Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (books like beach read txt) 📗

I know talking things out with me hasn’t miraculously solved all her problems, but I hope she at least feels less alone. At the end of the day, our entire crew can attest to having a less than perfect homelife. The only difference is, until a week ago, Joss had no idea that was the case.

We all needed this getaway, and we can only hope the tiny fires we left behind in Cypress Pointe don’t turn into full raging blazes while we’re away.

Chapter 25

BLUE

So, this is what family looks like.

I scan the yard, looking at maybe fifty or sixty of the triplets’ relatives. The closest thing I’ve experienced to this is the one and only family reunion I ever attended. And with the Riley name attached to it, it’s safe to assume it was a disaster. Long story short, Mike got drunk and fought one of his second cousins over a poker game, which then led to our entire family of five getting booted.

Luckily, this gathering is nothing like that.

All I see are people having fun. There’s good music, lots of laughter, and enough food to feed a moderately sized country. Most are congregating around one of the five bonfires to keep cozy, but fifty-five degrees feels like a heat wave after leaving Cypress Pointe. It warmed up to around seventy this afternoon, and some of that heat stuck around for the evening. Almost like this gathering was meant to be.

From the moment we came down to join the party, West’s great-aunt Sheryl seemed to flock to the girls and me. We claimed a table not too far from a stone fountain, chatting about everything from TV to our plans after college.

Her plug for West and I to have our future wedding here at Landry Manor—her idea, not mine—was less than subtle. Apparently, she considers herself to be intuitive when it comes to love matches, and she got good vibes from Joss and I for her great-nephews, despite Joss insisting her and Dane aren’t a thing. Eventually, she gave up protesting and just listened to Aunt Sheryl go on about how it’s been years since the family’s hosted a wedding here, and how they’re notoriously grand events that are not to be missed. Who knows, maybe she’ll get her wish one day.

A feather-light touch against the side of my neck startles me. What I find when I peer up is West’s emerald stare. It’s warm and relaxed. I swear I love what this place does to him. He’s perfect back home, but in Cypress Pointe, he carries an invisible weight on his shoulders, feeling pressured to live up to an idea of who people think he is. But here? He’s simply Boone Landry’s oldest grandson.

Not a football star.

Not Vin’s son.

Just West, which is more than enough for me.

“Mind if I steal the girls for a few, Aunt Sheryl?”

She beams, hearing West’s polite request. “Of course not. I’ve talked their ears off long enough.”

He offers her a kind smile that she returns.

“Sterling texted that our cousins just pulled up and they’re itching to meet you three,” he explains with a laugh. “Apparently, Grandpa talked you ladies up pretty good.”

Oh, great. Gotta love being under a microscope.

“Dane and Sterling are already down there waiting,” he adds.

I glance toward Aunt Sheryl. “We’ll be back if we can break free,” I joke, starting to feel just a bit guilty for leaving mid-conversation.

She smiles and waves me in West’s direction. “Go have fun, honey. But trust me, those boys won’t let you pretty gals get away once they have you. Which brings me to my next point—keep an eye on your sister.” She laughs, but I don’t.

When Joss and I pass a look toward Scar, her brow lifts and she offers an innocent grin. It’s hard to tell if it’s sincere or not.

“They can’t be that bad,” I say, but the look Aunt Sheryl and West share says otherwise.

“How old are they?” Joss asks.

“All of ‘em range between fifteen and sixteen, but that brood is hell on wheels. Just ask Deputy Sanders,” Aunt Sheryl says with a chuckle. “Poor Boone can’t decide whether to hug ‘em or kill ‘em most days. Lucky for them, he’s got a big heart and the patience of a saint.”

What in the world has West gotten us into?

“We’ll be back in a bit if we can get away,” he promises his aunt, then he offers me his hand when I stand.

He leads us across the wide-open yard to a distant bonfire where, already, the sound of rowdy laughter and loud music fills the air. We get close and I can make out actual voices now. They’re deeper than I expected from a group of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds. You’d never guess they’re so young from hearing them. Or… seeing them.

Seven tall silhouettes circle the fire, two of which I know are Sterling and Dane, but it’s impossible to tell who’s who. One glance toward Scar and I can practically hear the girl’s hormones revving like an engine.

I swear, she’s gonna send me to an early grave.

The raging fire illuminates their features now, and it becomes abundantly clear that good looks aren’t lacking in this family. It’s hard to believe they left anything for the rest of us. On cue, Scar runs her fingers through the length of her dark hair, making sure she looks decent before we get too close.

“What about Shane?” I lean over to whisper.

“Grow up, Blue. Not wanting to look like a dog doesn’t mean I’m trying to get their attention. I’m not interested,” she insists.

Not interested.

Sure.

The moment the group takes notice of us walking up, their lively conversation dies down and everyone’s attention is suddenly on the four of us. Or, more specifically, us girls.

“Well, if it isn’t the man with the golden arm.”

At those words, West turns to meet the gaze of the only blond out of the bunch. He steps up to West,