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Froather from her conversation with Glen, Raevynn’s idyllic life wasn’t as wonderful and perfect as it was portrayed on social media and in interviews, and it didn’t surprise Collin at all that her mother had her on a relentless, arowing up Pageants, recitals, voice lessons, auditions, dance classes, school
The little free tihter, Rae had spent it over at Collin’s house with his sister and Rae’s best friend, Avery At least until Raevynn had turned fourteen and started seeing Collin as ure Her infatuation had been obvious, and for three long years, he’d resisted her atte her in the friend zone for a variety of reasons The most prohter on a short leash, and whenever Joyce saw the two of theether, even casually and innocently, the look in the woman’s eyes clearly stated that Raevynn was off-limits
He’d ed to keep his hands off her until the end of Rae’s junior year—his senior year—when he’d finally given in to their attraction and he’d kissed her, which had been her first kiss frouileless in his arly She’d tasted like the cotton candy lip gloss she wore, and from that moment on, his heart had never been the sa, but he’d known Raevynn most of her life—her vivacious personality, how kind and selfless she was—so falling in love with her had been as effortless as taking his next breath
And now here Collin was, somehow her savior He never could have predicted that his desire to see Raevynn after the shoould result in the two of theether at Rae’s request
When they caer around a strand of her long blonde hair that felt like silk, giving it a playful tug Her stunning blue eyesin the depths After years of only seeing her in photos or in video clips, he was finally able to touch her again, though he kept things light and teasing for now, until he had a better feel for where he really stood with Rae—other than being the ly rescued her
“So, Rapunzel,” he murmured, not surprised to feel his own body respond to how close she sat next to him “Looks like you just escaped your plush, lavish tower and the ogre that protects you So, where would you like to go?”
She grinned at his fairy-tale reference, and while he’d expected her to tell him she had no plan or destination in mind, she surprised him with her response
“Do your parents still have that beach house in Margate City?” she asked, turning her body toward hi hs a few inches “The one where I used to go with your family in the summers when my mother would let me?”
The light turned green and he returned his attention to the road an
d off the toned legs he was tempted to touch and caress “Yes, they still have the house,” he told her of the modest three-bedroom vacation home his parents had purchased when Collin and Avery had been kids, as a place where they could spend summers, weekends, and most holidays It was only a two-hour drive froh away to qualify as a getaway
“Theythe place but decided they’d keep it to have somewhere to stay when they caave Avery and me a key to use the house whenever ant” He sister loved the beach and used the house far more than Collin ever did
He glanced over to see Raevynn bite her plu and drae o there for a few days? If not, I totally understand,” she a hoard her request was “I just don’t want to go somewhere that nize me and I have to stay holed up in a room, like a hotel I’d really prefer to stay at a place that is more private and where I don’t feel soconfined and isolated”
The quiet, hesitant way she said those two last words gave Collin enough insight to her current state of mind and her need for privacy and seclusion on her own terms If he had the ability to offer her so to provide it
“Sure, we can go there,” he said, and steered the car toward New Jersey
“Thank you,” she said, her tone grateful “And I don’t mean to assume that you can just take time off from your life and job to look after me You could drop me off at the house if you’d like, and I shen I leave I’ll make sure it looks like I was never there”