Page 1 of Twisted Redemption

CHAPTER ONE

BROOKE

MEMORIES ARE AN odd thing.

Sometimes, the good ones are right there. Summer walks with ice cream cones, opening presents on Christmas, playing dress-up in my room, tennis matches with my brother, slow dancing at prom.

But sometimes, all you can remember are the bad memories. And sometimes, they overshadow the good ones.

Summer walks and ice cream, playing tennis with Alex—to escape our screaming parents. Opening presents on Christmas—and faking smiles of gratitude for the gifts I’d later return, because my parents didn’t even know me well enough to know what I liked. Playing dress-up in my room—only for my father to find me and scold me for wasting time on such a frivolous thing. Slow dancing at prom—because my date ditched me, and one of my friends found me crying and danced with me out of pity.

And now, standing in my mother’s house, watching through the windows as people mill about outside, it hits me. I can’t remember a single memory that’s not overshadowed by the misery my parents put me and Alex through.

Outside this goddamned house? Maybe. But here, stuck in between these walls, it feels like I can’t breathe.

At first, I was excited my mother was hosting a brunch today. It’d be a welcome distraction. But then I realized that, as always, the Grayson men would show up, and I’d have to be around him.

The boy who was always determined to give me good memories, with no shadows. Who might’ve succeeded, if now they weren’t tinted with heartbreak.

Which is something I absolutely do not need more of right now.

And which is something that, however much I hate myself for it, is my own damn fault.

But I’ve stayed hidden inside long enough. If I don’t make an appearance soon, my mother will just drag me out and cause a scene. So with a deep breath, I touch my fingers to the small daisy pendant around my neck and step outside.

Blaze is standing at the base of the stairs with some blonde woman who’s facing away from me. She elbows him, nodding to the tennis courts, and he laughs. Dominic and Alex join them, and I can hear them arguing about something.

“You could always beat Brooke, though,” Alex says as he loops his arm through the blonde’s.

Tennis. They must be talking about tennis. Because they could all beat me.

“Because I’m fucking tiny, you assholes,” I say, raising my voice slightly so it carries to them.

They all turn, and Blaze catches my gaze first, cool and hard. His eyes flit to my daisy necklace before his nostrils flare and he looks away. I only let myself watch him for a moment before turning to see the others. Dominic—Blaze’s brother—looks like he’s about to murder the sun for shining so brightly.

As for Alex, he always has some girl on his arm these days, and I’m curious who it is this time.

When I finally take her in, my jaw drops. “Oh my god, Sophia! It’s been so long!” I descend the rest of the steps as quickly as I can, throwing my arms around her.

Sophia and Alex dated in high school. She’s always been my favorite out of all his exes, so seeing them together is like a bit of sunshine on a rainy day. I’ve missed her like hell. It’s been what, five years? Too long.

“Hey, beautiful.” She squeezes me before holding me at arms’ length. “How’ve you been?”

“Oh, just fine.” I grin at her, ignoring the hint of concern on her face. I’ve mastered a smile that can fool everyone, including Alex. And I have no desire to talk about the romantic tragedy my life has been over the past couple months. “I moved back in with Mom for a bit, but I’m about ready to go home. Especially before senior years starts up. She’s driving me crazy.”

“You’re sure?” Alex says softly, stepping forward to put a hand on my arm. It’s a simple gesture, but it says everything: I’m here for you, no matter what.

“I’m positive. At this point, she’s hurting me more than she’s helping.”

She being my mother.

Fiddling with the edge of my dress, I turn back to Sophia. “Come get some mimosas with me. I want to hear about how you’ve been.” Then I pull her away before she can tell me no.

Sophia doesn’t ask me if anything is wrong, and I smile to myself. I must look a lot better than I feel. “Tell me everything,” I say, grabbing us a couple mimosas and pulling her toward the gardens. I can’t be around Blaze right now—especially since I can feel his glare burning a hole in the back of my neck.

I do my best to keep my mind off of him. Instead, I ask Sophia question after question, catching up on her life over the past five years.

And as I listen, catching every time that she throws a nervous, lovesick look in Alex’s direction, it becomes painfully obvious that she has no idea. No idea that Alex is still just as in love with her as he was when they were teenagers.

---