The Heartbreakers Read Free

for a bottle of water. Finding one, she turned and rammed into someone. The beer sloshed inside the cup. She quickly set it down on the counter before it spilled all over her vintage Firebird T-shirt.
    â€œHey!” she shouted, then recognized who it was. “Oh, Horace, hi.”
    Her heart sped up instantly seeing his green eyes pinned on her. Horace was in the school band with her. He was in the percussion section…but they’d shared more than music recently.
    â€œHey, Ray.”
    An elbow jabbed her in the ribs. “Oww.”
    â€œCome on,” Horace shouted. “It’s safer over here.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the throng of drink-seekers and into the darkened mudroom.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œNo problem.” He smiled and butterflies zinged in her stomach. Horace always had this look in his eyes, and a warm tone in his husky voice, like he knew things about Raven she hadn’t told him.
    Realizing that she was now alone with Horace in a darkened room, she flushed and looked away. The last time she’d been this close to him, they’d kissed. It was just a month ago, when they’d gone to regionals for the school band. Earlier that day, she and Caleb had gotten into a fight, and then the band lost at regionals. Raven had been in a crappy mood and Horace was good at cheering her up. She’d kissed him in a moment of weakness, nothing more. Since then, she’d avoided him at school and in her mother’s shop, where he worked nights.
    Raven didn’t want things to be awkward between them. Like now…when she could think of nothing but that kiss. Or how his breath smelled like the cinnamon mints he ate like candy.
    The butterflies grew incessant and she edged away. She had a boyfriend, dang it. She was trying to make it work, unlike all the boys in her past.
    â€œSo, uh,” she began, wanting to fill the silence. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer that text message a while back. I just—”
    â€œIt’s all right, Ray.”
    Lots of people shortened her name, but it didn’t sound half as good as it did coming from Horace.
    â€œNo, it’s not okay,” she said, pulling her eyes back up. “I should have explained. Or something…”
    â€œMaybe.” He shrugged. “I kind of figured it out though.”
    Right. Of course it was obvious. He probably thought she was a bitch. Probably she was, for kissing him and then avoiding him. “I should go.”
    She turned but Horace grabbed her arm. “Wait.”
    She stopped, liking the feel of his hand on her skin. Goose bumps popped on her forearm. “Horace, I—”
    He kissed her. Just like that. Nothing forceful or gross, just a soft, innocent lip-lock, as if he worried that he’d scare her away with anything more aggressive.
    â€œRaven!”
    She pulled away from Horace and turned back to the kitchen, the sound of her name carrying over the din of the party.
    Caleb.
    Lips pursed, face red, he shouted, “What in the hell are you doing?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Horace whispered.
    â€œIt’s not your fault.”
    â€œYes it is.”
    The drinking crowd parted, letting Caleb through effortlessly. He stalked into the mudroom, putting his nose in Horace’s face.
    Raven put her hand on Caleb’s arm. “Let’s just go.”
    He yanked out of her grasp. “Don’t touch my girlfriend,” he said to Horace.
    While Horace had more muscle, he was a good five inches shorter than Caleb. Raven didn’t want to see them fight. She didn’t want Horace getting hurt because of her.
    â€œJust stop, Caleb.” She tried pulling him away, but he pushed her. Horace reached out as she fell back. Caleb took the opening and punched Horace in the face, sending him down on top of Raven. His lower lip started bleeding, swelling up instantly.
    â€œCaleb!” Raven shouted as Horace rolled over