelings the entire time?
Hiding my tears, I ducked my head and made a beeline for Maeve.
She was dancing with some random guy who was looking down at her like she hung the moon.
I was about to enter the dance floor when someone stepped in front of me, halting me in my tracks.
My gaze snapped up to meet a very familiar set of icy blue eyes and my racing thoughts melted away like they always did when I was surrounded by him.
“I’ve been looking for you, Tig. Where have you been hiding?” Luke’s deep voice wafted over me, making my stomach flutter. The question hung in his eyes with an intensity that made me nervous.
Luke was Nolan’s best friend, meaning he was also mine.
We have known Luke our whole lives because our dads met in college and founded a tech empire together.
Nolan and I were inseparable, as most twins were.
When we were five, Luke’s dad relocated them from California to Connecticut.
He fit in with us seamlessly. The trio was born out of nothing less than the forced proximity of our families and my sheer refusal to not be included.
“Just got myself a drink,” I answered, glancing up at him and then quickly away as I sipped the sugar rim just so I would have something to do with my hands.
Seriously, why were they so damp?
“I wanted to tell you how great you look tonight. I haven’t gotten a chance to say how much I love the new look.” His eyes shamelessly traveled up the length of my body.
“Thank you, Luke.” I smiled at the compliment but squirmed under the weight of his gaze; he’d never looked at me in this way.
“Dance with me?” Luke held his hand out to me as the DJ started playing a slow song.
I hesitated for a moment before placing my drink on a passing server’s tray and taking his extended hand.
This was new territory for us, but I wasn’t a stupid girl—I wasn’t passing up this opportunity.
He led me to the middle of the dance floor, looped my hands around his neck, and placed his hands on my hips. The contact made my whole body shiver.
Luke had this confidence about him that I could feel rubbing off onto me as he swayed us to the music. I should have been scared or nervous, but with Luke all I had ever felt was safe. The longer we danced, the more confused that I felt about what game he was playing.
Was this some kind of joke?
A dare?
Was there a world where Luke was dancing with me this way because he actually wanted to?
“What's wrong, Tig?” He asked, running his thumb along the crease that had unknowingly formed between my eyebrows.
“Nothing,” I sighed, relaxing into his embrace. “Tonight, has just been a roller coaster of emotions.”
When I pulled away, we locked eyes. He stared at me like he was going to devour me as I noticed him start to lean in closer. He paused an inch from my mouth. The close proximity made my skin feel like it was on fire.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
He smirked and I felt it right between my legs. “Come with me,” he whispered. Then he pulled my hands away from his neck and dragged me toward the house.
I woke up wrapped like a koala around the boy that I had loved my entire life.
Him staying the night in my room was daring. We ran the risk of getting caught together, but I didn’t care. If Luke wanted to claim me, then he would have to face the Kelly clan eventually—just preferably not while we were still in a compromising position.
I untangled my limbs from Luke and rolled to my side. Luke sleepily turned with me and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me into him. I sucked in a breath at the feeling of him hard and pressed against my ass. Feeling bold, I wiggled my butt against him. He moaned and tightened his arm.
“Careful, Tig. I know you must be sore, but if you don’t stop, then I’m going to have to take that cute little pussy again this morning,” he grumbled into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
“Promise?” I purred, wiggling one more time.
He chuckled and kissed my cheek before rolling away.