Page 2 of Cougar

Miles Townsend~ Owner and head writer of Rhythm & Riffs Magazine.

Jack Reynolds~ Attorney and longtime family friend.

Tyge Reynolds~ Son of Jack Reynolds, family friend, pitcher for the LA Heat and Liam Mackenzie’s teammate.

Nikki Fox~ America’s Voice winner, recently signed with King Records.

Kelly Cunninger~ Blogger

Side Characters and Mentions (Heritage Bay)

Chris Wells ~Emerson’s high school boyfriend. Married/divorced toRebecca Durant.Together they have one daughter,Chelsea.

Lisa~ Salon owner, Emerson’s high school friend and Bass’s love interest.

Xavier~ Jayla’s stylist.

Levi Martinez~ Security.

Troy Steele~ Security.

Principal David Avery~ Principal and founder of Heritage Bay Academy

Patty “Ms. Patty” Avery~ Principal Avery’s wife. Works in the front office.

Patrick Avery~ David and Patty’s son, Max Mackenzie’s best friend and Harper’s father.

Harper Murphy~ Jayla’s friend.

Lexi Davis~ Jayla’s friend.

Ryan Davis~ Lexi’s father.

Holly~ Nurse.

Olivia~ Jayla’s friend.

Kali~ Jayla’s friend.

Emerson

“I can’t believe we’re not going off to college together,” my best friend says, hooking her arm through mine. We make our way up the driveway of her boyfriend’s house.

Elizabeth “Liz” Parker and I have been best friends our whole lives. Our mothers are childhood friends who’d planned their futures together since they were little girls, from their weddings to their children. And like our mothers, Liz and I do everything together: hairstyles, clothes, cheerleading, and even double dates on Saturday nights with our boyfriends. We have an impenetrable bond that no one can ever break. And believe me, many have tried.

Since as far back as I can remember, Liz and I always had a plan for the future: graduation, college, marriage, buy a house next door to each other, and start our families. She’d have a daughter and I’d have a son. Our kids would grow up and get married, and then we’d fight over the grandkids.

But as of this afternoon, our plans changed.

“Are you going to tell Mike tonight?” I ask.

Liz lets out a defeated sigh, dropping her shoulders as she leans into me. “I think I’m gonna wait until tomorrow. He’s probably already drunk.” She nods toward a rowdy group gathered in the front yard, drinking from their red plastic cups.

Liz has been dating Mike Easton since eighth grade. Mike has always been handsome with his wavy dirty-blond hair, crystal-blue eyes and charming smile. He’d had a crush on Liz since elementary school, but he was ridiculously shy. By the time we reached eighth grade, it was obvious he wanted to ask her out, at least to me. So I helped him get the girl, and they’ve been together ever since.

My boyfriend, Chris, and I started dating in ninth grade, but we’d been friends long before that. Our dads are both doctors and golfing buddies. Our parents think we’ll be married one day.

I admit I’d thought so, too.

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