Chapter 1

[Kendall]

I wiggle my toes in the clear, salt water pool, looking over at my best friend’s perfectly manicured feet and then nudging her with my shoulder.

"Thanks for inviting me," I say, smiling at Elora as she playfully nudges me, her champagne glass filled with a bubbly twist of mimosa. I’m halfway through my second mimosa myself, and feeling a little tipsy.

But I don’t get out much. I’m usually home taking care of my ailing father. He’s not been the same ever since a heart attack when he was only forty, and I’ve taken over most of the household stuff.

Luckily, as a low-level wiseguy, he made enough money before he got too sick to take care of us. I’m grateful to him for so many things.

Elora is like the sister I’ve never had, my best friend ever since we were twelve and crazy about every boy in junior high. I look over at Elora .

Her long, bleached blonde hair is almost white with the sunlight streaming through the glass pool enclosure, and her eyes are the prettiest sea-green color. She’s always been prettier and skinnier than me, but I’m not exactly jealous.

For a while, it bothered me that guys always looked at Elora first. But it’s not her fault she’s gorgeous. I’ve accepted that the right guy will look deeper.

Too bad he’s taking his sweet, sweet time showing up.

When Marco Barone heads over, I shift slightly, avoiding his gaze. He’s good-looking, but there’s a coldness to him that sends a chill down my spine.

I worry about my best friend sometimes—she loves the attention her looks bring. One day, though, it might get her into real trouble, especially if she hangs out with people like Marco.

Marco picks Elora up, making her giggle as she drops her mimosa glass. I manage to catch it with quick reflexes, but the two of them don’t even notice. After a long kiss, Marco sets her back down.

“I gotta go now, bella,” he says in a low tone, and Elora pouts.

“All right, if you must.”

“The staff will lock up when you leave,” he says flippantly and kisses her fiercely once more before walking back into the house.

Elora shrugs, walks back to the pool, and slips into the water. She dunks her head, starts treading water, and splashes at me.

I laugh and slide into the water with her and we swim and play for a bit before she gives me the most mischievous smile.

“Oh no,” I say, knowing what that means. “What are you doing, Elora ?”

“So listen,” she begins, and I already want to roll my eyes. I know this is going nowhere good, with that look on her face. “The Espositos are having a party tomorrow night.”

“You mean Bruno Esposito is having a party tomorrow night,” I say dryly, and she bites her lip, grinning.

“Exactly.”

“Marco’s only out of town for a couple of days,” I warn. “Don’t you think this is a bad idea?”

“What Marco doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” she says easily.

I hum. She and Marco aren’t exactly exclusively dating, especially given that Marco has been seen with several other girls over the six months they’ve been dating, but I would bet my life savings that he expects Elora to be exclusive with him.

That’s just the way wiseguys are.

“I don’t know,” I reply, and Elora pouts.

“Come on, Kendall. I know you’re going to come with me to keep me out of trouble, so let’s not have this back and forth,” she says, and I hate that she’s right.

Elora is my best friend and like a sister to me, and I wouldn’t ever want her to be in trouble or risk losing her. I don’t have many people in my life, so I want to keep the people I have close.

I sigh and heave myself out of the pool. I look at my empty glass of mimosa. “I guess I’ll get an Uber,” I say, and Elora scoffs, coming up the pool ladder.

“No way. I’ll call Camden,” she says, and my breath catches in my throat.

Camden Andretti.

Same sea-green eyes as my best friend, but this time with the longest, darkest lashes, the strongest Roman nose, a square jaw, and the fullest mouth.

Camden Andretti is absolutely gorgeous and I've had a crush on him since before I was...fourteen.

Not that Elora will ever get that information out of me. And not that it matters anyway since I’m invisible to him.

“Sure,” I say easily, trying to push down the lump that’s in my throat.

Since I’m not driving or having to schedule an Uber, I suck down another mimosa quickly, needing the liquid courage to see and talk to Camden.

“So, Bruno bought me a tennis bracelet,” Elora chatters away and I’m barely listening. “But I can’t wear it in front of Marco. So, I thought I’ll get Marco to buy me one, too, then he won’t know the difference!” She titters and I frown in her direction.

“Elora...” I start, but then I realize I’m still in a bikini when Camden's car pulls up, and I rush to put on a pair of shorts and my tank top.

I manage to get dressed before he walks in, thank God, coming in the back of the pool house and waving, jerking his head as if he’s irritated.

I hurry over to his car while Elora takes her time.

“Thank you for the ride, Camden,” I say, and he hums in response, getting in the driver’s side and revving the engine to make Elora hurry up.

She takes her sweet time anyway, just to be a brat, and I chuckle as I slide into the backseat.

"You should've taken the front seat." Camden says, and I can’t help the blush that spreads across my cheeks.

“I don’t mind the backseat,” I say, and Elora gets into the passenger side.

“You’re driving us to the Espositos tomorrow night, right?”

Camden groans. “I’ve got to be there anyway. Dante is invited. So, I guess I’ll drop you off.”

Elora grins. “Perfect.”

Camden raises an eyebrow at her as he pulls out of the driveway. “You know, Marco isn’t going to like you going to Bruno’s.”

“Marco is out of town,” she says breezily.

“You’re going to get yourself in trouble one of these days, you know that?” Camden warns, but Elora just scoffs.

“I’m just having fun,” she argues, and I look out the window so that I stop staring at Camden's profile.

I had the biggest dreams of growing up and marrying him when I was a teenager, and it all seems so ridiculous now.

As if he would ever want me.

“I’m going to drop you off first,” Camden says to Elora . “I’m on my way to Dante’s and Kendall’s place is on the way.”

I swallow hard. I’m going to be alone in the car with Camden, which makes the blush on my cheeks deepen and redden.

I know I should be over my little crush by now, but I can’t help it.

He’s just so...Camden you know?

He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. I wish that I had someone like him in my life, like a boyfriend or a husband.

I’ve always wanted a family, and I don’t feel like I’ll ever have one.

“You’re going to the Esposito party?” he asks me, looking at me in the rearview mirror.

I nod slowly, keeping eye contact. God, his eyes are so pretty, his stare intense.

“Keep her out of trouble,” he says, giving me a little smile, and my heart skips several beats.

“Trouble is my middle name,” Elora chirps, and she waves her fingers at me as Camden pulls up at their place.

She lives in a pretty house. It’s just Elora and their ailing mother living there now. Camden has his own apartment and comes to visit often.

Their father had done pretty well for himself before he was killed, so the house was all theirs.

He hadn’t ever wanted to be anything but low level, but still he provided for his family. Gave them a roof.

My dad was the same. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. At least I don’t have to worry about watching my back and having someone come after my family.

I’m glad that my father was just a low-level thug and not a made man.

“Get in the front,” Camden says as Elora makes her way to the front door.

It’s almost demanding and it sends a shiver down my spine. I do as he says and climb over to get in the front seat, my arm brushing against his.

“I’m glad you’re going to be at the party,” he says, and I blink, looking over at him as I buckle my seatbelt and he pulls out into the road.

“You are?”

“You always watch out for her. Gives me less work to do,” he says, and I swallow, feeling slightly disappointed.

What else would he say? That he wants me to go because he’s secretly in love with me? I feel stupid.

Camden’s quiet the rest of the way home, but just as I step out of the car, he calls my name softly.

I freeze, pulse racing, and turn to face him.

“You’re a good friend,” he says, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that steals my breath. His voice is low, barely more than a murmur, but it lingers, wrapping around me.

I nod, forcing a smile, and turn toward the door. But as I walk inside, his words echo, each step heavier.

A good friend.

Is that all he thinks I am?

Is that all he’ll ever let me be?

Or… was there something more in his eyes, in his voice?

And why can’t I stop hoping?