Page 2 of Knot Forgotten

“Later, Cam. See you tomorrow, Rinny,” Blake sing-songs as he slowly backs away, a wide grin on his face.

Riley nods and signs his signature goodbye. His fingers split between his middle and ring fingers. It's not American sign language but a long-standing joke between the five of us. Unless someone was as big of a Star Trek nerd as Riley, no one outside our group would get it. Warmth spreads in my stomach, and I tamp it down. A stupid smile shouldn't be pulling at my face at the fact that I have the friendship of the most sought-after boys in our soon-to-be high school.

Sometimes, I pretend they are all mine. Feeding the stupid crush that's developed this summer. It's dumb, and I know it. I'll only get heartbroken if I entertain it; they don't do girls. In fact, they ignore them all. For the most part, except for—I shake my head. I don't want to think of her right now.

Obviously, I don't count. And I'm going to keep it that way. So I sign the silly goodbye back, and he grins at me. “Live long and prosper,” I say, and he throws his head back with a burst of laughter. It’s everything, his laugh. Loud and absolutely filled to the brim with his happiness.

Matt swoops me up into his arms before backing away and following the guys, earning a squeal from me as he gives my cheek a loud kiss. “This year is going to be our year,” he says into my ear.

His breath along my cheek makes a shiver run down my back, but I quickly decide it's my hair being wet and the sun going down that has my nipples pebbling in my shirt. I'm just cold. So I squirm against him until he releases me with a grunt.

“You say that every year, Matt.” I step back, my arm brushing against Cam as I do.

“I do not.” He glowers down at me before a smile breaks out over his handsome face. “Okay, maybe I do, but this year, it's true in a whole new way.”

I curl my arms around my stomach and shake my head. “Whatever, get home before you get grounded.”

Matt grunts and turns to follow the other two. Silence falls as they disappear around the bend in the trail that leads to their backyards. The forest is our playground and has been for as long as I can remember. It's the only time I feel free.

My steps slow as we come to our treehouse. Cameron's dad built it for us, never knowing what it meant to me to have a safe haven when my house gets too tense. I've slept in it more than I could ever share with the guys. Though they know I sometimes do.

Cam pivots toward me. “What’s up?” he asks with a quirk of his eyebrow. I give a slight raise of my shoulders and glance at the tree house again.

“Not ready to go home,” I admit wistfully, unable to pull my eyes away from our hideaway.

Concern furrows his brow as he looks in the direction of our houses.

“Is your dad home tonight? I thought he was working midnights.”

So…maybe Cam knows. It would be hard not knowing living right next door to my personal hell. Especially when the red and blue flashing lights cast their signal all over our neighborhood that a fight had happened. That my dad is a terrible person.

I avert my gaze, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “He was.”

“But he isn’t now?” He pauses and shifts on his heels as if he’s making a split decision. “I can hang out with you here for a little. My mom will be cool with it.”

Without waiting for a response, he heads off the path to the ladder and disappears up the tree into my safe haven.

“You coming, Rinny?” He pops his head back through the opening. His blue eyes sparkle back at me in the dim light, and I take the first step toward the tree house.

When I reach the top, he’s reclining on the huge bean bag the guys smuggled out of Blake's house months ago. The small battery-operated lamp already casts a small glow over the area. He pats the fluff next to him.

“Come on, Rinny, listen to the birds say goodnight with me while the fireflies dance.”

My stomach dips, but I don’t fight it for once, allowing myself to pretend at least one of my guys has a crush on me, too. I’ll rebuild my walls tomorrow. As I settle next to him, he tugs me into his side, the warmth of him seeping into my skin as he cuddles me in a way I’ve only dreamed of—at least for the last few months.

Who knew turning fourteen would mean so many extra emotions?

We’re silent as darkness falls, the rhythm of his breathing almost putting me to sleep. Well, it would if I wasn’t currently hyper-aware of each place we touch. A low vibration zips through my blood, and I swear I smell vanilla cupcakes as I inhale, with an undertone of sandalwood that reminds me of comfort and safety, but I’m not sure why.

I sniff again before I feel my face flame. Holy shit, it’s me. I’m perfuming, which means only one thing.

I scramble away from Cameron, earning a loud grunt as my elbow lands in his ribcage. “Rinny!”

“I’ve got to go!” I lunge for the hole in the floor, feet first, taking the ladder faster than I ever have. Hell, if I didn’t think I’d break my neck, I’d use the fireman pole his dad installed. He halts my progress as his fingers wrap around my upper arm. He pulls me back into the tree house. The muscles in his forearm bunch in a way that should not make my stomach flip and my body feel funny all over.

He smooths my hair away from my face, staring into my eyes in a way that freezes me in place, rooting me to the floor as if I’m made of plywood. I suck in a harsh breath of pure sandalwood, and it hits me, that’s him. And he smells like heaven. He is musking.

Alpha.

---