Collide (Off the Ice #1)

Prologue

Madison

I've tried crushing on other boys.

Like Patrick Morland, with the cute freckles and ginger hair.

Or Luke Pacheco, with the dark eyes and charming smile.

But none of them compare to the one boy who makes my heart race.

Asher Russell.

My twin brother's best friend.

My fraternal twin brother, obviously. He's the boy, I'm the girl. You know how it works. Anyway, back to Asher.

I sigh like a girl at a boy band concert. If this were a cartoon, there would be hearts circling my head and stars twinkling in my eyes.

Yes, it's that pathetic.

But I can't help it.

The quiet, mysterious boy moved in across the street when we were only six. Mason—my brother, who'd make friends with anything that breathes—was outside that same day, riding his bike back and forth in front of Asher's house until he finally agreed to come out and play.

Since then, they've been inseparable. And I happily inserted myself into their friendship, the quiet boy intriguing me more than I wanted to admit.

Why was he so quiet?

Why didn't he have a dad?

Why was he home alone so much?

Asher was smart. School came easy to him without much effort. Me? I had to study hard to keep my straight A's. Mason could get good grades if he wanted to, but he didn't care, putting more attention into football than anything else.

It drove me crazy, how easy it came to Asher, and it only drew me in deeper. How'd he do it? Why couldn't it be that easy for me? What was his secret?

I tried to ignore the compulsion to be perfect, but it only grew with time as we got deeper into high school. And my crush got bigger.

But I doubt Asher feels the same. Not that I can tell. He gives nothing away.

Whenever Mason jokes about me actually looking like a girl instead of my usual tomboy self, Asher laughs along with him. He doesn't see me as anything more than his best friend's sister.

But I made a promise to myself: when I start college, there will be no more crushing on Asher Russell. It won't ever happen.

It can't happen.

My brother would never forgive either of us.

And even though we're all headed to college together, I'm determined to keep my promise.

Too bad I can't see the future.

Because what happens next will change our lives forever.

Chapter One

Madison