Page 3 of Shattered Hearts

I have boobs.

They’re small, but they’re there. Popped up overnight, and now they’re visible through my tank top.

Oops.

I cup my hands over them to keep them concealed. Grayson sits beside me on the couch as Sawyer and Cole wrestle on the floor. Reid is out with his mates, and Holden is outside with Ryder, Jackson, and Brydie. I think they’re horse riding or something. I’m not really sure, but one thing that’s certain is that I’m going to need to buy a bra tomorrow.

“Give me my hat back,” Sawyer snarls.

Cole hits him in the face, and Grayson gets off the couch, pulling them apart.

“Stop it. Laynie doesn’t want to see you throwing hands. She’s a girl.”

Sawyer looks my way, and I give an embarrassed smile as he stands and saunters outside. Cole scampers to his feet and runs after his brother, leaving Grayson and I alone in the living room.

Sinking down beside me again, Grayson rubs at his hair that’s now long enough to tickle his lashes and ears. It looks soft. I wonder if it is.

“Promise me we’ll never fight like them,” he mumbles.

Arching a brow, I give a small snort, turning my body to face him, hands gripping the couch. “I would never. Sure, we argue, but it’s never like that.” I sigh, turning back to face the empty fireplace. “Besides, you’d never beat me in a fistfight.”

He lets out a sharp chuckle. “Wanna bet?”

My head shakes. “No, because we’re not doing it.”

“You’re right.” His grin grows when he holds out his pinkie. “Best friends who never fight?”

My gaze drops to his finger for a moment before looping my own around his. It’s smaller and thinner, less wrinkled and suntanned, but feels warm against his skin.

“Best friends who never fight,” I repeat, sealing the promise.

Grayson smiles, holding his finger around mine for a long minute before dropping his hand and biting his lip, averting his gaze.

My brows pinch. “What?

“Umm…” He looks away and murmurs, “I can see your chest.”

And my hands cover my boobs again, My face heats as if I’ve fallen asleep in the sun.

SIXTEEN-YEARS-OLD

“Reid mentioned that Hazel will have a stall open at the festival this weekend. Are we going?”

My eyes meet Macie’s curious green ones as she bites down on her lip, her English notebook open and pen ready to be used. Her knee jiggles below the desk as we wait for the rest of the students to find their seats. I can tell there’s too much going on in her mind right now, and I want to help her, but I have no idea if there’s anything I can do.

Last night she told me that her aunt, Lucy, didn’t come home from a trip to Sydney for the weekend, and my heart sank for her faster than a coin in water. She’s too young to worry about school, her younger brother Axel, and where Lucy has skipped off to this time.

Reaching out, I still her knee with my hand, giving her a small smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I try to steady my voice, even though all I feel inside is pity for her, but she’d hate me if I told her that, so I steel my face for her sake. “For sure, we can’t miss it.”

Macie’s smile grow.

My lips pull into a smirk, a brow twitching with amusement. “So… Reid, huh?”

Her face falls instantly. She hits my arm and grumbles, “Shut up.”

I chuckle lightly.

Grayson swings through the doorway, a hand effortlessly running through his dirty blond hair, and I catch a glimpse of the vein popping in his bicep. He grins, making me blink quickly and clear my throat. Was I just eyeing off my best friend?