Page 1 of The Logic of Loyalty

Prologue

TREVOR

Ten Years Ago

It’s another year in the wasteland that is high school, and I cannot wait to cut out the moment the bell rings. My buddy, Carter Stewart, just convinced his dad to call old Teddy Collins down the road and put in an offer for the ’69 Camaro he has rusting to death in his front yard.

Old Man Collins agreed to a price, and I am pumped.

Carter’s parents are helping me out with the whole thing. I’m providing the cash, and they’re completing the sale and giving me a place to keep it. I’d never be able to convince my parents to let me work on it at our house. It would break some bullshit HOA code or something.

Whatever.

I settle in at my desk at the back of the classroom, the usual suspects taking the seats around me. My bag sits on the chair in front of me, saved for Carter. He really hates being here, but that’s because he’s terrible at the school stuff. I’m good at all of it. The grades, the sports, the girls, and even my reputation with the teachers are all solid.

I lean back in my seat and check Vine for a new update when a head full of bright blond curls comes gliding into the classroom.

My phone drops as fast as my jaw.

New girl. Small, curvy, summer dress, yes. Then she turns my way, and before I realize what I’m doing, my bag is off Carter’s seat, and I’m giving her my all-American smile. Her dark brown doe eyes hit mine, and boom, I’m a goner.

This new girl drops her gorgeous gaze to the ground, filling me with a brief and profound disappointment—until she slowly meanders over to the seat I just emptied. She doesn’t even bother looking anywhere else.

Sorry, Carter.

She sits down and turns toward me again. This time, she smiles at me.

I immediately know this girl is going to hold my whole world in her hands, and I am never letting her go. This fucking teacher better know their CPR shit because my heart fucking stops.

“Hey, I’m Paige,” the gentlest, softest voice says to me.

“Tre—Trevor,” I respond. Her grin widens.

Paige

Another move to another school, and of course, this is my senior year.

I sigh and recenter myself. It’s a good school. It’s a beautiful small town. We are in our own home. I’m starting at the beginning of the year. I can walk anywhere I need to, anywhere around town. I’m almost an adult. This is almost over. With these thoughts in mind, I start my first class of the day.

I enter the classroom, avoiding eye contact with any of the other students. First, I take a peek at the teacher to see if I need any direction. She doesn’t even glance up from her desk. Next, I check the room full of students, most of whom are staring at their phones. This is when I see him. My eyes clash with bright blue ones on one of the most gorgeous faces I’ve ever seen. Before I dart my gaze downward, I spy a giant, toothy grin directed my way.

My heart beats wildly in my chest, and the edges of my mouth twitch in response. From the corner of my eye, I watch with butterflies filling my gut as he clears the seat in front of him—a clear invitation for me. The pull to him is unavoidable, like I’m the moon and he’s Earth. A flash of his pale hair and bright eyes makes me reassess. No, not Earth. He’s the sun, a star, and I’m willingly being pulled in by his gravity.

I reach the newly vacant seat and settle down. After a moment to gather my courage, I turn his way, letting my smile show this time.

“Hey, I’m Paige,” I say, feeling shy yet confident that this is where I belong.

“Tre—Trevor,” he responds. My cheeks hurt a little from how big my smile grows.

Chapter One

PAIGE

“Jacob Lawrence Whitaker!” I whisper-shout, careful not to wake my employer’s newborn baby, Cassian, whose tiny head rests securely against my chest, cradled in his carrier. “You get away from that pool right now!”

School just got out for the summer, and my boy is with me, even while I work. I love having him wherever I go, but sometimes, it’s a lot.

Jacob takes one look at me, smirks, and pretends to jump in—and then slips. His eyes go wide, and his arms flail uselessly as he falls. All the breath in my lungs leaves on a silent scream, but I only let out a single word.