Page 1 of Jagged Line Paradise

Part 1

Paradise Lost

10Years Ago

Chapter 1

Avalon

10 Years Ago

EVERYTHING IS PERFECThere in paradise.

My bare feet dangle over the edge of the dusty bluff as I press my palms onto the desert sand at either side of my hips. I take in a deep breath, and I swear I can smell the sunset as it paints a rainbow around the jagged lines of the mountain range in the distance.

It smells sweet to me—banana yellow, citrus orange, and that perfect hint of raspberry pink. A breeze kicks up the earthy aroma of the desert landscape in this perfect Arizona summer. The scents—which probably only exist in my mind—blend together, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and heat around me.

It’s not just the beauty of the sunset that creates the imaginary aroma in my mind. The sweetness and heat become more potent and that’s how I know he’s arrived. I don’t turn to look behind me, but I know he’s there.

“You’re late,” I say with a smile shining out at the mountain line.

“How the hell do you do that?” Andrés replies with a short laugh.

I whip my head around to give him a grin, but my smile shifts instantly to open-mouthed surprise. His bright, white smile is only brighter behind the flame of the single candle stuck into a cupcake he’s holding. The dancing orange flame matches the sunset. He shakes a piece of raven-black hair from where it’s fallen across his dark, chocolate eyes. His warm bronze skin glows beautifully with the flicker of firelight.

He starts to sing as he approaches me, cupping his hand in front of the candle to keep the flame from snuffing out. “Happy birthday to you…”

I turn my body a little to the right, pulling my knee back onto the bluff’s edge as I spin to look at him. “Are yousinging?” I grin.

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Lonnie.”

“Unbelievable. You’re singing!” I can’t help my laugh which only brightens his smile.

“Happy birthday to you.” He crouches in front of me, moving his hand away to reveal the bright blue-frosted cupcake with sprinkles that match the colors of the sky—pink, orange, and yellow.

I give him full-on, unflinching eye contact and a smile so big it hurts my cheeks. “You’re amazing. Do you know that?”

“Of course. Now blow out the candle and make a wish.” I see the way his dark eyes flicker from my eyes to my lips, though maybe I’m only imagining the signal that makes me think he wants to kiss me.

We’ve been best friends for years.

Avalon and Andrés…double A, as the assholes at high school liked to call us. It may have hurt me a little when they would make fun of my orange hair and freckles, or when they would make lewd comments about my boobs and tell me that my double Ds don’t fit in my double A friendship with Andrés—so immature.

But Andrés always told me it was just because they wished they could date a girl like me. I don’t know about that. Thank God those days are behind us now. High school was a nightmare in this small town. I feel like I only survived it because Andrés and I had each other’s backs—we’re inseparable, and he’s literally the best guy friend a girl could hope to have.

I’ve been lucky enough to have that friendship all to myself since the day we met, when we were just kids. Everyone else has always been so afraid of him. I guess he looks tough on a superficial level, but he’s not the guy everyone thinks he is. I know him better than anyone else does.

At least, I used to.

I feel like he’s been holding back a bit lately, and my hopeful mind wants to think that maybe it’s because he wants something more…with me.

It’s likely just wishful thinking on my part, though. Andrés has always been too beautiful for me. He was the quiet, brooding guy at school—the guy who was too scary to be approachable, but so ridiculously good-looking and mysterious that I’d overhear girls talking about wanting to hook-up with him far more often than I would have liked.

It always made me feel uncomfortable. It would remind me that Andrés was going to have a girlfriend one day, and that’s something I’m going to have to deal with. He had his hook-ups. I’m not blind and I’m not a moron to pretend that my friendship alone was enough for a guy like him. But none of those hook-ups ever really stuck for him. He much preferred to scare people off with his tough appearance.

I was never afraid of him, though, because he shines so bright whenever we’re together. He’s not the mask he wears for others; he’s so much deeper than that. When we’re together, he’s golden. He shines as radiantly as the desert sun on a cloudless day.

He’s perfect to me.

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