The Boys Series Omnibus
Prologue
PROLOGUE
10 years ago…
The sun heats my skin, burning my neck. It prickles and I reach up to scratch it. I should’ve put on sunscreen like Mommy told me to, but I didn’t listen. She says I never listen.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” my older sister giggles, her eyes darting between me and my best friend Mascen.
“Uh…” I blink. “What’s that mean?” I hiss at Mascen.
He cuts his eyes to Hazel. “I think we’re supposed to kiss,” he whispers back, looking at the grass wrapped around my finger for a ring. Mommy wouldn’t let me borrow hers.
“Kiss?”
He nods, puckering his lips.
I’m eight, though, and shouldn’t be kissing. Daddy would hurt Mascen if he saw.
But before I can push him away he kisses me. It’s so fast I wouldn’t think it happened but static burns my lips.
“Ow!” I touch my mouth. “That hurt.”
“Kisses don’t hurt,” he argues.
Hazel runs toward the swing set, bored with this game, and I take off the itchy dress she made me put on over my clothes so that it’d be a real wedding.
“You shocked me.” Hands on my hips I stare defiantly up at the boy who’s only ten but is so big he could pass as twelve. It’s annoying.
“You knew I was going to kiss you.”
“That’s not what I meant.” My lips turn down in a pout.
Mascen looks at the blade of grass I put around his finger. “What do we do now?”
“Hazel’s gone, so whatever we want.” I’m already heading toward the jungle gym.
“We’re married. We should do married people things. Like … kiss again.”
I shoot Mascen a confused look. “My parents never kiss anymore. All they do is fight.”
Mascen stops walking. “Really? Mine kiss all the time. It’s gross, but kissing you isn’t.”
I feel my cheeks get hot. “No more kisses. We’re not actually married.”
“What if I want to be?” He tilts his head, hands on his hips.
“We’re too young,” I scoff.
Mascen’s eyes get bigger. “Fine, when we’re older you’re going to be my real wife.”
“Whatever you say. Can we go play now?”
“Sure, Rory.”
He grabs my hand and we run the rest of the way to the jungle gym.
That was the last day where my life was simple.
The next, everything went to hell.