ISBN: 9781310410604

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher in writing. For information message [email protected].

Synopsis

Two years ago, Evie’s sister died, leaving her lost. Existing without really living. Coping the only way she knew how: by wrecking things.

Last year, Evie exposed her dad’s affairs, finished ripping apart her relationship with her longtime boyfriend, and completely ruined her music scholarship.

But today, she’s reinventing herself at her new university. Desperate to break away from all the destruction she’s caused, Evie’s ready to start over. For her sister, who never even had a chance. And for herself.

Then Rhys, her new voice instructor, happens.

He’s gorgeous and insanely talented, but he’s also a part of the dark past Evie is trying to overcome. Rhys’s brother is the reason why her life went up in flames, the reason why Lily, Evie's sister, is dead. But even though Rhys is the last person Evie should ever want, for the first time in two years, wrecking things seems...right.

The Playlist

“Hanging On” by Ellie Goulding

“Riverside” by Agnes Obel

“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus

“Human” by Civil Twilight

“All the Right Moves” by One Republic

“All Falls Down” by Kanye West

“Adolescents” by Incubus

“Delicate” by Damien Rice

“Lovesong” by 311

“Counting Stars” by One Republic

“Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake

“Heartbeat” by The Fray

“Avenue” by Agnes Obel

“Breathe (2 AM)” by Anna Nalick

“Fix Me” by Ten Years

“Yesterday” by The Beatles

“Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys

“The Monster” by Eminem ft. Rihanna

“Heaven Knows” by The Pretty Reckless

“Between the Raindrops” by Lifehouse & Natasha Bedingfield

“Say Something” by A Great Big World

“Slowly Freaking Out” by Skylar Grey

“Stay” by Rihanna & Mikky Ekko

“Don’t Say A Word” by Ellie Goulding

“Everlong” by Foo Fighters

“Under the Milky Way” by Sia

Dedication

To the Your Toxic Sequel Support Group -

You girls kick ass and do Lucas proud everyday.

Thank you for your awesomeness.

Prologue

Two Years Ago

“You sure she won’t figure out I’m here?” my boyfriend, James, murmurs into my ear. His warm, minty breath fans strands of my long chestnut brown hair, coursing a tingle down my spine. Tilting my head, I look back into his gray eyes and notice the flash of pleasure in them because of my visible reaction to him. There’s a definite note of apprehension there, too, thanks to his odd fear of my mom.

She’s too scared to kill a spider, much less come after him with a weapon just because she catches him inside my bedroom. “Evie?” James groans. “I’d hate for her to start shooting at me.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “My mother doesn’t own a gun, but she does keep a butcher knife under her bed.” His blond eyebrows knit together, and I’m sure his head is now full of images of my delicate PTA officer mother going stab-happy with a dull Bed, Bath, & Beyond utensil.

“Evie, this shit’s not funny.”

I snort and roll my eyes. “Calm down. She’s got one of her book club meetings tonight. She’s probably down stairs Googling spoilers so her friends won’t realize she hasn’t picked up a novel in weeks.”

“Until she comes up here.”

Flipping over onto my stomach, I prop myself up on my forearms and give James the most serious look I can muster, which is laced in laughter. “I promise, promise, you’re safe.”

From the skeptical look he’s wearing, he doesn’t fully buy my words, but he forces himself to relax, linking his fingers together behind his head. He lies back on the plush pillows and looks up at me. “Not going to lie, I’m still nervous as hell.” He dips his smooth chin toward the iPod dock on my dresser, which is on the other side of the room. “Maybe you should turn that up a little more. Just in case.”

A laugh rumbles deep in my chest as I push myself up. “You are a big, fat chicken shit.” As I make my way over to the sound system, I swing my hips in rhythm to the Kings of Leon song that’s currently playing. I am definitely not a dancer, but I hear James’ sharp intake of air as he watches my movements.

After I adjust the volume so there’s no way my mom will be able to hear anything other than my “Relaxation” playlist, I spin around to look at him, noting the appreciative glint in his eyes that’s taken precedence over any fear that was there before. “I’ve missed you,” he mouths. “Get over here.”

Without warning, I jump onto the bed beside him, the mattress sinking a little at the sudden motion and my weight. I squeal when James tackles me, drags me beneath his long, lean body, and pins my wrists to the mattress.

“Now who’s being loud?” I demand breathlessly, releasing a soft noise from the back of my throat when his lips lower to mine. After he draws away—much to my disappointment because he hasn’t kissed me like this in almost two weeks—I clear my throat. “What are you doing?”

“Looking at you.”

“What time do you have to be—” But the sound of my phone blaring on the nightstand beside the bed interrupts my thought process. We both turn our heads to where the phone is buzzing fiercely on the antique white wood, and I sigh. “I’m not answering that stupid thing.”

“It might be important.” James’ lips twitch. “But, to answer your question, I told my mom I’d be home by seven. I parked a mile away, so you’ve got me all to yourself for”—he looks at my alarm clock, and cocks his head to the side like he’s calculating how long it will take him to sprint to his car and get home before his mom starts bitching—“another hour and a half.”

When my phone starts vibrating again, he lifts his eyebrows. “You should answer it, might be Lily again. Or your other boyfriend?”

“Don’t care if it is her.” Still, I grab the phone and check the number on the screen. “And I’m too lazy to manage another boyfriend, I can barely keep up with you.” I flash the phone in his face, wiggling it around so he can see the smiling face of one of my friends. “It’s Sophie.”

Letting out a low whistle, he moves his head to each side. “God, you hold a grudge. Hard to believe y’all have been fighting this long. Usually you kiss and make up after a few days.”

He’s referring to the epic fallout I had with my older sister two weeks ago. Honestly, just thinking about it right now pisses me off.

When my mom had woken up in the middle of the night after a bad dream only to find that I was nowhere to be found, she’d automatically confronted Lily. Being the worst liar, a born worrier, and a natural avoider of confrontations, Lily had accidentally revealed that I might be with James. Mom had freaked out, of course, and when I finally made it home shortly after three AM, there was a cop car waiting in our driveway.