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

the authorities time to do their job and it’ll keep your sister safe,” he adds, shifting his gaze to me. “So, if he wants you two separated by the time his campaign announcement goes forth, then… you might want to consider how to go about doing that.”

Those words rest heavy on my heart.

“Keep this in mind, though,” Boone adds. “If push comes to shove, and either of you feel like you’ve got nowhere else to run, my door is always open. For any of you.”

He makes his exit then, patting West’s shoulder on his way out. We’re left on our own to consider his suggestion—that we play along to keep the peace. In other words, he’s not suggesting that I actually break West’s heart, but rather that we make it look that way.

“What’re you thinking?” I ask quietly, slipping my arms around him.

He sighs and I feel the weight of what he’s holding in. “I’m thinking my grandfather’s right—both about Vin being smart, and about making him think he’s won. But whatever we do, we have to sell the shit out of it.”

“Ok, so… how would we go about doing that?”

When West falls quiet, I’m admittedly nervous what he’ll say next. Another deep breath leaves him, and his arms tighten around me.

“Let’s just say I’m pretty sure I’m gonna fucking hate myself for what I’m thinking, but… it’s our best option.”

I give a questioning look after that cryptic statement, and West’s frustration seems to grow by the second.

“I don’t think I understand,” I admit.

He peers up and his dark stare locks with mine, causing my breaths to quicken at the sight of it.

“Vin wants it to look like we’re done, like there’s nothing left of us to repair, so that’s what we have to give him,” West reasons. “Once we’re back in the city, you have to do it, Southside. You have to break me.”

Chapter 29

BLUE

“There. All done,” Scar says with a satisfied grin.

After having struggled to close her overstuffed suitcase for the last five minutes, she’s finally gotten it.

“And not a second to spare,” I tease, shaking my head as I slip a hoodie over my t-shirt. “Our ride to the airport will be here in a few.”

She plops down onto the bed that’s been hers since we first dropped our bags here in Dupont Bayou. Even though she hasn’t said it, she’ll miss it here. I think we’re all feeling it actually. The original plan was to stick around for a few more days, but once West heard that Scar would miss Shane’s last days in Cypress Pointe, he changed our flight plans. I shudder to think how much that must’ve cost him, but he didn’t even bat an eye.

If it’s important to Scar and me, it’s important to him.

Which is exactly why I love him.

Thinking of Shane brings a question to mind. Something I’ve been dying to ask my sister.

“So… what’s up with you and Linden?”

For some reason, I hold my breath after asking.

Scar shrugs. “He seems okay. He talks a lot about their band, school, and his family.”

“His family? Is there drama or something?”

She gives another of her casual shrugs. “No, not really. Mostly it’s just stuff about his bio-dad’s side. They’re Choctaw.”

I stop what I’m doing to listen. “His dad’s Native?”

Scar nods. “Well, he was. He died before Linden was born. Seems like he’s pretty in touch with his roots, though. His grandmother keeps him active with the local Choctaw community. Which is pretty cool, I guess.”

She guesses?

Those hearts in her eyes say otherwise. They say she’s more than interested in anything and everything having to do with this guy.

“Mmm hmm. Let’s go, kiddo.”

Scar takes her time getting up to follow me downstairs, but she eventually does. We join the others outside on the porch just as the driver who dropped us off several days ago pulls up in the same bus as before. Seeing him, my heart aches a little.

This trip is ending way, way too soon.

Boone’s standing beside me, hands in his pockets as he gazes over at his grandsons. They’re obviously so important to him, I imagine parting ways is always tough. In fact, I can see it in his eyes even though he’s trying to hide it.

“Thank you so much for having us. We had a great time,” I say to him.

“Oh, sweetheart, the pleasure was all mine. The only thing I love more than seeing my grandsons is seeing my grandsons happy.”

He smiles then, and I find myself wishing I had a grandfather like him. Someone warm and loving, patient. Well, if you don’t count the short fuse he has when it comes to the other five we met down here. Even then, it’s easy to see he doesn’t only tolerate that wild bunch. He loves them.

“Give me a hug before you run off,” Boone says with a smile.

I lean in to embrace him and he doesn’t feel like a stranger anymore. He feels like family.

“I’ll be checking in with West to see how things are coming along. And I know the last thing the two of you want to do is let Vin think he’s winning, but some things are more important than pride,” he reasons. “If he needs to think he’s in control while things are being worked out, then so be it. In the end, he’ll know the two of you never faltered in your love. Even if it has to look like it for a bit.”

I nod, hearing him loud and clear. “Yes, sir.”

“None of this ‘sir’ business. Just call me Grandpa,” he corrects me, confirming my earlier thought—we’re like family now.

Scar and Joss move in to hug Boone next, followed by the boys. Boone nearly squeezes the life out of them like before and I could watch him with them all day. They might’ve gotten a raw deal being Vin’s sons, but being Boone’s grandsons more than makes up for it.

“You kids keep out of trouble,” he calls out with a smile as we