PROLOGUE
HIGH SCHOOL
BAYLEE
The momentthe final bell rings, I’m out the door. Students fill the hall. Everyone’s decked out in Wild Heart High colors and eager to kick our rival’s asses at tonight’s football game.
I slow my roll as I reach the gym, hoping Maverick hasn’t already headed out to eat with his buddies.
A muscled arm reaches around my shoulders, and I try to tamp down my smile. I don’t need to turn my head to know who it is. The scent of Mav’s sandalwood cologne, which he just started wearing this summer, makes my mouth water.
“How was Algebra 2?” His deep voice sends chills down my arms.
“About as exciting as sticking my arm up a cow’s ass.”
He busts out laughing. “Bay, Bay, Bay. You know all my secrets.”
Ugh, I love it when he calls me that. It’s almost like he’s calling me “bae” or “baby.” I nudge him with my elbow. “I won’t tell anyone what you did last summer.” He’s always working on his family’s ranch, which, unfortunately, meant that his olderbrother Rhett wanted to teach him how to check if a cow was pregnant. You do that by sticking your hand up its ass. Good times.
“Got you something.” He holds up a bag of spicy Cheetos.
“My fave. Thank you.” I finally turn my head up to look at him. Damn, he’s beautiful. Chiseled, rugged jaw. High cheekbones. Thick, messy dark hair. That devilish grin.
And a whole lot of muscles that grew within the last two years. He was a beanpole when we were kids, but now that he’s always training for football, he’s gained tons of muscle. I can’t help but notice how his Wild Heart Wolves t-shirt stretches across his broad chest.
My best friend is a walking, talking thirst trap. And honestly, he’s so handsome, sometimes I just want to lick his face.
I don’t, obviously. I’m weird, but not that weird.
I just sniff him when he’s not looking. Don’t judge.
“I have something for you too.” I reach into my backpack and pull out a ziplock of puppy chow. Not the dog food. It’s Chex cereal mixed with melted chocolate and peanut butter and topped with powdered sugar.
“Fuck, you’re the best. Gonna save this for tonight if we beat the Ravens.” He tucks the snack into his duffle bag.
“You meanwhenyou beat the Ravens.”
His smile widens, and he winks. My silly heart flutters.
We stop in the middle of the hall while we talk, and people walk around us. It’s like a romance where the music swells and the background fades, and it’s just the two of us.
Until his idiot friend Chet jumps on his back. “Gonna kick ass tonight, Walker?”
“You know it.” When Chet walks away, Mav’s attention returns to me. “You coming to the game?”
“I’d never miss it.”
He slings his arm around my shoulders again as we continue out of the building. “That’s my girl.”
Yes, I’m your girl, and I have been for years.Since we were in elementary school and he punched a kid who was bullying me on the swings.
There’s only one little problem.
When we pause by the stadium, he drops his arm. “Come over this weekend, and I’ll help you with your algebra homework.”
“What makes you think I need help?” He eyes me like his bullshit meter is going off, and I shove him playfully. “Fine, I need help.”
“I’m your man.” He tugs me to his hard chest and gives me a noogie.
