Part I
Audrey
In my memory, we must be ten years old or so, because Ash is my height. I can look directly into his pale blue eyes.
His dark brows dip low as he crouches by my side to examine my skinned knee.
“You’ll survive,” he gives his verdict. His tanned face splits into a grin. “You’ll have a cool scar.”
“Scars are ugly,” I say, staring at my knee doubtfully. Blood trickles down my leg, a red line, seeping into my white socks. “Aren’t they?”
His gaze is guarded. He stands up and gives me his grubby hand. “I don’t know. You get used to them, I guess.”
I take his hand. He’s so strong. So warm and kind. “Used to seeing them?”
He nods. “And having them. They become part of you. Scars aren’t ugly, Auds.” He’s the only one who calls me that. The nickname started as a tease, then it stuck.
“It hurts.”
He glances down at my knee. “I have Band-Aids in my room. Come on, I’ll clean this up for you.”
“Thanks.”
“What are best friends for?” His eyes warm up and he tugs me along. He always makes me feel safe, protected, taken care of.
Best friends forever.
Or so I thought back then. It only took one kiss to ruin it all.
Chapter One
Audrey
As soon as the door opens, a smiling short-haired girl gestures with her beer bottle for us to enter. Music blares, a popular dance song. Behind her, I can see the apartment, spacious and airy, the living room visible through a glass door, the walls hung with drawings and posters.
Tessa tugs on my arm, her blond ponytail bouncing. Her large blue eyes shine with excitement. “Come on, Audrey.”
The short-haired girl leaves us and wanders toward the heart of the party obviously in full swing. Laughter echoes in the hall and I’m still trying to decide whether coming was a mistake. I have a headache from the move, and my muscles ache from carrying my boxes.
“You’ll see, Audrey!” Tessa manages to drag me further into the apartment. “It’s gonna be great.”
“Where’s Dylan?” He was the one who invited me, even though this isn’t his apartment or his party. I don’t even know who owns the place, much less anyone in this crowd.
“You’re still crushing on Dylan,” she says smugly.
“Of course not,” I snap. God, it’s like being back in high school all over again. “Just because I once said he looked good...”
“You said he looked hot.”
“It was a hot day. He was sweating. Besides, that was, like, five years ago.”
Tessa giggles, making me wonder if she started drinking earlier in the day, and waves a hand back and forth. “Sure, hon, whatever you say. Wait till you see him, though.”
Dylan isn’t why I’m here, though he’s probably the reason Tessa is. No, I’m not here for anyone in particular.
“We need to meet new people,” Tessa gushes. “You need to meet new people. This is what college life is all about!”
God, she’s said that like ten times already. I wish I could be as excited as she is about the whole thing. I let her drag me into the living room where loud rock music is now blaring and people mill about talking and drinking and smoking.
Tessa’s right, and I look forward to studying, having friends, finding my way. My life went sideways less than three years go and it still feels as if it’s off the rails.
Which is why I came back to Madison WI, hoping to hit the reset button. Only, this town holds lots of memories, both good and bad. It’s where I spent a magical childhood, where I fell in love for the first time and had my heart broken. Where the accident took place, turning my world upside down.
Finally I spot Dylan at a table stacked with bottles, talking with a pretty dark-haired woman. He has his back to me, but his broad shoulders are hard to miss. I hesitate, watching the girl’s animated face. Should I interrupt?
Then Tessa squeals and throws herself at Dylan, hugging him from behind, leaving me no option but to follow her.
Dylan and Tessa. At school they were like a commercial for toothpaste—both blond and blue-eyed with perfect white smiles. They looked like twins and behaved that way, too. They’ve been friends since forever and lusted after each other for just as long.
They did go out for a while, a couple of months when we were fourteen. But then something happened, though neither of them will talk to me about it. Dylan’s eyes turned haunted, and Tessa seems to have demons of her own to fight.
What I do know is they’d be perfect together. Not because they look alike; because they hurt alike.
“Audrey is here,” Tessa says in Dylan’s ear.
“Audrey!” Dylan twists around, a grin from ear to ear, his arms open wide. “Come here.”
I almost fall over. I can feel my eyes going round. God, how he’s changed. His black T-shirt has a silver skull design, and his hair is longer in the front, purple bangs brushing his jaw. A silver ring glints on his lip.
I’m so shocked, it takes me a moment to realize he’s still holding his arms open. He lifts a brow, beckoning with his hands, and I have no choice but to walk over and be hugged.
“Hi. Dylan.” I draw back and try not to gape openly at him. Since when has he turned into a sexy bad boy?