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PROLOGUE
QUINN
Five Years Earlier
“What’s this place?” I ask Ashton, my eyes narrowing at the discreet sign hanging on the wall.Bright Haven.It doesn’t ring a bell, but then again, I’ve only been living in Blairwood for a couple of weeks. “Didn’t you say we’re going to check out that basketball coach that gives free advice?”
I look around, but I don’t see a court of any kind. It’s just one big commercial-looking building and a few cars parked in front of it, along with the bikes we used to get here.
Ashton looks over his shoulder at me. “This is the place,” he reassures me, walking up the steps. “Just chill.”
The kid, although he’s almost as tall as me, is still two years younger and my new foster brother. He’s over six feet but scrawny as fuck. His curly, black hair is pushed away from his face with a bandana and sticks up on top of his head, going in all directions.
Overall, he seems like a decent kid. His whole family does. And by now, I’m an expert on shitty families that are a part of foster care. People always think you are so lucky to be taken from the shitty life you’re leading, but some of those places are messed up as fuck, and I’d rather stay in the hell that I know than replace it with one I don’t. A choice that was taken away from me when my old man was busted stealing on probation. Fucking idiot.
“I seriously hope you’re not me—”
The words die on my lips as we enter the building, and my eyes fall on the girl sitting behind the counter. I’m so bewitched I stumble over the threshold, and I’d probably face-plant if I didn’t have years of agility training behind me from avoiding my father’s fists.
The girl looks up—no, not a girl, a woman—a smile slowly spreads over her lush lips as she takes us in. It’s like I’ve been sucker-punched; there’s no other way to describe this feeling. The air is knocked out of my lungs, leaving me breathless. My heart is racing a mile a minute, palms sweaty.
“Hey, Vanessa,” Ashton lifts his hand in a wave.
Vanessa’s smile grows bigger as the recognition sets in, and a part of me is jealous that it’s directed at Ashton and not me.
Seriously, what the hell’s with that?
“You here to play basketball?” she asks, leaning against the counter, her undivided attention focused on Ashton.
“You know it,” he grins at her, running his fingers through his hair.
Her dark eyes glance toward me—no, not dark. Not completely—I notice as I move closer, taking in every inch of her. There’s an almost golden circle surrounding her pupils. “A new friend?”
“Yup. He’s Quinn. He’s also into basketball, so we figured we’d come and play.”
“Hey Quinn,” she smiled sweetly, my name rolling easily off of her tongue. “Welcome to Bright Haven.”
I’m pretty sure I stare at her, but she either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. Probably the former.
“Hey,” I finally manage to croak out, my voice coming out high pitched as fuck.
And kill me now.I rub the back of my neck, taking in the space so she wouldn’t notice the color rising in my cheeks.What the hell’s wrong with me? She’s just a woman. For fuck’s sake, get a grip.
You’d think this is the first time I’ve been around one of those, but nope.
“You guys are in luck. Coach from the Blairwood University just came in a few minutes ago if you want to join his practice.”
“Sweet.” Ashton claps his hands. “C’mon, Quinn. Let’s go.”
My legs stay glued to my spot. I don’t want to go, but this famous Coach is the reason why I’m here. With a year and a half left in high school, I have to find a way to get a scholarship if I want to go off to college, or I’ll risk flipping burgers or, worse, end up just like my father.
Thanks, but no thanks.
“Sure thing.”
“Have fun, boys,” Vanessa grins. I’m not sure if it’s the way the light falls or what, but the gold in her irises twinkle.
Twinkle? Seriously, McLannister? Twinkle?
