I sigh dreamily.
One day I’ll get married to someone awesome like Hollis.
Kayden is awesome.
Oh my God and freaking hot, too.
Like the hottest guy in our school.
I keep waiting for Char to tell me she’s suddenly in love with him. She’s not interested, though. This week she’s dating Ryan Cunningham. Who knows who it’ll be next week.
Crunch of tires on gravel has me rushing over to the window. I frown when I see it’s just the mailman. Deciding to kill some time, I prance down the stairs and meet him at the box. He hands me the stack of mail and I sit down on the bottom step to go through it all.
I flip through some bills before finding an envelope from my dad. Eagerly, I rip through the envelope and smile at the silly card. It has Elsa from Frozen on the front. He started writing to me not long after Jordy went to prison. I think Dad thinks I’m still the little girl he left all those years ago. I’m not bothered by the fact he sends me childish cards. It’s the thought that counts. Roan isn’t thrilled that Dad writes to me, but he stays tight-lipped about it. Inside the card are seventeen wrinkly dollar bills. So silly, but it makes me smile.
I love you, Roux.
Dad’s writing is messy, but I can make it out. I’d hoped he would have written a little more, but I’m still happy. I’m just tucking away the money back inside the card when I notice another letter from Oregon State Penitentiary.
I expect Dad’s messy handwriting.
Not his.
Neat. Precise. Edgy.
Jordy.
My heart stammers in my chest. I haven’t spoken to him since the incident. It’s like he closed himself off from us. Just took the punishment like it was his alone to bear. I know it kills Roan, even almost three years later.
Why is he writing?
Because of my birthday?
I rip open the letter, eager to see what sort of birthday card he got me. A simple white card with a hand drawn kitten on the front. Inside, his neat writing looks like art. So beautiful.
Before I can read his letter, the thump of a bass on a car rattles every window in the near vicinity. Flutters erupt in my stomach. He’s here. Oh God. I stand quickly and watch the black Dodge Challenger cruise down our street and into the driveway. A second later, the car shuts off and he climbs out.
Kayden Ramirez.
He’s no longer the tall, lanky, shy boy from middle school. Somewhere along the way, he filled out and grew into this man. At seventeen, he’s every bit as big as my brother. Kayden works out a lot with his brother, so he’s super cut. I drool over his biceps all the time. Char likes to tease me that I’m more in love with Kayden’s biceps than I am with him.
“Hey, Roux-Roux,” Kayden says, his deep voice warming me in all the right places.
“Oh, hey, Kay,” I chirp. “How’s it hangin’?”
How’s it hangin’?
Lame.
I am so lame.
Where is Char?
I need her coolness to save me right now.
He smirks as he saunters over to me and pulls me to him for one of his friendly hugs. I try not to sniff him like a creep. “I think you grew taller since you turned seventeen,” he teases, patting the top of my head.
“Ha. Ha.” I roll my eyes at him. “I seriously doubt I grew in two days.”
“I think you did.” His eyes roam down my front, lingering on my breasts. “Yeah. You did.”
I’m shocked at his words and can’t formulate a response.
He’s kidding. He has to be. No one flirts with me. Especially not Kayden. He’s my best friend aside from Charlotte.
Before I can figure out what to do or say, his phone rings. He answers and then walks away as he speaks lowly on the phone. My hands are shaking. I need to calm myself down before he comes back over here and I do something stupid like throw myself at him and beg him to give me my first kiss.
I sit back down on the bottom step and pick back up Jordy’s card to read it.
Little Hoodlum,
I know you still hang out with that kid.
Well, don’t.
He’s bad news. His brother is fucking Renaldo Ramirez.
So end your little friendship. It’s better this way. Safer.
If I find out you’re still his friend, I’ll have to deal with it.
You do not want me to deal with it, Roux.
Later,
Jordy
I read his letter again to make sure I’m seeing this right. He doesn’t speak to me for years. Years! And this is what he finally says to me. Hot tears burn my eyes as I crumple up his stupid card.
How dare he!
Kayden has been nothing but nice to me. He’s one of my best friends. Jordy doesn’t get to make assumptions about my life and try to control it from freaking jail. I want to scream at him, but he refuses to take visitors.
I hate him.
I hate him so much.
“Everything okay?”
Standing, I nod rapidly and avoid eye contact. “Great. I should call Char and see what’s taking so long.”
Kayden gently grips my chin in his fingers and tilts my head up so I’m looking at him. Dark brown eyes. Messy black hair. Perpetual smirk. God, he’s so hot.
“I told her not to come.” His grin widens. “Thought the two of us could hang alone for a change.”
I blink at him in confusion. “What?”
“Don’t act surprised, Roux,” he says, lowering his face to mine. “We were always inevitable.”
His lips press to mine and I gasp in shock. He tastes like his energy drinks and Chapstick. All I can do is part my lips and let him kiss me with his eager expertise. When his hand slides to the side of my neck, shivers run down my spine.
Kayden Ramirez just kissed me.
Oh my God.
I should be enjoying this moment, but all I can think about is Jordy’s angry scowl. He wrote to me to tell me to stay away from him, and yet here I am doing the exact opposite.
Pushing thoughts away from Jordy so I can enjoy this moment, I smile up at Kayden.
“Inevitable, huh?”
He pecks my lips. “Yep.”
“What now?”
“I’m going to take you upstairs and kiss you some more, Roux.”
“Oh.”
He laughs. “You’re cute.”
“So are you.” My cheeks burn at my bold statement.
Together we walk up the stairs, but my mind is once again back on Jordy. He’s bullying me through a stupid letter. It’s ridiculous. Why does he even care who I date? It shouldn’t matter to him. He’s in prison.
Breathe, Roux.
He’s. In. Prison.
There’s nothing he can do from there.
Right?
The end...for now. Little Hoodlum is up next!
If you enjoyed Hollis and Roan from Hood River Rat, you will love Penn and Copeland from Wicked Lies Boys Tell!
Listen on Spotify here.
“Stay” by Rihanna
“Take Me to Church” by Hozier
“NFWMB” by Hozier
“They Don’t Know About Us” by One Direction
“So Real” by Jeff Buckley
“I Don’t Love You” by Cruel Youth
“Baby—Acoustic” by Bishop Briggs
“Movement” by Hozier
“I Don’t Give A…” by Missio
“Twisted” by Missio
“Meet Me in the Hallway” by Harry Styles
“How’s It Going to Be” by Third Eye Blind
“Codex” by Radiohead
“All I Need” by Radiohead
“Not Your Fault” by Awolnation
“Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys
“Can You Hold Me” by NF
“Idfc” by Blackbear
“Wish You Were Gay” by Billie Eilish
“F**k U” by Kailee Morgue
“Like That” by Bea Miller
“Oh My” by Big Wre
ck
“Destiny, the Two Way Street” by Jonny Craig
“Love On The Brain” by Cold War Kids
“Cupid Carries A Gun” by Marilyn Manson
Thank you to my husband. You’re my rock. Always.
A huge thank you to my Krazy for K Webster’s Books reader group. You all are insanely supportive, and I can’t thank you enough.
A gigantic thank you to those who always help me out behind the scenes. Elizabeth Clinton, Ella Stewart, Misty Walker, Holly Sparks, Jillian Ruize, Gina Behrends, Wendy Rinebold, Ker Dukey, J.D. Hollyfield, Nicole Blanchard, and Nikki Ash—you ladies are my rock!
Misty—you are the wind beneath my wings.
A big thank you to my author friends who have given me your friendship and your support. You have no idea how much that means to me.
Thank you to all of my blogger friends both big and small that go above and beyond to always share my stuff. You all rock! #AllBlogsMatter
Emily A. Lawrence, thank you so much for editing this book. You’re a star!!
Thank you, Stacey Blake, for always making my books so pretty! You’re an angel and I love you!
A big thanks to Nicole Blanchard with Indie Sage PR for being there for me every step of the ways! Love ya, lady!
Lastly but certainly not least of all, thank you to all of the wonderful readers out there who are willing to hear my story and enjoy my characters like I do. It means the world to me!
K Webster is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her titles have claimed many bestseller tags in numerous categories, are translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks. She lives in “Tornado Alley” with her husband, two children, and her baby dog named Blue. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and researching aliens.
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Psychological Romance Standalones:
My Torin
Whispers and the Roars
Cold Cole Heart
Blue Hill Blood
Wicked Lies Boys Tell
Romantic Suspense Standalones:
Dirty Ugly Toy
El Malo
Notice
Sweet Jayne
The Road Back to Us
Surviving Harley
Love and Law
Moth to a Flame
Erased
Extremely Forbidden Romance Standalones:
The Wild
Hale
Like Dragonflies
Taboo Treats:
Bad Bad Bad
Coach Long
Ex-Rated Attraction
Mr. Blakely
Easton
Crybaby
Lawn Boys
Malfeasance
Renner’s Rules
The Glue
Dane
Enzo
Red Hot Winter
Dr. Dan
KKinky Reads Collection:
Share Me
Choke Me
Daddy Me
Watch Me
Hurt Me
Play Me
Contemporary Romance Standalones:
Wicked Lies Boys Tell
The Day She Cried
Untimely You
Heath
Sundays are for Hangovers
A Merry Christmas with Judy
Zeke’s Eden
Schooled by a Senior
Give Me Yesterday
Sunshine and the Stalker
Bidding for Keeps
B-Sides and Rarities
Conheartists
Paranormal Romance Standalones:
Apartment 2B
Running Free
Mad Sea
Cold Queen
Delinquent Demons
Hood River Hoodlums:
Hood River Rat (Book 1)
Little Hoodlum (Book 2)
War & Peace Series:
This is War, Baby (Book 1)
This is Love, Baby (Book 2)
This Isn’t Over, Baby (Book 3)
This Isn’t You, Baby (Book 4)
This Isn’t Fair, Baby (Book 6)
This is the End, Baby (Book 7—a novella)
Lost Planet Series:
The Forgotten Commander (Book 1)
The Vanished Specialist (Book 2)
The Mad Lieutenant (Book 3)
The Uncertain Scientist (Book 4)
The Lonely Orphan (Book 5)
The Rogue Captain (Book 6)
2 Lovers Series:
Text 2 Lovers (Book 1)
Hate 2 Lovers (Book 2)
Thieves 2 Lovers (Book 3)
Pretty Little Dolls Series:
Pretty Stolen Dolls (Book 1)
Pretty Lost Dolls (Book 2)
Pretty New Doll (Book 3)
Pretty Broken Dolls (Book 4)
The V Games Series:
Vlad (Book 1)
Ven (Book 2)
Vas (Book 3)
Four Fathers Books:
Pearson
Four Sons Books:
Camden
Elite Seven Books:
Gluttony
Greed
Royal Bastards MC:
Koyn
Truths and Lies Duet:
Hidden Truths
Stolen Lies
Books Only Sold on K’s Website and Eden Books:
The Wild
The Free
Hale
Bad Bad Bad
This is War, Baby
Like Dragonflies
The Breaking the Rules Series:
Broken (Book 1)
Wrong (Book 2)
Scarred (Book 3)
Mistake (Book 4)
Crushed (Book 5 – a novella)
The Vegas Aces Series:
Rock Country (Book 1)
Rock Heart (Book 2)
Rock Bottom (Book 3)
The Becoming Her Series:
Becoming Lady Thomas (Book 1)
Becoming Countess Dumont (Book 2)
Becoming Mrs. Benedict (Book 3)
Alpha & Omega Duet:
Alpha & Omega (Book 1)
Omega & Love (Book 2)