And Kane’s stepbrother. That meant Declan was probably off-limits.

Which, of course, made me fall for him instantly. I can’t explain it. One second I was totally aloof, annoyed that he’d invade my personal space. The next, I felt a giddiness I hadn’t known. He’d played guitar for me, and I’d thought he was okay. He was exciting—like that new outfit you can’t wait to wear to school. Geeky, but not repellent, as were so many boys at school. Suddenly, I felt a flicker of desperation, like please stay.

His eyes scanned my scabby legs. I hugged them to my chest, covering them with my arms, then wondered if my underwear was visible, peeking out of my Daisy Dukes. I quickly threw my legs over the side of the platform. “Um…how do you like Pennsy?”

His gaze hovered on my bruised knees. “’Sokay. Some things pale in comparison.”

I blushed, thinking he was talking about me, to be specific. I’d been to California once, for a family trip when I was twelve. All the girls there were impossibly skinny and smooth-skinned and plastic. And here I was, a giant scab with unruly hair.

“For example,” he went on, “no In-N-Out Burger. What’s with that? I have to eat at Wendy’s. Not the same.”

I relaxed. “Oh. You’re lucky you survived. That stuff can kill a gentle Californian soul like yours.”

He grinned, then leaned back on his elbows, staring up at the shredded green tarp overhead. “It’s nice here, though.” Then he sat up and jumped to the ground. He eased down into one of the swings and nodded his chin at me. “You swing?”

I put down my notebook, climbed down, and sat on the swing next to him. It was the most weight that old swing set had seen in a long time, so it groaned as we started to pump our legs and drive toward the sky.

“How long have you known him?” he asked.

“Kane?” Well, duh, Hailey, who else? “Oh. Forever, I guess. I mean, we’ve lived across the street from each other all our lives. And he always sits behind me in school, because I’m Ward, and he’s Weeks. He used to pull my pigtails and stuff. But we didn’t really become friends until third grade. All the kids were calling me Hurly and making throw-up sounds around me. He beat them up.”

“Defended your honor, huh?”

“Not really. I think he wanted to be the only one to pick on me.”

Declan laughed. “That sounds like him. Funny kid.”

I snorted. “Kid? He’s a year younger than you.”

“Nine months.” He grinned. “The devil is in the details with us gentle Californian souls. Plus, I’ve always wanted a kid brother.”