Page 3 of Coastal Runaway

“Nah man, it wasn’t Cammy. I would never go there again,” Luke laughed, “It’s someone you don’t know. She didn’t go to our school.”

Wait, what?

Nolan doubled over in laughter,“you’re literally such a slut, dude. How do you have these girls literally begging for your dick?” Nolan spoke in a half-decent Yoda impression, put his hands together at his chest, and bowed to Luke, “Please teach me your ways, Obi-Wan.”

Luke shrugged, “I can’t help it if these girls are so desperate that they’ll let me put them on their knees at my will. You should’ve seen her. She was practically begging for it. It was honestly a little pathetic.”

Luke's words pierced right through my heart. I needed to get out. I needed air. I practically threw myself at him last night thinking that he actually wanted me, but those girls at the party were right.

How could I have been so stupid?

I was a conquest. A pity fuck.

I was a stupid little girl who fell for a brooding jock and sweet nothings.

I struggled to breathe as tears started streaming down my face. I ran up the back staircase towards my room. I knew at that moment that I had to go. I needed to leave the house, leave the town—hell, I needed to leave this coast.

I grabbed my suitcase from the closet and threw random clothes inside before running to my en-suite bathroom, and tossing all of my important toiletries and makeup into a cosmetics bag. After grabbing my purse and slipping on some shoes, I bolted out the front door. It was early the morning after a party, so the grounds were completely quiet. I threw my bags in the trunk of Baby Blue, my aptly named Jeep Wrangler, and got behind the wheel. I turned the key and prayed that no one heard the engine start.

When nobody came outside to check it out, I took off down the driveway and didn’t dare glance back. I pulled up my father's contact information and typed out a message.

Hey dad! The party last night was amazing! Thank you so much for your love and support! Also, surprise! I decided I’m going to accept my offer from CCU. In fact, I decided to drive Baby Blue out to the Malibu House to spend the summer and scout out my new neighborhood! Walk in mom’s shoes for the summer.

I hit send and pulled up Maeve’s number.

911. I decided to spend the summer in LA. Can you be the best sister ever and pack the rest of the things and ship them to the Malibu House?

I’ll buy you a plane ticket to come out and spend the summer with meeee :). Also please don’t mention this to anyone. I texted dad but I just need some space. No. Questions. Asked.

Maeve texted back almost immediately.

Maeve

Idk what happened, but Nolan and Luke are freaking out. Dad just came storming in saying you’re off to CCU. I’ll get your stuff shipped but it better be a first-class ticket.

Also, now you owe me a no questions asked ;)

With that I threw my phone onto the passenger seat and started the drive to the only place that I knew was safe.

Three days later, I rolled up to the sprawling twelve thousand square foot mansion in Malibu that my siblings and I planned to live in this fall while we commuted to Coastal Crest University campus. My dad bought this property so he could commute to his company’s west coast offices and called it the Beach Bungalow. Although, I was not sure you could call it a bungalow when it had an infinity pool, seven bedrooms, twelve bathrooms, a movie theater, and a detached garage. My siblings simply called it the Malibu house.

Walking into my new home, it was stunningly beautiful, but felt hollow and empty; I never related to a house more in my life. I pulled out my laptop on the kitchen island counter and booked Maeve’s flight for the following week. I knew that Owen, Aiden, and Nolan would be joining me in late August, but that still gave Maeve and I two full months together to have a proper hot girl summer. I sucked in a calming breath and walked out to the back patio overlooking the ocean. I looked out at the casual beach-goers lounging in the sand, and the carefree surfers in the water. The breeze whipped through my hair and the smell of saltwater calmed my soul as I made two promises to myself in that moment:

1. I would never be left in the shadows of anyone ever again.

2. Luke Cavan was dead to me.

one

Keegan

three years later

My head was pounding when I startled awake. A heavy arm was draped over my middle. A harsh snore vibrated behind my ear. I squinted in the bright light pouring through my window. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw the light passing through navy curtains. Gross navy curtains that I didn’t remember ordering.

Not my window. I wasn’t in my room.

Shit.