Wicked Devil (Devils of Sun Valley High, #1)

by Daniela Romero

Julio’s been my best friend since grade school. Ever since Mimi Johnson stole my ice cream cone in the park and called me stupid. He told her she was fugly and that my stolen ice cream would make her fat.

I don’t know what it is about her but I can’t get her out of my head and it pisses me right the fuck off. I thought if I avoided her it would lessen my attraction to her, but seeing her now makes me realize that was a big fucking failure. If anything, I want her more. I want her as consumed with thoughts of me as I am with her.

Something in me wants to hold her. Mark her as mine and shield her from the world even as I strip her bare of all her protections and expose her to me and me alone.

Roman Valdez is like a drug and I’m desperate to get my fix, all the while praying I don’t develop an addiction after just one hit.

He worships my body and I drown in him. His taste. His touch. Breathing in the scent of sun, coriander, and musk that is uniquely him, it's as if I’ll die without him in my lungs.

Emilio interrupts, stepping outside, still rocking that stupid bright ass bikini over his sweat pants. “I like Allie. Can we keep her?” Dom and I both jerk our heads toward him. “What?” I ask, surprise coloring my voice. “I said, can we keep her?” "She’s not a puppy,” Dom chides, but his brows furrow like he’s wondering the same thing.

She’s not eating. I don’t know why I care but the girl never eats. Not at school anyway. Her cheekbones are sharper. Her clothes fit looser. Something is up and I have no fucking clue what. I know my boys notice. They give her the same concerned glances I do when they think I’m not looking.

I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life. My girl was in danger. My girl.

“I don’t have a plan. I’m winging it. If she’s okay to talk to me, make yourself scarce. I’ll find a ride back later. If she struggles, stick around and try not to listen as I pour my heart out on the fucking pavement.”

“Why an anchor?” I’m whispering and have no idea why. “Because when you’re adrift, when you can’t find your way to shore, I want to be the one who steadies you.”

“It’s a vanilla planifolia.” At my confused expression he adds, “Mexican vanilla.”

“Because you’re worth it. You’re worth all of it. All the fighting, the pain, the feelings. You make me fucking feel, Allie.” He slaps a hand on his chest right over his heart. “Right here. You made my ice-cold heart beat, and it only wants to beat for one person. You. Only you. I don’t just want you. I fucking need you.” He steps forward and presses his forehead against mine, cupping my face in his strong inked hands and I close my eyes, breathing him in. Fighting through the fear of being close to a boy I’m not sure I can trust. “Alejandra Ramirez, I need you in my life.”

“Let me pick up all your broken pieces and put you back together. Let me be your anchor when you’re lost and the world keeps spinning around you.”

Mental health isn’t something you can see or fix. It’s ongoing. There’s a spectrum. There will always be good days and bad days.