Feathers and Curls

By K.B. Andrews

Choices, we make them all the time.

It seems easy until you have to choose between the two guys you've had at your side your whole life.

One is soft and sweet.

The other, hard and intense.

Suddenly, making a choice is the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

 

If I choose, someone gets hurt and a family gets ripped apart.

If I don't, I'll lose them both.

 

Do I chooose the man who brings me roses or the guy who traded a feather for a kiss?

And what happens when I lose one, because this choice will change everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.B. Andrews
• Release date: Aug 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215863831

Book preview

one

AVERY

Y ou’re still not done packing? My best friend, Jess, says, walking through my open dorm room door and flopping down on the bed that sets across from mine.

I glance back at her, seeing her twirl a strand of her blonde hair around her finger. Almost. I honestly don’t know how I ended up with so much stuff. I fold a shirt and stuff it into my bag.

Sawyer is going to be here any minute, and he’s going to be bitching because you’re not ready, she warns, sitting up and putting her feet on the floor. She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees and clasping her hands together in front of her.

I snort. Sawyer is always at least fifteen minutes late wherever he goes. I think I’m safe. Plus, I’ve been working out, and I think I can take him. I flash her a grin.

She laughs before standing and pacing back and forth in my small room, taking it in one last time. Can you believe the year is over already?

It’s flown by. I’m ready to be back home for a little while, though. I miss everyone.

We’re going to have so much fun this summer. She picks up a hoodie that I left thrown over my desk chair. Rolling it up, she tosses it into my open bag.

I take it out, fold it, and stack it inside nicely. I wonder if everyone is coming home for summer break.

And by everyone, you mean... Quinton? She flashes me a smile after bringing up my ex-boyfriend from high school.

No. I scoff.

Yes, you do. Admit it, you’re still carrying a torch for the guy. She offers a playful wink.

I zip up my bag and have a seat on my bed, now fully packed up and ready to go. No, I don’t. It’s been over with us for years. Last I heard, he had a pretty serious girlfriend. I lean back, resting on my elbows.

She comes to sit on the bed across from me. We’re spending every day at the beach.

I smile, sitting up. You don’t have to twist my arm. I need a good tan.

And every night at The Tavern. She nods once, completely sure.

I laugh. Okay, Sawyer might have something to say about that.

She scoffs. Screw him. He’s not your boss.

Who’s not your boss? Sawyer asks, casually strolling into my room like he belongs here. The moment he walks in, he steals the air from my lungs. Even after all these years, he still has this effect on me, and he still has no idea.

Nobody. Ready to go? I stand, grabbing my bag.

He nods. What do I need to pack down? He points at the stack of boxes in the corner with a look of annoyance.

I smile wide and nod as I look up at him. He stands a good two feet taller than me. His body is all hard muscles and black tattoos. I have to remind myself not to stare at him too long.

He groans. What the fuck, Avery? You don’t have to pack everything you own. He runs a hand through his shaggy, dark, curly hair. It falls right back into place, shading his eyes.

Hey, I don’t have an apartment like some. You only have to take clothes. I get a new dorm room every year, which means I have to completely move out. I cross my arms over my chest, now focusing on the way his biceps flex as he bends down and picks up a box.

His dark eyes narrow as he hands the box over to Jess. She takes it without complaint, walking from the room.

He bends for another, his muscles still flexing and capturing my attention. I bet I could toss this box in the trash on my way out and you wouldn’t even notice.

Don’t you dare, I warn, taking the box and marching out of the room.

Sawyer and I have been the best of friends since we were kids. My parents bought the house just down the gravel road from his. Our parents hit it off immediately, and from that point on, our two families became one. We’ve spent entire summers together, having barbecues and parties, and raising a little hell along the way. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him.

I smile now, thinking of the first time I laid eyes on him. Shaggy brown hair, a wicked glint to his dark eyes, dirty hands, and scraped-up knees. I was a sheltered little girl who only played with dolls and had tea parties, but Sawyer was there to save me and show me the world. Well, it was our two properties that merged together, but at five years old, it may as well have been the world.

The two of us grew up together, hanging out every day. If one of us was in trouble, we usually both were. Sawyer grew into a little troublemaker, but I was always by his side to make sure he made it home safely. He was my first real friend. He was my first kiss—a stupid drunken night out in the middle of an empty corn field. In a way, he’s my first everything. He’s always been a constant in my life, even when my parents died in a car crash when I was only fourteen years old. His family took me in with open arms, and I’ve been a part of their family ever since.

I slide the box into the back of his truck, already not looking forward to sitting three wide in this old rust bucket. It’ll probably cost us a fortune in gas just to make it to the lower part of the state, and knowing Sawyer, he’ll make me split half of the cost because I was the one who insisted on all of us going home this summer.

Sawyer walks out and tosses the box into the back. The sound of breaking glass cuts through everything else.

Sawyer! I smack his arm, and he laughs, moving out of my reach. What if that was something important?

It wasn’t. He rolls his eyes before moving them to Jess, his smile falling away. You have shit to pack down too?

She wrinkles her nose. Only a few things.

He groans, and we all move back to the building.

We empty out Jess’s room, and I turn to head back to the third floor.

Where are you going? He frowns as he watches me start up the stairs.

One last sweep.

I step into my room, taking it all in one last time. Both beds are stripped and bare. The table between them has been cleared of all our phones, jewelry, and clutter. I open the drawer, finding nothing. I turn, moving to the closet and opening the door. It’s empty—nothing but a few wire hangers rattling from my movement.

Jess steps into the room, leaning against the doorframe. You okay? She crosses her arms over her chest.

I turn to face her with a smile. Fine, just double checking.

You’re stalling.

I take her in. Jess is tall and thin, but she has curves that go on for days. Match that with her long blonde hair and big brown eyes; she’s any guy's dream come true. I’ve never had to worry about her getting with Sawyer, though, because neither of them can stand the other. I’m sure if she wasn’t my best friend, she’d be Sawyer’s type—for a night anyway.

I lean against the desk, crossing my arms over my chest, and shrug. I’m not excited about all of us being crammed in that truck for the next five hours.

I call the door. She raises her hand in the air.

I shake my head. You really think I’d let you ride next to Sawyer? You two would be at one another’s throats the whole way.

Just think, get through this trip, and we can be at The Tavern getting hammered tonight.

I laugh and shake my head. How can you think about getting hammered this early in the day?

She shrugs. It’s a talent. Come on. We’ll make grumpy stop for coffee.

Now you’re talking. She wraps her arm around my shoulders, and we walk from the room together.

So, how long do you think it will take Sawyer to chase Quinton off again?

She’s laughing, but an elbow to her ribs has her going silent. He does not need to be influenced by you.

Hey, I’m on his side with this one. Q is cute, but he’s also a real ass.

Who’s a real ass? Sawyer asks, stepping out of nowhere.

God, Sawyer! This is an A and B conversation, Jess tells him, a little louder than necessary.

Sawyer rolls his eyes. I didn’t realize we were still in kindergarten.

Well, we are, she shoots back. Where the hell have you been?

He shakes his head, tired of her shit already, as he walks out ahead of us.

I laugh. "Yeah, you two are going to kill one another.

He loves me; he just won’t admit it. She grins.

Sawyer is already waiting for us behind the wheel by the time we approach the truck. I open the passenger side door and climb in, sliding to the middle of the bench seat. Jess sits next to me and slams the door. Can we stop for⁠—

No, he shouts before she can even finish.

She sits back, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.

Before leaving town, we have to stop at a gas station so Sawyer’s gas guzzler can get a full tank. Jess and I head inside, both of us loading up on coffee, water, and snacks for the road. As we’re checking out, he grabs an energy drink and moves to stand behind us in line. Jess heads out, leaving the two of us alone.

You don’t have to be so mean to her, you know? I bump his elbow with mine.

He rolls his eyes. She drives me insane.

I smile as I sip my coffee. That’s because she knows it bothers you. Just act like it doesn't, and she’ll lay off.

He slides his wallet back into his pocket and picks up his energy drink. Why did we have to bring her with us again?

We start toward the doors. Because she lives in the same town we do. Because her car broke down this year. Because she’s my friend. Do I need to keep going?

He glares at me but doesn’t say another word as we cross the parking lot and climb back into the truck. Sawyer pulls on his seatbelt and twists the key.

Oh, good song! Jess leans forward to turn up the radio, but he moves his hand in front of the aftermarket stereo, blocking her path.

Touch it and die. He narrows his eyes and glares.

She smirks as her brown eyes widen on mine. She leans back, deciding not to touch the radio.

We’re only about ten minutes into our drive when she speaks up again. You think Gavin and I will get back together next year?

I’m sure you will, I tell her, watching as she picks at the skin around her fingernail. You two were a cute couple.

Sawyer scoffs, and when we look his way—he’s shaking his head.

Have something to say over there? I ask, arching my brows.

He glances at me, almost like I’m challenging him. You won’t want to get back together with Gavin.

Why not? she asks, but I keep my eyes on Sawyer.

He broke up with you so he could be single this summer. By the time fall semester comes around, he’s going to have been passed around like a joint at Woodstock.

I wrinkle my nose. Gross, I whisper to him, and he shrugs.

I feel her shrink down in her seat a little more, and I shoot him a glare. All he offers me is a smirk, enjoying getting back at her for annoying him earlier.

I bump her shoulder with mine. Sawyer is just fucking with you, aren’t you, SAWYER?

He chuckles, but doesn’t reply.

Jess gets a surge of bravery, and she shoots forward in her seat, glaring around me. He couldn’t be passed around more than you.

He doesn’t even flench at that. Hey, I always wear protection.

Gross, you two. Drop it. I cross my arms over my chest, and the cab goes silent, both of them knowing that I mean business.

It’s quiet for a long time before Sawyer finally speaks up. Only four hours and forty-five minutes to go.

Yippie.

two

SAWYER

Ican’t believe I let her talk me into this. What the fuck was I thinking?

Come on, Sawyer. It’ll be fun, she said. You know your mom and dad miss you. I know you miss your mom and dad. And Finn, she added on at the end. Like my brother would make me want to come home to rejoin the fucked-up family dynamic.

I’m the black sheep of the family—the son that my parents want to forget they had, unlike my older brother Finn. He followed in my dad’s footsteps. He went to college and then to the police academy, becoming a police officer for our little country town. A town that my dad was the sheriff of for most of my life. It was always expected of us to follow in his footsteps. Finn did as he was told—actually, I think Finn wanted that life. But not me. I wanted something else. Anything else.

While Finn was being the good son, doing everything he was told while making straight A’s, and participating in school events, I was getting drunk behind the gym. I was going to parties, blowing my way through girls, and getting into fights. I know my parents lives have only gotten easier since I’ve moved out. And now Avery has talked me into coming back home. Something, I’m sure, we’re all dreading.

But I made a deal with her last year. We stayed in the city last summer. I even let her and Jess move into my one-bedroom apartment—I took the couch for three months while they shared the bedroom. Now, it’s time I hold up my end of the bargain by going back home—a place I’ve avoided like the plague. It’s not that I don’t miss my parents; I do. It’s just that Finn and I are complete opposites, and every discussion between us usually ends in bloodshed.

If Avery hadn’t begged me, I wouldn’t be making the five-hour drive home. But she asked, and even though I don’t want her to know it, I’d do anything she needs. Avery and I have been best friends since her family moved to town when we were just a couple of kids. Honestly, I think that was the day I fell in love with her. She was adorable in her all-white dress. Her dark hair was long and always hung in curls. The top half was pulled up, and she had a big white bow on the top of her head. Her green eyes were wide with excitement, sparkling the way they always do. I saw her, and my heart leaped to my throat.

I almost laugh now, remembering how she looked nothing like that by the end of the day. Her hair bow had been lost in the mud, and her white dress was a permanent shade