Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (beach books TXT) 📕

descend the steps of the porch, but we never get the chance to board our ride. Before any of us steps foot inside the bus, an engine revs in the distance. Then, what do we see a few seconds later?

A gray pickup barreling up the long driveway.

“Dear God, help us today,” Boone groans to himself—his reaction to seeing his other grandsons rolling up in all their loud, rowdy glory.

At least the triplets are happy to see them.

And Scar.

Boone’s right. A little divine intervention would be great right now. I especially think so when the truck slams to a stop and Linden hops out the bed of it, coming straight for my sister like there’s no one else standing here.

The wind picks up, moving through his hair, and it’s apparent that he’s too cool to notice it’s a little chilly today. Instead of wearing a hoodie or jacket like the rest of us, he’s rocking a white t-shirt and jeans.

The other four go straight for West, Joss, and I, saying their goodbyes, but you’d think Scar’s the only one Linden sees.

“Couldn’t let you leave without giving you this,” he says, stepping closer to her. She stares up at him like he’s some kind of deity, fallen from the sky to Earth.

“What is it?”

He shrugs and slips both hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Just a little something so you don’t forget me.”

She shoots him a look that has me thinking she knows he’s full of shit—one of those guys who’s used to girls eating out the palm of his hand. Then again, there’s a small part of me that worries she’s falling for it.

She takes the small bag when Linden offers it, and then pulls out a t-shirt.

“I had our guy rush and make you a pink one. That’s our band,” he explains, pointing at the logo in the center of the shirt.

“What? You thought I’d want pink because I’m a girl?” she asks with a smirk.

“Well, I uh—”

“Relax. I’m kidding. It’s sweet.” She peers up from the shirt and meets Linden’s gaze and… kill me now.

That look I was terrified I’d one day see in her eyes? The one that contradicts the cold shoulder she’s been giving him? Yeah, I see it plain as day.

“Thank you,” she eventually says, once she’s able to tear her eyes away from him.

“No problem.”

There’s a moment of awkward silence between them and I completely ignore every single conversation but theirs.

“So, I was thinking. If you give me your number, we can keep in touch. You know, check in on each other every now and then?”

I hold my breath, watching to see how things will play out.

“I told you, I’m involved with someone,” Scar explains.

Linden doesn’t seem defeated in the least by hearing my sister tell him again why she’s off limits.

“So you keep saying,” he smirks.

“And yet, you insist on backing me into a corner,” Scar shoots back.

Linden’s smile grows and he does that thing again, where he eye-bangs my sister so hard I feel dirty witnessing it.

“You’re not gonna make this easy for me, are you?”

Scar smirks when he asks. “Not only will I not make it easy, I’ll make it impossible.”

Instead of letting that deter him, his masochistic ass smiles at her. “So, I take it that’s a no on giving me your number.”

“Oh, it’s a big no,” she clarifies.

Linden nods, biting the side of his lip as he slips both hands back inside his pockets. “At least give me your socials. What’s the harm in that?”

He’s not begging, but he’s definitely being persistent as hell.

Shaking her head, Scar laughs a bit. “It was great meeting you, Linden. Goodbye.”

With that, she offers a cheeky grin and starts toward the bus but isn’t quite fast enough. Linden manages to get a hold of her when she passes, and if his light grip on her hand was enough to halt her, it means she wanted to be stopped.

“Don’t make me stalk you, Scarlett.” He croons his warning with a wicked smirk. One that makes Scar’s own smile dim a bit. However, I’m convinced this shift has nothing to do with being put off by Linden’s intensity. If anything—based solely on who our mother is, and how we’re both a little broken because of it—I’d say she likes it.

Scar blinks into Linden’s gaze while slowly pulling out of his grasp. Her eyes flit to his parted lips, and then meet his stare again.

“Give it your best shot,” is her parting challenge.

Linden eyes her as she passes, not bothering to stop her this time, but he keeps his gaze trained in her direction long after she’s disappeared inside the bus. Watching him now, I wonder if he’s questioning the same thing I am.

Were Scar’s words meant as a deterrent? Or were they an invitation?

“Ready?” West asks, stealing my attention. “We should get going so we’re not late.”

I glance toward Linden one last time before nodding.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

West’s hand rests against the small of my back and we say our last goodbyes. For so many reasons, this was a trip to remember. In a few hours we’ll be back in Cypress Prep, back where we’ll have to face our problems head on, but I have to believe there will be a break in Roby’s investigation soon. Especially now that we’ve made a connection between Vin and Paul Ruiz. I’m not sure what good it will do yet, but I choose to believe things will start to go our way soon.

I mean, they have to.

Right?

QweenPandora: Incoming, lovelies!

It appears Cypress Prep Royalty has landed. Still no word on where TheGoldenCrew has been all week, but they certainly look well-rested. Perhaps a bit of time away from the city is just what the doctor ordered.

But be careful, oh royal ones. We’ve all heard the age-old adage of how absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I have a theory of my own. Perhaps fondness of heart isn’t the only emotion one’s absence might feed.

Could the same hold