Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 54520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
“Well, you started it,” I fire back.
“And now I’m finishing it.” His eyes gleam with trouble as he yanks another balloon from behind his back. “Get her!”
I don’t even get the chance to react before balloons burst at my feet, spraying cold gunk across my legs, clothes, and the beautiful wedding setup I’d worked so hard on.
A shriek rips out of me as I duck for cover but I’m too late. A balloon bursts against my face with a wet smack, slime stinging my skin.
My hand flies to my cheek as I stumble to my knees, heart pounding with fury and humiliation.
“Be careful!” Linc’s roar cuts through the laughter, angrier than I’ve ever heard him. He turns on his brother Cash, his glare fierce. “I told you to aim at the ground, not at her.”
“I didn’t mean to,” Cash says, guilt tugging at his voice. “I swear.”
Linc’s already crossing the grass, dropping to a crouch beside me. His hand lands gently on my shoulder, his voice low and urgent. “Are you okay?”
I push him away, refusing to fall for his fake concern. “Leave me alone!”
Climbing to my feet, I grab my bike, legs pumping hard as I pedal down the hill.
His voice chases me, carrying on a breeze. “Harlow, wait. It was an accident. I’m sorry!”
I don’t look back.
Angry tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away.
By the time I turn onto my street, my throat aches with the effort of holding it in.
I fly past the Masters’ house without a glance. The second I reach our yard, I ditch my bike in the grass and storm through the back door into the kitchen.
“Mom, you’re never going to believe what just happened.”
She covers her free ear, turning her back to me.
“Mom, I need to tell you something.”
She huffs, lowering the receiver. “Harlow, can’t you see I’m on the pho—” Her eyes widen when she finally gets a look at me. “What in the world have you been doing?”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” I burst out, voice cracking. “Linc and his brothers—”
Her hand flicks through the air, dismissing me. “I don’t have time for this right now. Go clean yourself up. We’ll talk later.”
She turns her back on me, lifting the phone again as if I’d never spoken.
The abandonment stings more than the slime on my skin.
Jaw tight, throat thick, I stomp upstairs and push into Hattie’s room. She’s in her leotard, twirling in front of the mirror, ballet music humming from the little speaker on her dresser.
Her eyes bug out of her head at the sight of me. “What the heck happened to you?”
“Linc Masters, that’s what,” I growl, shoving the slime-covered hair out of my face. “He and his stupid brothers ambushed me.”
She winces. “Guess he’s still mad about his bike, huh?”
“Apparently,” I mutter, dropping down on her bed. “But I don’t care. He deserved it, and I’m going to make him regret this too.”
Her lips twitch, half amused, half sympathetic. “Good luck with that.”
My eyes widen. “Aren’t you going to help me?”
“I can’t. I have to practice, then Mom’s taking me for my dress fitting.”
My jaw drops. “Hattie, forget your stupid recital. This is an emergency! I can’t take on all of them alone. Please?”
Regret skates across her face. “I’m sorry, Harlow. Really.”
Shaking my head, I leave her room, and head into the bathroom, feeling more alone than ever. The mirror shows a slime-streaked mess with red-rimmed eyes. I scrub until my skin burns, trying to wash away more than just green gunk.
Afterward, I change into clean clothes and decide I’ll go recruit Penny and Ellie.
They won’t bail on me.
I march for the front door, determination in every step, but the moment I swing it open, I stop cold.
There, on my porch, lies a fresh bundle of dandelions. Their white heads full and round, glowing in the fading light.
A frown forms on my face, gaze lifting across the yard, and that’s when I see him.
Linc stands on his own front steps, shoulders slouched, watching me. His usual smirk is gone. His face…different. Softer. Maybe even…remorseful?
He doesn’t say anything. Just gives me one final look, then slips inside, leaving me with a strange feeling I can’t quite explain.
I stare down at the dandelions, anger loosening my chest, even though I don’t want it to. Slowly, I pick one up, the fragile globe trembling in the afternoon breeze.
Maybe revenge can wait.
Closing my eyes, I inhale a deep breath and blow. The feathery white seeds scatter into the sky like tiny sparks, carrying my secret wish into the wind.
Maybe, just maybe, this one will come true.
If someone had told me a month ago I’d be leaving the province with my lifelong nemesis, pretending to be her boyfriend at her sister’s wedding—the same sister marrying her ex—I would have laughed in their face.