I sipped at my ice coffee as I watched the paparazzi and reporters raid my front yard from my car at the end of the street. The crumbs from the chocolate croissant I'd finished a few minutes prior to parking my old beater in the most inconspicuous space possible between two Range Rovers had left my leggings a mess. I had no doubt the minute I shifted to get out of my Nissan I'd cover my floorboard in the delicious pastry.

          That was a loss I was willing to take. A quick vacuuming tonight would solve the problem with ease, and I'd had my craving satisfied.

          "How long do you think until they're able to push them back out?" my fourteen-year-old brother Jensen asked from the passenger seat, stirring the white straw in his mock frappachino. Our mom had made the mistake of allowing him coffee once six months ago and regretted it immensely. My ADHD brother had been quite literally bouncing off the walls for hours, then spent the night over the toilet. Now anytime he tagged along on my coffee shop escapades I made sure there wasn't coffee in his drinks, even if they were still loaded with sugar.

          "Depends." I responded with a shrug, setting my drink in the cup holder as I watched a police car rush passed through my window. "Okay, I take that back. I'll give it less than fifteen."

          Jensen raised a dark brow, his blue eyes bright with amusement. "I say ten. Less than that, even, if Mom's home."

          I grinned.

          He was right. If our mother was waiting for Dad on the other side of the door, she'd no doubt use her lawyer jargon to scare off all the vultures and most paparazzi didn't stick around long enough to see if she was serious.

          "Wanna put money on it?" Jensen asked a few seconds later with a sly smirk. "Dad won't give me my allowance until I help with the garage."

          "Sure kid." I answered with a laugh, extending my hand to shake on it. "Twenty that they'll be out of here in fifteen."

          Jensen's smirk grew into a full smile. "Alright, twenty that they'll be out of here in less than ten."

          We watched intently as the police escorted the crowd off our property and outside the gates, our eyes occasionally flickering to the clock to check our status.

          My little brother became twenty dollars richer. They had everyone gone at exactly ten minutes to the time our bet had been made. I waited until we'd parked the car in the driveway to pull the money from my wallet and smack it into his expectant hand. Just for added fun, I ruffled his mess of brown curls before climbing out of the car.

          As usual, he didn't bother to wait for me and jogged up the stairs and into the house. I shook my head and laughed as I followed after him, but was intercepted before I could even shut the door entirely behind me.

          "Why did you give Jensen money?" my sister asked. "That's not fair, Danni!"

          I pried her fingers from my elbow and dropped my backpack onto the recliner. "We made a bet and he won. Trust me, Hannah, I wouldn't willingly hand over money to either of you."

          It was a joke, of course. I loved all three of my siblings, as irritating and obnoxious as they may be sometimes. I couldn't picture my life without them.

          "Mhm." Hanna huffed and stomped out of the room with a roll of her eyes.

          I'd spent years playing dress up and dolls with the girl just for her to turn twelve and hit puberty four months ago and completely change. Not only had she shot up a good four or five inches, but her attitude was something else. The only time she wasn't rolling her eyes or complaining was when she was with her best friend Sadie or digging through my makeup.

          "Danni!" my father's voice filled the silent living room, but it took my wandering eyes a few seconds to find him. He was entering the room from the hall with my four-year-old brother, Justin, hoisted up on his shoulders. "How long were you guys stuck out there?"

          I didn't answer right away but crossed the room to hug him. It'd been months since we'd seen him in person and having him home for the next few was a blessing. I'd spent a lot of my childhood teased over it, but my father was one of my best friends, and no amount of taunting would change that.

          "Only about twenty minutes." I eventually mumbled once he'd kissed the top of my head and swung Justin off his shoulders and onto the ground at his feet. My baby brother giggled and ducked between my legs to get to the kitchen. "Though it felt like an eternity."

          "I'm sorry." he ran a hand down his face with a shake of his head. "It's ridiculous my children can't even get into their own house."

          I waved my hand in the air between us dismissively, "It's fine, Dad. Don't worry."

          It wasn't, but I didn't want to burden him with even more. Plus, I'd grown used to all that came with Dad's fame years ago.

          "Annie is dragging me to a party tonight." I stated as I slipped passed him. "I think I'll be home before midnight but I'm not sure."

          He no doubt wanted to protest, but decided against it and only answered with a very stern, "No alcohol. Protect yourselves, and you know if you need someone to pick you up you have an entire family that is ready and willing at any time."

          *

          My best friend leaned into my side and whispered, "The Sex God just arrived."

          I cocked my head a fraction and stared at her over my solo cup, then slowly followed her eyes to the man of my best friend's fantasies.

          I couldn't say I was surprised to find Sebastian Reyes planting himself on the arm of the beige sofa across the room, and under Annie's intense stare. Although, I'd say, them beside one another was comical.

          Annie Wong was a petite four-foot-eleven beautiful Chinese-American angel with Valedictorian, student-council president four years running, and four point O GPA under her belt. Sebastian Reyes was a walking red flag. He was covered from head to toe in tattoos-or I'd assume, as I'd never seen him unclothed. He had sleeves down both arms, his chest, neck, and back, so I'd only guess they were everywhere else they could be. His reputation was bad too. Annie and I had been warned about him when we stepped foot on campus last year, and I'd been sure to steer clear of him. The rumors that surrounded the man were rough, and I didn't care to try and sit and dig deep enough to check if they were rooted in truth.

          Annie, though? That girl lusted after any man or woman that her parents disapproved of. I guessed it was a result of strict parents for eighteen years who still hovered over her academics to this day. That was one thing I'd always appreciated about my parents, they warned and explained, but they never said no so we could learn on our own.

          Fortunately for me, Sebastian was someone I didn't have any desire to approach.

          "Dude, imagine my dad's reaction if I brought him home." Annie joked, sneaking a drunk smile my way, warm brown eyes twinkling. "Oh my God, imagine how your dad would react, Danni!"

          I dropped an arm over her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I think we should get you home, Annie."

          "Hey, Sebastian!"

          I straightened the second the slurred greeting escaped Annie and was stuck between slapping a hand over her mouth before she said anything else, or over my face out of embarrassment.

          Sebastian, who'd been on a trek to the kitchen to our backs, stopped midstep on my left, one foot planted on the ground and the other flat against the tile. Being so close, I could see green flecks in his amber eyes, and a scar stretching from his chin to his jugular. His long lashes fanned his olive complexion, a small smirk playing on his full lips as he looked between Annie and me.

          "Yes?"

          There was a thick Spanish accent I hadn't expected. From what I'd heard, his mother had been as white as my own. His father's genes and culture must have dominated in his home as a child.

          "Sorry." I apologized, forcing a hand over Annie's mouth before she could get herself in deeper. "She's drunk."

          His eyes flickered to me and widened just the slightest, as if he were seeing me as more than just someone beside Annie.

          "All good." he whispered, eyes lingering just a little too long for my liking, before he nodded and continued on his way.

          Once he was out of earshot and sight, Annie squealed like my twelve year old sister and locked both hands around my arm. "Danni, he was totally checking you out!"

          "I totally don't care!" I responded in the same tone. "That man is a walking red flag, Annie."

          "Yeah, but he's hot."

          I didn't deny that, but smiled and breathed, "Let's get you home before you do something tonight you'll regret."

          She rolled her eyes and grumbled a miserable, "I wouldn't mind doing him, thank you very much."

          It wasn't until I heard a sexy laugh behind me that I realized that Sebastian had returned and was only a few feet behind us, leaning back against the wall and watching the two of us. Annie wasn't sober enough to blush or be flustered, but I was and squeezed my eyes shut in hopes he'd be gone when I opened them.

          He was not.

          "Danni, bathroom." Annie jerked to the left suddenly. "I think—"\

          She barely made it to the overflowing trash before she puked her guts out. I reached to wrap her hair in my fist and tied it up with one of the hairties I kept in my bag. Once I was sure she was done, I rubbed her back and sighed.

          "Let's go."

          She groaned. "Can I crash at your house? My parents will kill me."

          I nodded and started forward, but she tripped over her foot and hit her temple on the wall. I reached for her, but a tattooed hand grasped her underarm and gently steadied her. When she only staggered, he swept her clean off her feet in a quick motion as if she weighed nothing, then looked to me expectantly. "You drive here?"

          I nodded and dug my keys from my back before I led him out the front door.

          "Did you drink?" he asked from behind me.

          I whispered, "I don't drink."

          He remained silent until we'd reached my Nissan. I opened the back door and he quickly set Annie in back and pulled the seatbelt over her. "You might want to grab a bag. She looks like she might puke again."

          "Noted." I shifted on my feet and slowly crossed my arms, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. "Thank you."

          "Sure." he fell back a step, as if he was well aware of how intimidating his very presence was. "What's your name, hermosa?"

          I owned him a name at the very least. "Danielle."

          "Be careful getting home, Danielle." I didn't like the way my body reacted to the way he said my name. "Lots of drunk drivers out here tonight."

          "I will. Thanks." I pushed Annie's legs aside then shut her door. "I appreciate your help, Sebastian."

          The right side of his mouth quirked upward and I took it as my cue to walk around the car and get in. I couldn't fight the feeling of his eyes on me, or the car I suppose, until I was out of the neighborhood and out on the street.

          Once I'd gotten Annie situated in the guest room, I drug myself to my own and pressed the door shut gently. As I passed the mirror, I slowed to a stop and my breath caught in my throat when I saw a shadow shift outside my bedroom window. I spun on my heel, but there was nothing there and it was locked. I crossed the room and quickly drew the blinds and curtains, before changing and climbing in bed.

          I knew sleeping would be hard. I had nightmares and terrors close to every night-something I was sure I should have grown out of by now, but they remained as strong as ever. They felt so real, so vivid, as if they were memories my consciousness had blocked out. We'd tried countless therapists, journaling, and even a couple sleep studies but nothing worked. It felt like I wasn't safe inside my own head.

          As I rolled over onto my side, my thoughts slowly drifted to Sebastian and his help tonight.

          When I finally fell asleep, for the first time in months I wasn't plagued by nightmares, but by the walking red flag with beautiful eyes and a heartbeat.