Page 1 of Paxton

CHAPTER 1

PAXTON

I'm just aboutto settle in for the night when my phone buzzes in my pocket.

I shift on the couch, groaning at the idea of Nash, Lawson, or Baylor trying to convince me to come out tonight. They’ve already tried twice.

Not only am I exhausted, I'm just so damn tired of running into Monroe and Liam everywhere we go.

As long as she's happy, it's fine.

I just don't have to subject myself to the torture of it.

I pull out my phone, my heart stuttering in my chest when I see Monroe’s name and picture pop up.

I hesitate, wondering if my friends have roped her into asking me to come out too.

Normally I’d never hesitate to answer her call, but things have been different lately. Strained.

I'd like to blame it on the fact that I don't like Liam—he's a douchebag who somehow convinced her he's a nice guy—but it's more than that.

It'salwaysbeen more than that.

I swipe to answer the call, knowing damn well I’ll never ignore her.

“Hello?” I answer, clearing my throat.

Loud music blares in the background, and I press my phone harder to my ear like it’ll help me hear better.

“Paxton,” Monroe says my name on a panicked breath.

That quickly, I'm up, shoving my feet into shoes and grabbing my keys.

“Where are you?” I ask, adrenaline flooding my veins as I head out of my house, barely remembering to lock the door on my way out before I’m in my car.

She's crying.

I'm going to fucking kill him if he hurt her.

“He drove me into the city for this festival thing and heleftme here,” she says, her tone drenched in tears, her breathing shallow.

“Fuck.” I grip my steering wheel so tight my fingers ache, shifting my phone to speaker and drawing up her location.

We've shared locations since we've had the ability, and I’ve never been so grateful for that as I am right now. My phone’s GPS locks on to her, and I take the route faster than is probably safe.

“I'm on my way,” I say, doing my best to keep the anger I feel out of my tone.

It's all for him, and nothing for her.

Goddamn him, he has no idea what he's just done.

“Monroe,” I say firmly. “I need you to breathe for me, okay? I'm going to stay on the phone with you the whole time. You’re not alone, do you hear me?”

“I hear you,” she says. “I'm trying. But there are so many people here, Pax.” She lets out another panicked little cry. “I don't know anyone here. I'm so sorry I had to call you?—”

“Never apologize,” I cut her off. “You need me and I'm there. Always.”

That’s never changed.

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