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  “I know you’re nervous, but I’m sure there will be other kids starting third grade, too,” Mom said.

  “Why did we have to move? I miss having my own room. And I miss my friends.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. I promise once I get a better job we’ll be able to move to a nicer apartment, one with two bedrooms and in a good area. I know it’s been hard on you these past few months, but I’m doing the best I can. This is a really good school and I’m sure you’ll like it here. I know you miss your friends, but you’ll make new ones, I promise.”

  “I miss Dad.”

  “I do too, sweetie. I really do.”

  Mom gave me a big hug before I got out of the car. A small woman with warm brown eyes walked towards me and waved to my mother as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

  “Welcome to Saint Peter’s. I’m Sister Anne, the principal here. I’ll take you to your classroom.”

  I nodded as we entered the building. Paper flowers decorated the hallway. Everywhere I looked, people looked happy. I tried to force a smile, but Sister Anne frowned in response.

  “Sierra, while I would love to see a smile on that face of yours, it’s perfectly normal for you to be unhappy. Starting a new school is hard. Just remember that if you need anything, I’m never too far.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  My first day went by in a blur. Before I knew it, I was standing outside waiting for my mom to pick me up. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two boys from my class walking in my direction.

  Dex was pudgy with freckles and orangey hair in a buzz cut. Jagger was tall and lanky with jet black hair and blue eyes. They were horsing around with each other when one of them knocked into me, making my book bag fall and my pencils spill out. As I bent down to pick up my things, Jagger yanked my skirt up. I spun around and pushed him as my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

  “You have granny panties,” Jagger teased.

  “Shut up,” I said.

  “Or what? You gonna tell your dad on me?”

  My eyes filled with tears. Jagger started laughing and pointed at me as the tears fell from my eyes.

  “Ha! I made her cry,” he said. “Look, she’s crying.”

  My dad had always taught me to stand up for myself. He warned me about bullies, but I never had to deal with any until that moment. Dad said the best way to deal with bullies was to not back down.

  “I wish I could tell my dad about you,” I said as my hands balled into fists. “But he’s dead.”

  Just as I was ready to hit him, my mom pulled up to the curb in front of the school and honked her horn. Jagger and Dex ran down the sidewalk. I picked up the rest of my things and put them back in my bag before getting into the car.

  “Everything okay?” Mom asked. “Were those boys bothering you?”

  “I hate them,” I choked out.

  “I’m going to talk to Sister Anne.”

  “No, you’ll only make it worse. I just want to go home.”

  “I know it’s been a rough few months, Sierra, but I promise it’ll get better.”

  She was right. I ended up loving going to Saint Peter’s, but nothing changed how I felt about Jagger. Over the next five years, he continued to tease and embarrass me whenever he had the chance. I hated everything about him.

  Present Day

  One Month Later

  “I still can’t believe Jagger Myka is going to be staying with you. You’ve got the worst luck,” Issy, my best friend, said. “When does he get here?”

  She was looking out my bedroom window towards the street. She had straight blonde hair that made me a little jealous. While her hair fell straight, mine seemed to have a mind of its own and was all over the place. I picked up a ponytail holder and pulled my hair back, trying to keep it wrangled together.

  “Any minute now. Phil called my mom when they landed, and that was an hour ago,” I said. “You’re right, I do have the worst luck. Of all the guys in the world, why him? I’m glad you’re here though. I need some support.”

  “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I hate him just as much as you do. He and Dex were the worst. They teased and bullied all of us. Remember in sixth grade when Jagger told everyone Simon Roma was your boyfriend? I was embarrassed for you.”

  “Ugh, yes. I thought I was so lucky getting the smartest kid in class as my science partner, and then that happened. I was mortified! Then Simon thought I liked him, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.” I shook my head thinking about how everyone had teased me. “Jagger was such a jerk. I don’t know how many times he told me I was ugly. I bet he’s ugly now. You know how it is, he was kinda cute back then, but now, probably not so much. You know, karma. Please let there be some karma.”

  “I don’t know. Dex turned into a hottie. Who would’ve expected that?”

  “Yeah, but that’s my point exactly. After Jagger left, Dex didn’t have him around to pick on other people with, so he changed. He became a nice guy. I’m sure Jagger didn’t.”

  Phil honked the horn of his Mercedes Benz as he pulled into the driveway.

  “Well, you’ll get your answer soon enough.”

  Issy and I looked out the window. The trunk was up, blocking our view of Jagger. I held my breath as I waited for the trunk to close.

  “Quick, let’s go downstairs,” Issy said.

  We rushed out of my bedroom and down the curved stairway. As we reached the foyer, the front door opened.

  Please be ugly. Please be ugly.

  Phil entered first, followed by Jagger. Jagger ran his hand through his tousled black hair as he entered the house. He was tall, easily an inch taller than Phil, who towered over my mother and I.

  “Holy shit, he’s hot,” Issy whispered.

  He was. And it made me want to hate him even more. He had defined cheekbones and his face had the hint of a five o’clock shadow. His short sleeve shirt was a little loose, but as he walked, it teased me as it clung to his body, hinting at a six pack underneath.

  “Jagger, if you want to bring your things to your room, make a right at the top of the stairs, go through the loft, and it’s the first door on the right,” Phil said.

  Jagger’s eyes swept over the staircase before they landed on me. His eyes were an intense blue framed by long dark lashes. As our eyes met, the room spun a little.

  “Hey,” he said.

  He gave me a lopsided smile as he walked past me and up the stairs. I couldn’t stop myself from turning and watching him as he climbed the steps in his tight jeans.

  “His approach was phenomenal, but just look at that departure,” Issy whispered. “I think I’ll be coming over a lot this summer.”

  “Uh-huh, sure, no problem,” I mumbled. “I’m sure he’s still a prick though.”

  I hate him. I hate him. But why does he have to be so fucking hot?

  Chapter Two

  Jagger

  It had been five years since I had last been home. It didn’t matter how long Mom and I lived in Arizona, I would always think of San Diego as my home.

  As the plane reached cruising altitude, I glanced over at Phil in the seat next to me. I didn’t know if he felt bad for me being raised by a single mother or what, but we bonded when I was a kid and he was my soccer coach. I never had much of a relationship with my dad so it was nice to have Phil to look up to and talk guy stuff with. His hair looked grayer than I remembered even though I had only seen him a month ago.

  “You know you didn’t need to come out here early and fly with me,” I said.

  “I had a meeting in Phoenix and thought it would be nice if we could spend a little time together before flying back. It was great having those extra couple of days with you, like old times. Once we get to San Diego, there’s going to be a lot going on with the wedding and before I know it, you’ll be heading to Great Lakes.”

  “Please don’t start with that. I get enough of it from Mom.”

  The flight attendant smiled as she walked up the short aisle
with a tray of ice water and orange juice. This was my first time sitting in First Class, but all I could think about was my Mom and the day we left California.

  Summer

  Five Years Ago

  Phil planned a going away picnic for the day Mom and I were moving to Arizona. Towards the end, his girlfriend Rachel showed up with her daughter Sierra, who went to school with us. As soon as they joined us, Dex elbowed me.

  “Sierra’s here,” he said. “Let’s go razz her.”

  “Nah, man, it’s my last day here. Let’s just hang out. Mom wants to leave soon anyway,” I said.

  “You’re a pussy. Is that how you want to leave? With everyone thinking you’re a pussy? Besides, she loves the attention.”

  Does she?

  “Maybe I’ll do just one last thing for old time’s sake,” I said.

  Sierra was away from the crowd, pouring herself a cup of cream soda. Her hair was loose and there was something about how the sun hit it that made it glow around her. She was the prettiest girl in school and I didn’t know why, but I loved teasing her. I left Dex and went over to where she was standing.

  “Hey, Sierra,” I said.

  “Oh. Umm, hi,” she said as her eyes darted around.

  “You look pretty...” As the words came out of my mouth, Dex’s hand slapped me on the back. “Ugly. You look pretty ugly.”

  As Dex cracked up, Sierra’s face crumpled for a moment before she clenched her jaw. Her face reddened and her eyes narrowed at me.

  “You know what? I’m glad you’re leaving,” she said. “I hate you and I hope I never see you again.”

  As she stormed away, I knew I had gone too far. Next to me, Dex laughed hysterically.

  “Shut up,” I said as I punched him in the arm.

  “What? It was funny,” he said.

  I didn’t bother answering. What was the point? I was leaving anyway.

  My mom waved at me from the car. The U-Haul was hitched to the back and I could tell she was anxious to go. As I looked around the soccer field at Phil and my friends one last time, my eyes kept returning to Sierra. I didn’t know what it was about her, but I liked riling her up. I thought she thought it was funny too, but now I wondered if I had it wrong all along.

  “Let’s get going, Jagger,” Mom yelled.

  I looked back one last time at Sierra. Her wild red curls waved in the breeze. Even though her back was towards me, I could tell she was still upset. It was better that I left her alone.

  “Sorry to rush you, but I’m hoping to make it to Tucson before dark.”

  “It’s okay. I said good-bye to everyone.”

  “I know you’re not happy we’re leaving, but it’s too expensive here and I refuse to take any more money from your father.”

  “Why? He’s offering it, and he’s rich.”

  She let out a long breath before answering.

  “That’s his money, not ours. You’re too young to understand this, but there are a lot of people who would take advantage of someone like your father. We’re not going to be those people.”

  “But if he’s trying to help us--“

  “No, Jagger, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want you ever taking money from him. It’s just you and me. We’ll figure things out together, without his help.”

  Present Day

  “You alright?” Phil asked.

  “Yeah, just thinking.”

  “About your mom?”

  “Yeah, she’s been pretty upset lately. Ever since I told her I was enlisting instead of going to college.”

  “I really wish you’d reconsider applying.”

  “Nah, it’s too much money. The Navy will help pay for college, it’s no big deal.”

  “It is a big deal, Jagger. There’s a lot going on in the world right now. I’m sure your mother is worried about that, I am too. I wished you had talked to me about this more. I could’ve looked into scholarships or something for you. What about your dad?”

  “It doesn’t matter. You know how Mom is. She doesn’t want me taking anything from him. She says it isn’t right.”

  Phil sighed. He knew by now it was a losing battle. My mother was too stubborn. There were plenty of times growing up that I thought about how much easier life would have been if she let my father send us money, but I knew she had her reasons.

  What I couldn't tell anyone was that Mom was the reason I enlisted. She was tired all the time and had been for years. I couldn’t remember the last time she didn’t work two jobs just to make ends meet. She wanted me to go to college, but I knew she would try to help me pay for it. I couldn’t let her do that. She had sacrificed enough for me.

  “Just do me a favor,” he said. “Try not to mention the Navy until after the wedding. Rachel and Sierra are still pretty sensitive about what happened to Sierra’s dad.”

  “Killed in combat, right?”

  He nodded. I’d never forget the look on Sierra’s face that first day of third grade when she told me her dad was dead. My entire history with Sierra was one mistake after another. While I was there, living under the same roof as her, I would try my damnedest to leave her alone.

  I put my earbuds in and turned up the volume of my music. Mom didn’t like that I was going away for a few weeks to San Diego, but I did it for her. She needed time for herself, and she had to get used to my being away. It was better to do it now than when I couldn’t get back home if I needed to.

  Of course I didn’t tell her that. I couldn’t. She’d argue with me about my leaving until the end of time. But I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She needed to start putting herself first instead of me. Every choice she had made in the past eighteen years had only been for my benefit. It was time she thought about herself. She couldn’t do that with me around. She’d be better off without me.

  After we landed, Phil and I got lunch before heading to his house. I had never been to this house before, but from what I knew about how his business had grown over the last few years and the expensive Mercedes Benz he was driving, I expected it to be large.

  He waved to the guard, who nodded as he opened the large iron gates to the community. The large homes were set back with wide lawns between them and the curb. As we turned into the driveway, I looked up at the Tuscan-style home with its golden walls and tiled roof. A three-car garage was built into the side of the house, but Phil followed the driveway around a three-tiered fountain and parked in front of the house.

  As he turned off the car, he put his hand on my shoulder. “I know you’ve never stayed with me before, but this is your home and I want you to feel comfortable here,” he said. “If there’s anything you need, just ask me or Rachel.”

  “Thanks. Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  I hung back, looking over the wide doorway and stone embellishes as Phil walked into the house. His voice echoed in the marble foyer.

  “Jagger, if you want to bring your things to your room, make a right at the top of the stairs and it’s the first door on the right,” Phil said.

  The house was more than I had imagined with its marble floors and fancy staircase that curved up to a balcony. What surprised me even more was seeing Sierra. She was just as pretty as I remembered, except now she had curves that I had to force myself to not stare at.

  Beside her was another girl that I thought I remembered from school, but I couldn’t pull my attention away from Sierra.

  “Hey,” I said.

  I had to get away from her before I said or did anything stupid. I had caused her enough grief with my jokes and pranks. This house was big enough that I could stay away from her and if not, I could call up some old friends and go out.

  I can avoid her for a month.

  As I passed her on the steps, I couldn’t help but take another look at her and wonder what her pouty lips would taste like. Leaving Sierra alone was going to be harder than I thought.

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  Liliana Rhodes is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author who writes Contemporary and Paranormal Romance. Blessed with an overactive imagination, she is always writing and plotting her next stories. She enjoys movies, reading, photography, listening to music, and spending time with her muse. Liliana lives in the Northeast with her son, and their feathered and furry family members.