Say You Believe Me (Boys of Haverhill #1)

Chapter 1

“This is going to be the worst year of my life.” I groan as I lean my forehead into Evans' chest.

“Nah.” He says, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and resting his chin on the top of my head. “Last year was the worst year of our lives. This year, everything’s gonna change.”

“Liv?”

I shake my head and blink, my eyes dragging away from the door. The hall swims into view, classmates huddled together, lips moving soundlessly, a sharp, high-pitched whine humming in my ears.

“Hey, Liv.”

My brow knits as I blink again, trying to chase the memory away. My gaze drifts back to the door. Its edges go soft and blurry as my legs twitch like they want to run toward it.

“Liv!”

I jump, heart thudding.

I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed, surrounded by sealed cardboard boxes and bare walls.

Almost everything that made this room mine is already packed up, leaving it feeling hollow and unfamiliar.

My phone is propped against a pillow on the bed, screen glowing with Evan’s face as he leans close, brow pinched in concern.

My hands hover over a framed photograph resting in my lap. It’s of me, Rissa, and Evan, grinning into the camera. My thumb drifts across the glass, circling Rissa’s face before I remember Evan is still watching.

“God, I’m sorry, Evan,” I breathe, my voice distant.

“It’s all good cupcake,” he says leaning back, one arm resting behind his head.

I hesitate a heartbeat, then carefully hold the picture up toward the phone so he can see.

“I saved this one for last,” I murmur, my gaze flicking around my stripped-down room.

Evan’s eyes soften a little as he leans in. For a long, quiet moment, we both sit lost in our own memories.