Perfect Embrace (Mason Creek)
Prologue
Laken
Sixteen years old
“Gah! Did you see Grayson?” I ask my best friend, Justine. “Holly is so freaking lucky.” We’re standing in the bathroom of our high school, Mason Creek High. As sophomores, we don’t usually see the juniors and seniors too much. However, there are times, like today, that we get a glimpse and, well, let’s just say, seeing him walking out of the office and watching his tight end, which has nothing to do with his position on the football field, just made my day.
“That she is,” Justine agrees, running her Chapstick over her lips.
Before I can gush about how gorgeous he is, one of the bathroom stalls opens, and out walks Holly. As in Grayson Davis’s girlfriend, Holly. I cringe, ready for her to give me hell for checking out her boyfriend. Holly and Grayson are both seniors. My sister, Leni, is a junior, and I don’t hate it when I get to tag along with her to ogle the hotness that is Grayson Davis. However, I would never speak those words to anyone but my best friend, Justine, or my sister.
“H-Holly—” I start, and she smiles. Not a sneer, but a genuine smile.
“I happen to agree with you.” She winks.
“I’m so sorry. I would never— I mean, I was just looking—and I’ll shut up now.”
Justine squeezes my shoulder, letting me know she’s there with me through this embarrassing ordeal.
“There is nothing wrong with looking, Laken.” She steps up to the sink and washes her hands.
I didn’t even know she knew my name. “I’m sorry,” I say again.
She turns to look at me, and I think this is it. The tongue lashing I was expecting. Not that that’s her thing. I don’t know much about Holly, other than she’s dating the hottest freaking guy in our school. “Don’t apologize for looking. It’s not illegal. You weren’t plotting this evil plan to seduce him,” she jokes. “It’s all good. I promise. And honestly, if I were you, I’d be looking too.” She shrugs.
“Still, I shouldn’t have said that. Not here.” I bow my head.
“Hey.” She steps toward me. I can hear her drying her hands and the hard-crinkly brown paper towels the school places in the bathrooms. “You did nothing wrong. I know what Gray and I have is good. Even if you were plotting the demise of our relationship, it wouldn’t work.” She shrugs again and tosses the paper towel into the trash can. “Have a good day, ladies.”
As soon as the door closes, Justine looks at me with wide eyes. “Did that just happen?”
I hold my arm out to her. “Pinch me.”
She does, and I indeed feel the sting. “She’s so freaking cool.”
“She really is. Couple goals right there.”
“Truth. No wonder he’s head over heels in love with her.” That’s the other thing. Grayson isn’t afraid to show the entire school that Holly is his number one. He walks her to class, sits with her at lunch, kisses her at halftime before heading to the locker rooms. The list goes on and on.
Grayson Davis has set the bar high and has helped me realize that’s what I want. I won’t settle for a guy who doesn’t love me like he loves Holly.
Chapter 1
Laken
“Thank you,” I say to the UPS driver as my cell phone rings. Rushing around the counter, I grab my phone and smile when I see my sister, Leni, and my adorable nephew, Trace’s, smiling faces. I hit Accept and place the phone to my ear. “You two ready to move home yet?” I ask.
“Aunt Laken!” Trace exclaims, making me laugh.
“Hey, bud.”
“Guess what?”
“What?” I ask with all the enthusiasm my five-year-old nephew expects.
“Mommy and me are going to get ice cream.”
“You are? What flavor are you going to get?”
“Aunt Laken…” He laughs. “You know that chocolate is the bestest.”
“I knew you were my favorite nephew.”
“Yep!” he agrees. I don’t remind him that he’s my only nephew. That’s just details. “Mommy wants to talk to you,” he says, and then he’s gone.
“Hey.” Leni laughs.
“He’s a ball of energy today. Are you sure ice cream is a good idea?”
“It’s still early,” she says. “Besides, he’s been doing really well with keeping his room clean and getting his toys picked up. This is his reward. And, well, I just wanted some ice cream.” She chuckles.
“So, you two ready to move home yet?”
“He starts school in the fall.”
“That’s all the more reason to come home. Mason Creek is where you need to be with your family. I miss you, and I miss getting to see my nephew grow up. You know Mason Creek is a great place to raise a family.”
“I know, but it somehow feels like I failed.”
“What? No way, Leni. It means you miss your family, and you want to move home. You love this town. I know you do. Mom and Dad miss you too. Think about it. I love it when you come to visit, and that it’s been more frequent. I’d love it even more if you lived here full time. We could have girls’ night every week.”