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Chapter One
KYLIE
“Bye, Mom and Dad!” I shout a quick goodbye to my parents as the door slams behind me, and I take off at a sprint across the street to Knox’s place. Knox's dad had just finished building a pergola with a swing underneath it. I like it better this way. I run up the pathway to the front door, my heart fluttering. I’ve only really started crushing on Knox’s older brother Dante this year, but my traitorous heart won’t seem to get the memo that he is my best friend’s brother and off-limits.
I ring the doorbell and my best friend in the whole world, Knox Lewis, answers. I beam at him. “Hey, Knox! It’s the last day of Freshman year, let’s go! I’m so excited to start our summer!”
“I’m almost ready. Come in,” Knox says. He seems subdued.
As I step in, a shout from upstairs makes me flinch. Dante and his dad are at it again, and I can hear the shouting match loud and clear. Those two never seem to get along, but it’s been getting progressively worse this year. Luckily, the screaming never gets directed my way, even though I can’t say the same about my best friend. Dante and Knox have never been close, but Knox has always looked up to his older brother, and I know he tries hard to get along with him.
“What’s going on?” I whisper to Knox, threading my fingers through the strap of my bag.
“Dante’s leaving. Dad wants him to stay until graduation but Dante already got a bus ticket. He’s leaving today, even skipping the last day of school.” Knox flinches as another shout wafts down to us. He grabs his bag and hurries me out of the house.
I’m slower, a bitter taste in my mouth. “He’s just leaving?”
Knox nods. “He’s off to New York. Says he’s going to have bigger and better things. Dad’s trying to reason with him, but… you know Dante.”
My head bows, my unruly red curls falling into my face. All the excitement I’d felt is gone.
Knox sighs and whispers, “He’ll forget about us, you know. He can’t wait to get out of here.”
I grab my friend’s hand and squeeze. “No, Knox. He won’t forget. You’re his brother.”
He stares at me, his eyes blank. Then he sighs again. “Someday that will be you, you know. Making it in the big city. Having all the hot shots fighting over your art at auctions.”
I laugh as I shake my head. “Nah. That’s not me, Knox.”
“Kylie.” Knox stops and grabs my shoulders. He stares intently at me. “It is you. You’re going to make it big. Just promise me we’ll stay best friends forever, Kylie, even then.”
I wrap my arms around him, though my thoughts are with his dark-haired brother I see storming out of his house. “Of course, Knox. I can never forget about you. I can never forget about any of you….”
Light streams through the window of my New Orleans home, waking me up before my alarm can. I linger in the dream, the sharp ache for Willowcreek fading as I start to tally up the things I need to do today.
I throw off my blankets and head for the shower. My long, curly red hair is a disaster and will remain that way if I don’t wash it first thing in the morning. Because of how thick my hair is, it needs enough time to dry properly or it turns into a frizzy mess.
An hour later, my hair is washed, moisturized, styled, and ready to start the day. After a childhood of having to keep my curls cropped short since neither of my parents knew how to deal with the curly hair that I inherited from my great grandma, I make it a priority to take care of it.
I toss on a shirt and my painting overalls and head downstairs. I’m lucky in that my commute is only a staircase. My bestie from Tulane University, Stella Berman, is already waiting for me in the gallery.
“Latte grande with a shot of vanilla,” Stella announces, handing me a cup of coffee.
“OMG, you’re an angel.” I sigh, accepting it. The delicious scent makes my mouth water. “This is perfect!”
Stella laughs, tossing back her short hair. She keeps it in a bob and the jet black frames her face beautifully. She’s taller than my five feet four inches, and today wears a sweater dress that hides her willowy frame. Stella is gorgeous, of course, but her real magic is in her hands.
I inhale the scent of my coffee, grinning. “How did you know I needed this?”
“I heard you tossing and turning in your room all night,” Stella replies. “Bad dreams?”
“Hmm. Not so much a dream but a memory. I was dream-reliving the summer after freshman year with Knox.”
“Missing the old days?”
“Yeah. As much as I love New Orleans and the opportunities here, Willowcreek is always going to have a special place in my heart. I’ve been missing Knox and my parents lately, I guess.” I shrug. “Maybe you, me, and Max should fly out sometime soon. Plan for an artist’s retreat.”
Stella grimaces. “Not anytime soon. I’m saving money, remember?”
