Unknown (Unknown Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

Then he addressed Rylen.
    “Your mama and her sister don’t live at the house no more. It’s just you and me.”
    Rylen squinted with worry. “Where’s Mom gonna live?”
    “Movin’ in with her sister’s boyfriend, I guess. Not my concern.” Rylen opened his mouth, but his father took him by the shoulder. “You can still see her—I’m not gonna stop you, but she ain’t coming to my house no more. I know you been taking care of her and the house and the land, but that’s over now. You understand me?” Rylen stood very still while his dad spoke. “I’m proud o’ you, son, and you can still help out, but you’re gonna be a grown man soon enough. Right now you need to be a kid while you still can. And I need to be a man who gets to see his son play ball.”
    The timing could not have been more perfect. Tater sniffed and lowered his head to wipe his nose. When he raised his head again I saw he was trying hard not to cry. I wanted to hug him and punch him at the same time.
    Lenard looked between Mom and Dad. “Thank you for all you done. I’ll work to pay you back—”
    “No,” Dad said. “That’s not necessary.”
    “It’s been our pleasure.” Mom sniffled, sounding just like Tater. “He’s a good boy. We love him.” Rylen’s cheeks flushed pink.
    Grandpa Tate stepped forward and introduced himself. Grandpa was shorter and leaner than Mr. Fite, but formidable enough in his personality that they might just get along well.
    Abuela stepped up, tiny, but fearless. “You eat tamale?”
    Lenard looked toward the dining room. “Uh, it smells mighty good, but I better not—”
    “Okay.” She took him by the wrist as if he weren’t twice her size. “You eat.”
    I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh as Lenard let himself be led. Rylen saw me and grinned. He looked so strong in that moment, so alive. Tater jumped high onto Rylen’s back and got him in a headlock. They tumbled to the ground, wrestling loudly.
    “Boys,” called Mom. “Get in here and finish your food.”
    They stood, shoving and smiling. And just like that, the strain between them vanished in that miraculous way of boy friendships. For the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.

    I will never forget freshman year. I will never forget the deep, aching, longing—the need which could not be satisfied by anything less than his attention. I crushed so hard on Rylen Fite it wasn’t healthy. He made my heart and stomach and head dance and expand and twist. I’d become a straight-up mess for him, and only Remy knew. And Mom . . . but only because she was so observant. And Abuela, because those two had no secrets.
    Sometimes I tried to pass Rylen in the hallway at school without saying anything, mostly because the senior guys and girls he and Tater hung out with were so intimidating. But he wasn’t having any of that. Ry would snatch me by the waist and spin me into his arms in a bear hug, lifting me off my feet and saying, “What, you can’t say hello?”
    Sometimes Tater would chime in, tickling my waist with his crab-claw hands. He’d reach out for Remy, too, only to reel back at the viper gaze she reserved for him.
    “Damn, why you always so salty?” he asked. She walked away with an eye roll and swish of her hips, and I punched Tater for staring at her butt.
    I turned a corner where Remy awaited me, hip propped against the lockers with a grin, and I leaned my head back against the cool metal, feeling sensitive everywhere his hands had touched.
    “You’ve got it bad, Amb.”
    “Nope.”
    “Like, bad bad. You should tell him—”
    “No.” I spun to get in her face and show every ounce of horror that her words dredged up inside me. “I swear if you ever say a word, I’ll never speak to you again.”
    Remy merely smiled at my psychotic threats. “What are you so afraid of? You’re gorgeous and he obviously cares about you.” She didn’t understand. She was never afraid when it came to