Perfect Embrace by Kaylee Ryan

Prologue

Laken

Sixteen years old

“Gah! Did you see Grayson?” I ask my best friend, Justine. “Holly is so freaking lucky.” We’re standing in the bathroom of our high school, Mason Creek High. As sophomores, we don’t usually see the juniors and seniors too much. However, there are times, like today, that we get a glimpse and, well, let’s just say, seeing him walking out of the office and watching his tight end, which has nothing to do with his position on the football field, just made my day.

“That she is,” Justine agrees, running her Chapstick over her lips.

Before I can gush about how gorgeous he is, one of the bathroom stalls opens, and out walks Holly. As in Grayson Davis’s girlfriend, Holly. I cringe, ready for her to give me hell for checking out her boyfriend. Holly and Grayson are both seniors. My sister, Leni, is a junior, and I don’t hate it when I get to tag along with her to ogle the hotness that is Grayson Davis. However, I would never speak those words to anyone but my best friend, Justine, or my sister.

“H-Holly—” I start, and she smiles. Not a sneer, but a genuine smile.

“I happen to agree with you.” She winks.

“I’m so sorry. I would never— I mean, I was just looking—and I’ll shut up now.”

Justine squeezes my shoulder, letting me know she’s there with me through this embarrassing ordeal.

“There is nothing wrong with looking, Laken.” She steps up to the sink and washes her hands.

I didn’t even know she knew my name.“I’m sorry,” I say again.

She turns to look at me, and I think this is it. The tongue lashing I was expecting. Not that that’s her thing. I don’t know much about Holly, other than she’s dating the hottest freaking guy in our school. “Don’t apologize for looking. It’s not illegal. You weren’t plotting this evil plan to seduce him,” she jokes. “It’s all good. I promise. And honestly, if I were you, I’d be looking too.” She shrugs.

“Still, I shouldn’t have said that. Not here.” I bow my head.

“Hey.” She steps toward me. I can hear her drying her hands and the hard-crinkly brown paper towels the school places in the bathrooms. “You did nothing wrong. I know what Gray and I have is good. Even if you were plotting the demise of our relationship, it wouldn’t work.” She shrugs again and tosses the paper towel into the trash can. “Have a good day, ladies.”

As soon as the door closes, Justine looks at me with wide eyes. “Did that just happen?”

I hold my arm out to her. “Pinch me.”

She does, and I indeed feel the sting. “She’s so freaking cool.”

“She really is. Couple goals right there.”

“Truth. No wonder he’s head over heels in love with her.” That’s the other thing. Grayson isn’t afraid to show the entire school that Holly is his number one. He walks her to class, sits with her at lunch, kisses her at halftime before heading to the locker rooms. The list goes on and on.

Grayson Davis has set the bar high and has helped me realize that’s what I want. I won’t settle for a guy who doesn’t love me like he loves Holly.