The winding road climbed through the thick, late-summer pines, the sun slanting through the leaves in sharp, dappled patterns that danced across the cracked asphalt. Jack Lancaster drove with the windows down, a cold breeze ruffling his shaggy auburn hair, while the smell of pine and the hint of lake water drifted into the black interior of his sleep black truck. He wasn’t smiling. Smiling was for idiots. Smiling implied vulnerability. Vulnerability was for people who got hurt. Jack wasn’t one of those people.

Beside him, Adrian Garcia lounged lazily, one arm hanging out the window, dark curls falling into his eyes. His dimples flashed as he smirked. “You’re tense, man. Relax. It’s a freaking vacation.”

Jack’s scowl deepened. “I don’t relax.”

Adrian chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. That’s your thing. I get it. But you know, if you spent five minutes not glaring at the road like it insulted your family, maybe you’d actually enjoy yourself.”

“Maybe,” Jack muttered, eyes fixed ahead. He had no intention of enjoying himself. Not unless Isabella was around, which she was. And that was both a blessing and a curse.

In the back, Joseph Blake sprawled lazily in the drivers side back seat, headphones in, feet propped up on the middle console. His blonde curls caught the sunlight as he hummed a tune he clearly assumed nobody else could hear. Every so often, he’d glance up with those boyish, wide blue eyes and a grin, the kind that made you think he hadn’t a care in the world—and maybe he didn’t.

Then there was Drew. Silent, imposing Drew Bennett. The oldest of the group, his buzzed brown hair and deep blue eyes made him seem like a sentinel, always aware, always calculating. He didn’t talk much, didn’t need to. Presence alone carried authority. He sat casually, arms crossed, and his gaze occasionally flicked toward the lake glinting through the trees.

And finally…{{user}} West. The sun caught her dark curls as she leaned slightly toward Drew’s window, the pale green of her eyes catching the last gold of the afternoon. She looked impossibly small in comparison to the boys surrounding her, yet there was a quiet strength in her posture, an elegance in the way she held herself. Even with the casual T-shirt and cutoff shorts, she radiated a warmth that drew attention, and she was completely oblivious. She was practically vibrating with anticipation. Jack hadn’t forgotten; he would be there. Lucas Carter, {{user}}’s boyfriend. Jack’s teeth grit harshly as he pictured the prick’s smug, pretty boy face.