Page 34 of Under the Influence

"Why did she bring you here?"

"Because she said that birthdays were meant for fun, that no matter how old you were on your birthday, it was fun to act childish. She'd bring me here, and we'd eat cake and play on the playground."

I feel an emptiness in my chest for her. She misses her mom. I never really knew my dad, but if I did and then suddenly he was gone, is that how I would feel? Constantly missing him?

"Do you come here every year by yourself?"

She shakes her head, "No. Carson usually comes. He may not love me like I've wished every year that I've blown out my candles, but he does a good job pretending."

"Well, where is he?"

She shakes her head, "Not here."

I pull her head onto my shoulder and softly sing happy birthday, causing her head to lift and her eyes to shift in my direction. A single tear begins to fall down her cheek by the end of the song. I catch it with my thumb, swiping it away. Pulling my lighter from my pocket, I strike it.

"Make a wish."

She doesn't take her eyes from mine, softly blowing the flame out.

Nuzzling back onto my shoulder, she doesn't bother with small talk, and I still watch Lainey out the window as she leans in and kisses Drayton. Maybe she really does like him. They both stand and start to walk back to his Jeep, and I fight the urge to follow them because the girl on my shoulder needs me more.

For the first time, I'm scared of how I feel. I think I've known it for a long time, with our stolen glances and the way my heart flutters with her touch, but with her head against my chest and her hand entangled with mine, I'm sure.

I'm in love with Avery Sinclair.

Maybe I always have been.

But it's no secret that everything has a price with her, and this time I'm afraid it will be a broken heart.

My broken heart.

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

CORI

It was just a kiss.

It was just a kiss.

It was just a kiss.

Maybe if I repeat it enough times in my head, I can believe it. I mean, isn’t that what liars do? Lie so many times that they start to deceive themselves?

And that’s what I was, a liar.

I snuck back in the house last night and stared at the ceiling for hours, trying to make sense of what was going on in my mind. I know I shouldn’t trust him, but part of me thinks he was telling the truth. Maybe he isn’t the shark Lainey believes he is, or he doesn’t want to be, anyway. The truth is, I think I was just blinded by his touch, the way I felt safe around him. I haven’t felt that way in a long time.

My presence at Legacy will not end well unless I figure out a way to play their game. I’ve learned not to trust anyone, and Carson falls into the anyone category. Lainey was right. It seems that everyone bows to the Sharks, and I will not be a game piece for them. The worst part of it all is that the ring leader is already in my head, messing with my emotions.

I head out the door for Jovie’s car, noticing that it’s already gone. She must’ve had an early practice or left me here on purpose. I sigh, pulling my phone out to text Madden and see if they can grab me on their way. Just as I walk out the front door, I hear Carson on the phone, so I slink back onto the porch, not wanting him to think I’m watching him.

Avie, I’m sorry. I just, I wasn’t... No, that’s not it at all.

Shit. Does she know I was with Carson last night, or worse, does Jovie know? Did she see?

I shake the thought, reminding myself that I can’t hang out with him anymore. No matter how bad I think I want to.