Page 1 of Timber's Line
PROLOGUE
TIMBER
Two years ago
“Slut.”
“Whore.”
These are the same names I’m called every day. The two girls snicker as they toss those cruel words at me and walk away. It’s my senior year and I’m just trying to get by. Boarding school sucks, so I keep my head down and spend my days in the library. I don’t have a choice, though. My dad sent me here when I started acting out. In the public eye, I was a bubbly teen, nice to everyone. At home, I was a terror. With good reason, except I’ve never told my dad why I wanted to leave. Home was not a good place for me, even though my dad tried. It was my mom who was a bitch. I can’t say I really acted up, more like self-harmed. My dad saw the scars on my legs and freaked out.
To ordinary people, I’m a freak. They can’t understand why I’d want to cut myself. But to me, it was therapeutic. I know that sounds weird, but when things got rough, I just wanted to bleed. Some days, I wanted to die. I should tell my dad everything, but I can’t. He seems happy. I could have told my real friends, like Ever, but I didn’t. Now, I’m just trying to make it through until the day I graduate.
I want to go to college and travel. Most of all, I want to find love. And while those words hurt me—slut, whore, and whatever else those girls throw at me—it’s the truth, in a way. I am a slut, though I’ve never had sex. I’ve given more blow jobs than a street walker. I do it thinking the guy I’m with is the one, but it turns out to be a lie. A lie I fall for every time. Only a few more months and then I can fly.
Dayton - One year ago
“And Dayton wins!” The crowd goes wild. I’m on top of the world right now. I catch Snow’s eyes in the crowd, and she grins. She’s been my biggest fan and I couldn’t be happier.
I wave to the crowd as I leave the cage and make my way to the locker room, waving at Snow as I head toward her. As soon as she’s close enough, I grab her in a hug and twirl her around.
“Ewwww, sweat.”
“Sorry.” I kiss her nose and put her on the ground. “Let me just shower real quick and we can go to dinner.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I shower quickly and throw on some jeans, a T-shirt, and tennis shoes—my typical attire. Snow doesn’t like it and she’s been trying to change me in some ways. Probably the only argument we constantly have.
I step out, and she just looks at me.
“I’ll let it go,” she says and smiles. She might seem like a stuck-up bitch, but she’s not. In a way, she’s just used to the finer things in life, and even though I make good money, I just like to chill.
“Thank you.” I take her hand and lead her to the car.
“I’m hungry. Where do you want to eat?” I ask her.
“Maybe at the hotel, since we have an early flight back to Atlanta,” she suggests, and I nod.
“Sounds great.” I put the rental in gear.
“Wait, maybe that sushi place? The one we passed on the way here.”
“Okay.” I laugh and put the address into the GPS. Whatever she wants, she gets.
She breaks the silence. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Not too violent for you?”
“I like seeing you in your element.”
“Just like I like seeing you in yours,” I tell her, and she blushes. She’s a phenomenal dancer. I’m not big on the ballets she’s in, but I go because she’s beautiful on stage.
But things haven’t been as great as I’ve let on. For some reason, I haven’t been getting any fights. It was like pulling teeth to get this one. In my free time, I’ve been drinking—a lot. When I know I’m going to see Snow, I sober up, take a shower, and act like nothing is wrong. I know she would support me, but I don’t want to burden her.
I pull into the restaurant, and we head inside. She smiles the whole way.
“I’ll be right back.” I take a few minutes and go to the bar. I need a drink, and she would be okay with one or two, but I don’t like doing it in front of her. The problem is, I don’t know when to stop. Two turned into three, then I lost count, and she came looking for me.
