Dedicated to shesbeno

Peyton Griffin's POV

"FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING BLACK, WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?" I cry out as I make my way into the shabby living room.

"Someone missed a pill." Charlie smirks at me as she tips her finger to increase the volume.

The song in the air is as nauseating as the ones they've been playing all morning. And by them, I mean Charlie and Lola.

Since our high school years, these girls have had an unhealthy liking to the author of the music. He goes by the name Caleb Parks and if you ask me, I've heard better.

Still, I remain unfazed by Charlie's comment, but to clarify; I don't do drugs. No matter how much my father and my stupid stepbrother pissed me off, drugs looked like a sure way to end it, and I don't plan on ending anything until I complete my bucket list.

I'm still recovering from the fight Lola and I had with Aunt Nicole. Have I mentioned we Griffins are stubborn? We never know when to quit, so you can imagine a hundred-and-something-year-old woman fighting off a Rapunzel and a Gal Gadot with yellow highlights in her hair.

I locked away Aunt Nicole in her bedroom with enough darts to numb an elephant, and a bump at the back of her head.

It's been four years since I ran away from my father and moved in with Lola. So far, we were supposed to graduate from our online college courses today. Lola is officially an artist, while I'm a paediatrician. Don't worry, I don't plan on entering a hospital.

Since it's an online thing. We don't get a party, but I wouldn't put that past, Charlie.

Dressed in a hot pink bikini, she lies on the couch, waiting for Lola to drag me out of bed and change. Simultaneously, killing me with the excuse of music echoing around the house.

"If you turn that down, I can promise you I'll let you live long enough for me to operate on your kids," I say.

"But if I do, your brain cells won't recognise a great song when they hear one." She replies as she gets up from the couch, her fight-or-flight senses kicking in.

Before Charlie could act on it, Lola walks in wearing a black two-piece.

"Before you kill each other, can we at least get to the beach first? There are so many hot guys I want to sculpt." She pouts.

"With your mouth, I presume." I snort.

"Don't be such a downer, Penny." Our attention shifts to the Greek-like God figure standing in the hallway right after the front door.

The gym did wonders on Danny, increasing his prominent packs on display thanks to his white Adidas shorts.

I will never compliment Danny outwardly, but I can't say the same to Charlie.

"Go on now, change up while I keep our couch from getting christened."

I snort a laugh from Lola's comment and begin going back to our room. Sure, Danny is a man-whore with a degree in pharmacy and business, but he is incredibly oblivious to the suggestive glances my best friend throws at him every once in a while.

As my supposed future husband, I wouldn't even mind if they hooked up because their love tension is suffocating.

I get into the shower and strip. Washing off the dry blood, I caress the bruises adorning every part of my body. I run my hand through my long dark brown hair with yellow highlights and sigh.

It makes it easier to lose the press when Lola and I go out. She has her hats and wigs, but I got my hair colour changed. The press is one thing from my old life; that I wish I could remove.

I come out wearing a red sundress covering the rainbow swimwear I have underneath.

"Who died?" I say as I walk back into the quiet living room.

"Your manners, that's what." Comes from the voice that I have been dreading to hear for the last few years.

"What do you want now, Father? I thought all your assets were intact?" Lola snarls.

He has aged a bit with more wrinkles and more white hair. A slight bend in his posture and the reading glasses on his face don't go unnoticed.

"Yes, my dear daughter, but some things still need amendment." He glances at Danny and then at me.

I guess he's not as dimwitted as I thought after all.

"You two owe me an heir." he points his accusing eyes at my stepbrother and me.

"You killed your heir the day you sent me to this hellhole."

Charlie follows my lead as we stand back at Lola's outburst.

Lola discovered her pregnancy before our father sent her here. Despite that, she killed the baby. She swore that no child of hers will meet our father.

"Yes. As far as we are from the British Empire, I do not plan on mixing with others, especially the Spanish." he straightened his tie. "Now I am here to tell you about your marriage date."

"If I remember correctly, Father. Danny and I will get married..."

"The day a child comes through your legs or if we're lucky..." Danny didn't get to finish the insult I was building for my father.

"Enough," Father barked with annoyance. "Your marriage can wait. Lola, I want you back in that mansion by tomorrow. You're getting married next week. Have a good day."

Like a coward, he walked out before the studded comb that Charlie threw could hit his forehead.

"Let's go," Lola says and marches out the door.

Now, this is where you see the difference between Lola and me. Sure we are identical twins, but in anger Lola deals with it by drinking. I prefer to annoy Danny to death or until we fight.

After going through an online course where they show you what happens to your body when you put something through your mouth. I can honestly say that my body is as clean as cotton, but I can't say the same for my mouth.

Once we step onto the beach, the smell of sex, spirit, and smoke greeted us. The three S's were always a scene for a party spread by Danny. There is even a spot just to go down, and I don't mean in a limbo challenge.

Lola walked off to the bar with steam coming out of her ears. Danny went towards the sluts, parading themselves around the beach. While Charlie made it her mission to ensure that Danny does not get laid tonight. I laugh when I hear Charlie telling her famous Danny has AIDS story to some redhead.

I make my way to the blankets spread out on the bank, which overlook the water. I take a seat and allow my thoughts to flow.

"Hola mi amor."

I don't bother turning around as I feel a presence beside me. I need no psychic to tell me that the current Don of the Spanish Mafia is back in town.

Spain must've got tired.

"What do you want now?" I roll my eyes and refuse to allow myself to look into the hazel eyes and black hair that I once found attractive.

"Troy invited me to your sister's wedding. I also came to pay condolences to my lost child."

Forgetting common sense, I twist my head to look this village idiot in the eye. I inhale a sharp breath as I can see the changes. His jawline is more prominent, and he has light stubble highlighted by the moonlight. Don't even get me started on the black tee hiding under his jacket. It moulds his figure, giving me an idea of how muscular he has become.

He moves to rest his forehead with mine. I don't know why my heart kicks into overdrive or why my traitorous body is refusing to throw sand into his eyes.

"I miss you, mi Amor, I miss us..." he breathes on my lips.

"And I miss breaking your face." Danny's voice breaks the spell.

I break away. Danny's stance in front of us blocks away the moonlight, making his features sharper.

"As much as I would want to shove a pistol into that mouth of yours and down your throat, I promised Mr Griffin that I would cause no trouble." With that, the prick backs away and disappears into the crowd of drunken adults.

"Why are all men idiots?" I ask, looking back into the ocean where some people are skinny dipping.

"Depends. That dude was no man." Danny snorts as he sits beside me.

"I mean you too, idiot."

I break my gaze for a minute to look at him before going back to look at the ocean.

He lets out a dry laugh and pauses before saying, "And to think that Lola is getting married before you."

"Seriously though, are we going to allow that?"

"Penny, if there was something I could do to stop that matrimony, I would, but our fathers have caught on with our lie."

"I suppose they have." I bring my hand to examine the fake engagement ring that Danny gave me four years ago.

"Hey," he takes my chin for me to look nowhere but him, "I won't let anything happen to my favourite siblings."

"We are your only known siblings. I thought Lola was your favourite?"

"Yes, but you kind of rubbed off on me."

He lowers his head to place a light kiss on my forehead.

I allow my guard to drop just a little since Danny is here and we are both sober. Likewise, we had to stay in each other's company more often to prove to our fathers that we were in love, but the plan backfired.

Sometimes you'd wish to go back in time and stop certain people from meeting.

There are nights just like tonight; I wish I could go back. I wish I could go back and stop my father from making the deal with Joey. Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't have had to be forced to path ways with my loved ones.

"A dealer's cross." His voice floats into my ears.♤♤♤♤♤♤

Hey guys!

Am I the only one wondering why Peyton and Lola act so similar yet so different?

And I know that the video relates to nothing in this chapter but please watch it. I got stuck listening to that song for a while😅.

I need your honest opinions about the book so far🤔.

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