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Chapter one
Samantha
“HappyBirthday,Sam!”
I raised my red solo cup into the air and let out a wild laugh as my friends cheered for me.
Today was proving to be my best birthday yet, hands down.
My friends had planned a rager for me in the woods just outside our small town of Greenswood.
A bonfire blazed, and several kegs had been tapped.
I was feeling good and tipsy and happy as I danced to the music blaring from someone’s pick-up.
I was eighteen at last. A woman! The future was mine for the taking, or some sentimental crap like that.
Whatever. I didn’t have to think about that just yet. I just wanted to enjoy my party and forget about everything else.
Smiling, I spun in place and screamed out the lyrics to the song that was playing.
Suddenly, I noticed a familiar figure emerging from the surrounding trees.
He was tall, with shaggy blonde hair and familiar golden eyes. Eyes that were just like mine. I came to a stop. It took a few moments for my vision to clear, but when it did, I let out a squeal of delight.
“Jason!” I threw my cup to the ground and rushed forward. “You came!”
Chuckling, he opened his arms as I threw myself into them.
“Of course I did,” he told me. “Couldn’t miss my baby sister’s birthday party, could I?”
I gazed up at him with wide eyes. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad! They can’t know I’m drinking!”
Chucking me under my chin, he said, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell. Just don’t do anything stupid, all right?”
“Stupid? What could I do that’s stupid?”
Before Jason could answer, another person stepped up beside him. Startled, I turned my gaze and froze.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I murmured.
My brother’s companion gave me a small smile.
I often dreamed of that smile, as well as the sparkling, blue eyes gazing at me. He was slightly taller than my brother, with dark brown hair and wide shoulders. He was the most handsome man I’d ever seen, and I had been all but obsessed with him since the age of twelve.
“Don’t be rude, Sam,” Jason teased, smacking me lightly on the head. “Ryan wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Say thank you.”
I swallowed and gazed up at Ryan Carson, my brother’s best friend, and my longtime secret crush.
“Than-thank you,” I murmured, feeling suddenly shy despite the alcohol buzzing through me. I always felt shy around him. It was frustrating as hell, because I wasn’t a shy person by nature. I was outgoing and social. The life of the party, really, but when it came to Ryan…
I was a crumpling, awkward mess.
“Seems like you’ve been having fun,” Ryan said with a smirk, looking at me in a way that made me melt.
I blushed and nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
“Ye-yeah,” I stammered, my lips twitching into a goofy, little grin. “It’s been a good party. Lots of fun.”
