Shirtless Trouble

Chapter One

Aurora slammed the door behind her, sweat dripping from her forehead, football tucked under one arm, the other supporting it.

Mom! Can you just reply to Dad already? He’s been blowing up my phone too!” she shouted, stomping towards the couch

Her mom snapped, teeth gritted. “Don’t you dare sit your ass on my new couch, kid!”

“Urrrgghh! Just do something already! I’m tired of having the same words and arguments between you two!” Aurora retorted, rolling her eyes.

Before her mom could fire back, Aurora stomped upstairs, heart pounding with frustration—only to be ambushed by her best friend’s scream through the phone.

“Hey BESTIEEE!” Layla’s squealing voice made Aurora wince.

“Goddammit, Layla! You’re gonna make my ears bleed?” she groaned.

“Oh, come on! Mom said y’all relocated to Ravenwood, California! OMG girl, I can’t wait to see you again!” Layla gushed, practically bouncing through the phone.

“Stop playing with me, Layla. You also live in Ravenwood?” Aurora asked, astonished.

“Yes, babe! five years and we’re finally back in the same city!” Layla replied, squealing in excitement.

“My mom didn’t mention this to me. OMG! I’ll get to see you again ?Yaaayyy!” Both girls squealed at the same time, their voices echoing across the phone.

Tears welled in Aurora’s eyes. “I can’t wait, Layla! I’ve missed you so much.”

“C’mon, girl! You’re stuck with me now! Sleepovers, gossip, rebuild our unbreakable world —everything.”

“Clock it, girl, clock it!” Aurora laughed, jumping on her bed in excitement.

And speaking of gossip,” Layla added with a low snicker,

“Guess who else is in Ravenwood…”

Aurora groaned. “Don’t say his name.”

Layla giggled. “Oh, I’m saying it. Jaxon Grayson!”

Aurora nearly fell off her bed.

Great.

The one boy she’d vowed to avoid for the rest of her life.

“Oh, please! Don’t spoil my happy mood,” Aurora said, rolling her eyes toward the direction of an unseen Jaxon.

Layla laughed heartily. “Girl, it’s better if you both still hate each other. That guy’s been more of a jerk lately. Ugh, I’ve got so much gossip for you. Don’t worry—I’ll feed it to you soon.”

“All right, sweet, bye girl!” Aurora said as the call ended, grinning ear to ear.

---

Aurora sprinted downstairs to the kitchen, shouting, “Mom! You didn’t tell me Layla and her family live here too!”

Her mom, placing a turkey in the oven, turned to her. “I was going to make that a surprise. Who told you?”

“I just spoke with Layla,” Aurora replied, beaming.

Her mom rolled her eyes. “I’ve got another surprise for you, honey.”

Aurora widened her eyes. “I’m all ears!”

“You’ll be attending the same school as Layla,” her mom revealed.

Aurora clutched her head. “Tell me it’s a joke, Mom! OMG! I finally got admission into Ravenwood Pacific University? Same school with Layla?”

“Yes, darling,” her mom said, smiling.

She sprang on her heels, hugging her mom. “Thank you so much, Mom! You’re the best! I love you!”

“I love you too, honey. Now, you really need a bath.” Her mom held her nose up, and Aurora laughed.

---

Ravenwood Pacific University had been fun so far, especially with Layla around. Aurora hoped coming here would help her mom heal from Dad.

I knew Ravenwood was trouble the first day I set my eyes on Jaxon West, Layla’s older brother on campus. I had planned to avoid him like the plague—we were always ready to exchange ugly words—but I didn’t expect trouble to answer the door shirtless.

—

When Layla’s front door swung open, the trouble started when he opened the door shirtless. I froze on the porch, gripping my bag like it could save me.

There he stood—Jaxon Grayson—leaning against the doorframe like he owned the city.

Sunlight spilled over his bare chest, catching the silver chain on his collarbone. His hair was messy and damp, like he’d just stepped out of the shower. His storm-grey eyes dragged slowly down my body

Slow

Assessing

Dangerous, before resting on my face with that stupid half-smirk.

“Oh, please,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

“Relax, princess,” he said, voice low and lazy. “I don’t bite.”

My heart tripped. Out of annoyance, obviously.

“I’m not your princess,” I snapped, brushing past him into the house.

“Good,” he murmured behind me. “I wasn’t offering.”

I rolled my eyes so hard I felt them click.

The Grayson's family living room smelt warm.vanilla candles and citrus cleaning spray. Soft throw blankets everywhere. Shoes scattered near the staircase. A cozy home… completely ruined by the choking presence of the shirtless devil behind me.

“You weren’t supposed to be home,” I snapped.

He followed, slow steps tapping the hardwood floor. “Trust me, Aurora, if I knew you were coming, I’d have left.”

Lie. The way his eyes lingered on me said otherwise.

I walked deeper into the living room, putting space—any space—between us. His gaze felt like a hand on my spine, warm and distracting. Would he just stop following me like some kid and get the hell out?

“You’re in my home, remember?” he retorted with a smirk.

“Oh heavens, please help me,” I muttered, eyes closed.

Footsteps thundered down the stairs, saving my sanity.

---

“Auroraaa!” Layla shrieked, flying down to hug me, nearly knocking me over. “Finally! I thought you got lost!”

I hugged her back, grateful for her warmth. “Your brother answered the door,” I whispered.

She pulled back. “Ugh. Gross. He’s home for the weekend. Ignore him.”

“I’m trying,” I muttered.

Her eyes widened as she noticed Jaxon behind me. “Jax, go put a shirt on!”

And Jaxon smirked.

Not mocking this time.

Something deeper.

“Excuse me! Oh, Layla, let’s go to your room—I’m getting sick from someone’s presence,” I begged.

His smirk deepened. “Sure you weren’t.”

Layla groaned. “Please go away.”

“Can’t. It’s my house,” he replied, walking past us toward the kitchen, still shirtless, still annoying.

I shot dead looks at his ugly-attractive back.

Layla dragged me upstairs to her room, still ranting. I was grateful for the distraction. Her room smelled like strawberries and coconut shampoo. Posters covered the walls. Fairy lights twinkled above her bed.

I barely dropped my overnight bag when Layla flopped on the mattress.

“So,” she said, kicking her legs. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“Jaxon and his friends are planning a party at school soon!”

I blinked. “No. Layla, anything with that annoying kid—I don’t want it around me.”

“Oh, please, ignore him. You need to meet more people at RPU. Socialize. Live a little. Don’t forget—we have friendship records to rebuild!”

Before I could argue, a voice drifted from the hallway, sliding under my skin.

“She doesn’t need to go anywhere if she’s not willing.”

My breath stilled.

Layla sat up. “Jaxon, why are you eavesdropping?”

He leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed. That smirk was gone. He wasn’t teasing. He was watching me with something sharp, unreadable.

“Parties aren’t her thing; she’s scared to get drunk or end up with some guy,” he said mockingly.

I knit my eyebrows. “You don’t know what my ‘thing’ is.”

He tilted his head, eyes dragging over me again, slower this time. “I know enough, princess.”

I threw a pillow at him. “Get out!”

But he didn’t move. His gaze stayed heavy and confusing.

“Seriously, go away,” Layla repeated.

Finally, he stepped back into the hall.

Just before he turned the corner, he said, loud enough for only me to hear:

“I’ve missed annoying her.”

My breath caught.

And that’s when I knew…

Ravenwood wasn’t trouble.

Jaxon Grayson was.

And somehow… he wanted mine.

Lord, give Aurora strength to survive whatever trouble he brought next, palms pressed together, as Layla laughed at my dramatic reaction.