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Prologue
Jesse - Twelve Years Ago / Age Sixteen
Istandinsomekind of awe-like trance as the girl I’ve only ever watched from a distance walks toward me. At first glance she appears confident, but a hint of hesitation sneaks through in her smile.
Yeah, I wasn’t expecting this either.
Her friend stops a few feet in front of us and waves. “Thanks for meeting me here,” she says a little nervously, her eyes bouncing between us. “I…ahh…” She stumbles over her words, her expression uncertain until Tate puts out his cigarette and steps forward.
“I’m Captain America,” he says, pointing proudly at his chest. “And this is…Robin Hood,” he adds, waving his hand in my direction. “TheMen in Tightsversion.”
“The fuck?”Asshole. I almost tell them my real name until the beautiful girl in front of me giggles, her eyes locked on mine.
Alright, Tate, you can have that one.
“Can we get nicknames too?”she asks, waggling her eyebrows, hesitation long gone.
I shake my head before answering but Tate cuts me off. “I think that can be arranged,” he says with a smirk. “What do you say, Robin?”
I cringe at the idea, but the name Buttercup instantly pops into my mind. It’s what I’ve been calling her since I first saw her. But I can’t say that. It’s corny.
Buttercup eyes me curiously until her lips pull into a mischievous grin. “You thought of something, didn’t you?” she says with excitement in her gaze. “Is it Maid Marian?”
I bite back a laugh. While Ineverwould have suggested that name, I like that her first thought was for us to be connected.
“Buttercup,” I mumble, but it’s so quick, she doesn’t hear me.
“What?” she asks, her head tilted to the side.
“He calls you Buttercup,” Tate confirms loudly and I swear he’s asking for trouble.
I shoot a glare his way, before turning back to the girls with a tight grin. “He’s kidding, how about—”
“I like Buttercup,” she says almost shyly. “It’s from that movie, right?”
“It’s fromThe Princess Bride, yes.” Though it’s not the reason I call her that.
“Buttercup it is.” She nods as her smile grows. “And my friend here is…”
“Lily,” Tate calls out, sticking with the flower theme.
“Lily sounds good,” Buttercup says as her gaze flashes to Lily’s. “But now that we have that figured out, what the hell are we doing here?” Her smile fades as she crosses her arms over her chest. Her thick, blonde hair blows across her face but she ignores it, intent on maintaining her composure. Her sass.
I like it. A lot.
I knew I’d like her from the little glimpses I’d already seen of her around town. The moments she never noticed.God, if she knew I’d been thinking about her for years, she’d undoubtedly turn and run.
No one speaks, so Buttercup asks again, her tone somewhat sterner. “What’s. Going. On?” she practically growls.
A hint of uncertainty flashes across Tate’s face, but it’s gone before I’ve had the chance to process it. “I’d like some alone time with your friend,” he tells her before smiling at Lily.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. You can have privacy, but I’m not leaving J…Lily alone. With anyone.”
Smart girl. I like her even more now.
Buttercup walks over to the rocks, just out of earshot, and sits down, signaling for me to join her. “We’ll be right here,” she calls out with a pointed look. “Stay where I can see you.”
I bite my cheek so I don’t laugh, and happily follow her, only glancing back at Tate for a brief moment. He can handle himself.
