permanently, but his grandmother did, and he’d visit her between filming breaks in LA. I still can’t believe you’ve never seen Blood River Legacy.”
“We didn’t even own a television before I moved here,” I remind her.
Before my mom married Theo, we didn’t own a lot of the things we do now.
Courtney blows a giant pink bubble between her lips. “My mom says he’s like their generation’s version of Johnathan Taylor Thomas. Whatever that means.”
“I can’t believe this.” My voice wobbles. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“You have to admit, it’s a little funny.” She quirks a brow, clearly amused. “It was probably refreshing for him to be around someone who didn’t worship the ground he walks on. Everyone here has always lost their minds whenever he came to town. He couldn’t walk down the street without fan girls flinging themselves at him like dodgeballs. And now he’s going to school here? He’s automatically elevated to god status.”
I dig my fingers into my temples. “Yeah, and meanwhile, I’m the only idiot in town without a clue.”
“Well, he invited you tonight.” She pokes me in the arm. “You should go in there and let him know you already know. He probably wants to get that conversation out of the way before school on Monday. That way, there won’t be any awkwardness.”
Oh, but there will be awkwardness. How could there not? Over the past few months, Landon has quietly crept into every aspect of my life. Peeking over at me from his backyard to ask what I was reading. Texting me his observations about the books on his reading list. Asking me questions he just as easily could have googled. He was always unsociable and moody, but he became a fixture in my life. I could expect to see him every day, and at some point, I started to look forward to his grumbled responses and icy stares.
Now everything is going to change. He’s a veritable deity. Black Mountain Academy’s newest left tackle. Famous actor. Heir to his grandmother’s fortune. And I’m… well, me. His pint-sized neighbor everyone at BMA still calls that new girl. The only fortune I ever knew before we came here was collecting seashells on the beach. Our worlds are not the same.
He’s probably in there right now with a whole cult of admirers. All those pretty girls in my class who look as though they’re walking around with a permanent photo filter on their face. The wisp thin cheerleaders and models and Instagram influencers. I can’t compete with that, but it’s that same notion that creates a fire in me. I have to see it for myself. I have to see what his life is really like.
“Do you want to come with me?” I ask Court.
“You know I’d rather watch paint dry.” She smirks. “I have to get going anyway. My mom made me promise I wouldn’t be long.”
“Alright.” I nod stiffly. “Well, I guess I’ll talk to you later, then?”
“Text me everything when you leave. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume you’ve been reprogrammed.”
“Very funny.” I roll my eyes.
“Seriously, though, text me so I don’t worry. If I don’t hear from you, I’m coming back.”
“I will,” I assure her. “Thanks, Court.”
She turns, and I watch her head back down the street. She only lives about a mile away, so we can walk to each other’s houses easily enough. I just wish she didn’t have to go home tonight.
When I glance back up at the most impressive mansion on the block, a deep sigh heaves from my chest. I guess it’s now or never. I walk to the door and open it like I’ve done countless times before. Only this time, Landon’s priceless marble floors are littered with empty beer cans and red Solo cups. The pungent scent of liquor burns my nostrils as I take in the scene around me. It’s so loud my eardrums are vibrating, and I can’t hear myself think. This must be what Las Vegas feels like. The place is wall-to-wall maniacs.
In the foyer, two guys are sliding down the banister in their underwear while the crowd cheers on their stupidity and films it. A few feet away, identical twins are dancing on a table in bikinis while entitled assholes throw dollar bills at their feet. It only gets more depraved the deeper I venture. In the sitting room is a group of footballers fondling a nearly naked brunette. In the kitchen, guys are lining up to take body shots off a