How to Kiss Your Enemy Read online

  How to Kiss Your Enemy

  Amanda Ashby

  Copyright © 2019 by Amanda Ashby

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Christina Phillips

  Copy Edited by Serena Clarke

  Proofread by Amy Hart @amyhartproofreading

  Cover Design by Barry Holt

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Also by Amanda Ashby

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  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  1

  It wasn’t that Via Mackenzie hated nature. She liked it just fine from a distance, where she couldn’t get eaten, stung, or have her hair messed up by turbo-booster-strength wind.

  Unfortunately, her freakishly sporty parents shared none of her sentiments.

  “Come on, Via. I told Libby we’d be down at the lake by nine,” her mom said while doing a complicated stretching ritual. “You don’t want to miss out on canoeing, do you?”

  As it happened, that was exactly what Via wanted to miss out on.

  She knew it. Her mom knew it. And she was pretty sure every fish in the lake knew it too.

  Via slumped her excellent posture to mimic fatigue and discreetly scanned the grassed area of Camp Domingo. More like Camp Doom. It was a collection of primitive cabins with no Wi-Fi or screens, and beds made of concrete and rocks, buried at the base of a Southern California forest overlooking a lake. All of which was two hours from her hometown of Cricket Bay.

  They’d been coming here every summer for the last ten years, and her parents always said it was the perfect way to prepare her for life. Via was pretty sure it was the perfect way to be killed in an unspecified sporting disaster.

  “Can’t I have a day off?”

  “You cannot.” Her mom finished with the stretching routine and folded her arms. “And who are you looking for?”

  “No one,” she said, then inwardly kicked herself. “I mean nothing.”

  It was kind of true, since for the last two weeks all her efforts had been to avoid someone, not to actually find them. So really she was looking for negative space. Anywhere her nemesis, Hudson Trent, wasn’t.

  Oh, and for the record, thanks to all the running and avoiding, she hadn’t even been forced to hack the health monitor app her mom had insisted the whole family wear while they were away.

  Still, it was almost over.

  This afternoon Hudson’s father was coming to collect him and take him away. Not that he should have even been at the camp. His aunt and her family had been coming to Camp Doom for years, but this was the first time he’d joined them.

  It was both unprecedented and unappreciated.

  Still, she’d spent the last two years of high school avoiding him, so this was just business as usual.

  “I hope you’re not trying to sneak off and game.” Her mom narrowed her eyes. “Most of the year I let you stay glued to that computer and in return, all I ask is that for one month in summer you step out into the fresh air. Back in—”

  “Mom, you seriously think you’re going to win her over with the whole ‘back in my day’ speech?” Zac sauntered out of their shared cabin and winked at her. Via gave him a reluctant nod.

  She adored her twin brother, but it was irking to watch him move effortlessly between their parents’ love of nature and sport, and her own preference for real coffee, science, and comfortable libraries. Plus, while she had dark curly hair, was five foot three on a good day, and had boring gray eyes, Zac had amazing thick blond hair, blue eyes (that twinkled. Seriously.) and was already six-foot tall, with the promise of more to come.

  “Thanks for the great parenting advice.” Their dad appeared behind Zac, his eyes fixating on their mom, who’d started stretching her legs. “Looking good, Jen.”

  Their mom blushed, and Via and Zac let out a matching groan. Their parents were ridiculously loved up and thought it was perfectly okay to check each other out. In public. More importantly, in front of them.

  Via blamed all the nature.

  “You’ve probably got a three-minute window to get out of here,” Zac said in a stage whisper. “Unless there’s something you want to tell your awesome older brother?”

  “You’re older by twenty-one minutes,” she reminded him out of habit. “And I’ll take a hard pass on that, thanks.” Zac’s inability to keep a secret was the stuff of family legends.

  But he was right. Their dad had reached their mom and was affectionately kissing her. She had two minutes, or three tops, if they were being particularly gross. She gave Zac a quick nod and hurried away.

  All she had to do was wait until quarter past nine. Once her parents were safely on the lake, they wouldn’t return until lunch, leaving her free and clear.

  A familiar voice rang out, and she caught a flash of green in the corner of her eye. She ducked behind a trashcan and peered around it to see the villain himself.

  Hudson was talking to one of his little cousins and was facing out toward the lake. His legs were tanned, and his brown hair had been cut short since school had broken up for the summer. He’d also grown taller, broader, and the other day she’d seen that a hint of stubble brushing his chin.

  But a leopard couldn’t change its spots.

  On the inside, he was still the same guy who’d sabotaged her eighth-grade science fair project and humiliated her in front of the entire school. What hurt the most was they hadn’t even been enemies. They’d been friends and—

  Nope. Not thinking about that.

  She stayed low and scurried off in the other direction. In the last two weeks she’d discovered multiple places to stay out of his way. Because hiding was so much easier than having to face him. Or worse, talk to him.

  Her mind whirled. He had a towel in his hand, and considering his aunt Ruth was friends with Libby, the instigator of canoe trips, there was a high probability he’d be going for a paddle.

  Just to be safe, she headed for the woods behind the cabins. There was a tangle of low-lying shrubs leading to a copse. The alpine scent of pine greeted her. She’d already hidden in them several times, although, after almost falling out of one while speaking on the phone to her best friend, Frankie, she wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

  Another flash of green shirt caught in her vision, and she swallowed back her reservations. Einstein said everything was relative, and the way she figured, tree climbing was less dangerous than coming face to face with Hudson.

  She stared at the thick grainy bark of an oak tree. “Okay, I’m going to climb you for the very last time. But in return you have to make sure I don’t fall.”

  Unsurprisingly, the tree didn’t answer.

  Via put a hand on the first gnarled branch. Her legs were already scratched from when she’d hidden in a thicket of shrubs yesterday, and they stung as the rough bark brushed against her skin.

  Climbing was definitely not her specialty subject.

  Sweat beaded on her brow by the time she was safely hidden away in a low canopy of leaves. From where she was, she could see the lake. The pale blue water glittered like diamonds, and along the shore were a dozen canoes all painted the same muddy
red. The blood of past victims.

  Zac was laughing at something his most recent flirt, Diana, was saying, while her own parents were kissing. Again. There were a host of other happy-camper families gathered there. Most of whom came every year. Weirdos.

  An ant crawled on her leg, and her phone beeped. It would be Frankie, but after last time she knew better than to answer. Safer to wait until she was on solid ground. She carefully relocated the ant and turned back to the lake. The canoes were now all in the water and heading away from the shore.

  Excellent. She’d give it another five minutes and—

  “Hey, Via. I know you’re up there,” a calm voice said from somewhere below the branch. Ice skittered through her veins.

  Hudson.

  Okay. The important thing was to stay calm. She’d been ghosting him for fourteen days now. It was business as usual. Of course the fact he seemed to know she was up the tree made it slightly more awkward. Then again, what kind of guy tried to speak to someone who was purposely avoiding them? Just proved how disagreeable he was.

  She clenched her jaw but at the same time couldn’t help but peer down.

  His hands were in his pockets, and his head was bowed, as if he was concentrating on his sneakers. Fine by her.

  The silence was broken when he coughed. “This is a public service announcement. I thought you’d want to know I’m stuck here for another two weeks with my aunt.”

  “What?” she said before she could stop herself. Her whole body tensed, and she slapped her hand over her mouth to stop any more words from coming out. But seriously. What?

  He was going today.

  At three in the afternoon. In five hours and forty-two minutes. That was all she had to survive, and then freedom. Well, not freedom, but at least he wouldn’t be around. She could enjoy her misery without having to hide as well.

  “Yeah. We’re all winners here,” he said in a dry voice and finally looked up. “I figured you should know in case you need to find a few more hiding places.”

  Annoyance flared through her.

  So typical of him to think he knew everything.

  It was probably what had led him to sabotage her project, because he was scared she was going to beat him. He couldn’t even deny it since she’d seen him fiddling with the wires. Next thing she’d known, two months of hard work was on fire. To make it worse, when he’d tried putting out the flames, he’d doused her T-shirt in water and exposed her bra to everyone.

  Then she stiffened. Could he see up her nose?

  “Don’t look at me,” she commanded, and was relieved when he went back to studying the dirt by his feet.

  “I get you’re mad at me, and I deserve it.”

  “I’m pleased we’re in agreement on the matter,” she returned, swallowing down the burning shame of having the entire school laugh at her. Hence why she’d been hiding from him. Because remembering the worst day of her life wasn’t something she liked to do on a regular basis. Or ever.

  He sighed. “I’m well aware you don’t want to talk to me. But Via, you don’t need to hide. I’ll stay out of your way.”

  “Sure. Because if you say you will, why shouldn’t I believe you?” she snapped, again forgetting her sworn vow to never say another word to him.

  He held up his hands in defeat. “I’m going now.”

  “Don’t let me stop you,” she retorted as the branch made an ominous cracking noise. She lurched forward. See, this was why she hated nature. She sucked in a breath and stretched her dangling legs, trying to find purchase on the branch below. Nothing. Okay. That couldn’t be good. She twisted around so she was facing the trunk. It was fine. Just relax and don’t panic. One more inch, and—

  Crack.

  The branch snapped beneath her as her fingers clawed into the bark of the trunk like it was a life ring. Her legs dangled helplessly, trying to find some purchase, but there was nothing. Her fingers ached as her shoe uselessly skidded along the bark.

  It was no good. She was falling.

  The palms of her hands stung with pain as they scraped against the thick tree trunk.

  She landed with a thump and found herself pressed against Hudson’s body. His arms slid around her waist, and his shoulder stopped her from face-planting into the hard ground.

  Via let out a soft groan.

  And here she was thinking her day couldn’t possibly get any worse.

  xxxx

  Hudson tried to move but pain exploded in his ankle while his head ached. He experimentally opened his eyes to find thick brown curls half blocking his vision. It was hair. Really great hair that smelled of apples and coconut. And the weight on his chest was warm and soft. Was he dead?

  If so, it was pretty good. Apart from the pain.

  And then the weight was gone as Via Mackenzie scrambled to her feet, jumping away from him like a demagnetized piece of steel. Her huge silvery gray eyes glared at him accusingly, as if he’d ruined something great.

  Okay, not dead. Just another regular day.

  Hudson Trent. Ruining things for the last sixteen years.

  He winced as cold needles stabbed at his ankle and his vision blurred. He shut his eyes and waited for the spinning to stop. He wanted to puke. It probably wouldn’t matter anyway. He couldn’t sink much lower in Via’s estimation.

  Finally the nausea passed and he eased himself up into a sitting position as Via brushed bark and dirt from her white shorts. Streaks of blood dotted her palms, and there was an angry slash along her calf. None of which hid the fact she had amazing legs.

  “I bet you think this is hilarious,” she said, punctuating each word.

  “Yup. It’s a nonstop laugh-fest,” he retorted. “Totally worth getting knocked over for.”

  “I wouldn’t have been up the tree if you hadn’t turned up here. So, if you think I’m going to say sorry, you have another think coming.”

  Please. He wasn’t that delusional.

  In the last two years she’d made her feelings for him painfully obvious.

  He didn’t blame her. The science fair was a disaster, and his fourteen-year-old self had been even more clueless around gorgeous girls than his sixteen-year-old self. Not that talking to her had been an issue, since Via had refused to even be in the same room as him.

  Or camping ground.

  To think that he now had to face another two weeks of her continued disdain.

  Thanks, Dad.

  His father had called last night to tell him about the change of plans. As in, Hey, son. Lexi and I are still in Washington. My fault, since I kind of, sort of forgot it was my turn to have you. You don’t mind another two weeks with Ruth, do you?

  He knew Via wouldn’t be happy about his extended stay. Then again, neither was he. Being stuck at some lousy summer camp with his aunt, while his kid cousins followed him like he was a circus act, was hardly his idea of a good time.

  Still, it was done now.

  He gritted his teeth as another stab of pain shot up his leg. He tentatively tried to put some weight on it. Mistake. He sat back down, his head still swimming.

  “I’m going now, and don’t think of following me.”

  Not even if I wanted to.

  Without another word, she marched off. Leaves were stuck in her curly hair, and a smudge of dirt was on the back of her shorts. He wanted to look at her legs some more, but spots danced in front of his vision, so he lay down on the ground and shut his eyes, waiting for the world to stop spinning.

  Then he groaned as footsteps returned and the faint scent of coconut once again caught in his nose.

  Thanks, universe. I didn’t think I’d quite used up my humiliation quota for the day.

  “Go away, Via,” he said, not bothering to open his eyes.

  “Why are you still lying on the ground?” she said, ignoring his request. “Is this some pathetic way to make me feel sorry for you?”

  “You busted me,” he said, and opened his eyes. She was still standing there. Her shoulders were stiff, bu
t there was a tentative expression on her mouth, as if weighing up her options.

  “Did you hit your head? How many fingers am I holding up?”

  “Three, and no, I didn’t hit my head,” he said, not wanting to admit he’d busted his ankle. He was hardly sports guy of the year but, even by his low standards, this was pathetically lame. “I’m fine. You can go and hide from me. I’ll even give you a head start.”

  She didn’t move. “Prove it. Stand up.”

  They’d been friends once. Long enough for him to recognize the stubborn set of her jaw when she was determined to get her own way. It usually only came out when she was debating. But apparently she was making an exception.

  He gritted his teeth and put his good ankle down on the ground, then used his hands to lever himself up. Sweat beaded on his brow, but he was standing.

  “There. Happy?”

  “Thrilled. Why are you only standing on one foot? Is this some kind of—” She broke off and her gaze travelled down to his ankle, which was still throbbing. Color stained her neck, and she gave him an accusing glare. “You really hurt yourself?”

  Yup. Now it was final. He should forget about becoming a mechanical engineer and write a book instead. Hudson Trent’s Foolproof Tips for Impressing Girls. Sure to be a bestseller.

  “I liked it better when you were running away from me.” He grimaced, trying to calculate the possibility of a multiverse storyline taking over and destroying this current situation with a paradoxical eraser.

  If he’d gone canoeing it all could have been avoided.

  “That makes two of us,” she muttered, and then stepped forward, her shoulder brushing against his arm. He swallowed. The main problem with having a crush on someone who hated his guts, was trying to get the message to the rest of his body.

  “What are you doing?”