Chapter 1

Michelle

I’m afraid of most men.

I haven’t told anyone, and I’m not seeing a therapist about it, but it all started after I was raped. Of course, no one knows about that either. I’m scared no one would believe me.

Especially since I’m not beautiful, tall, or attractive.

I’m a short little book nerd brunette. An introverted nobody, and it was a famous football player on campus who forced himself on me.

Why did he do that?

Why me?

Those exact thoughts are why I keep it a secret.

No one would believe me if I said Thomas Hennington pushed me into the wall and forced his junk inside me.

Thinking about it makes me sick to the stomach.

It happened during my first frat party before any classes had started. Thomas was drunk, but that is not an excuse.

What he did was wrong.

Yet I feel guilty that I was there.

It feels like everything is my fault.

Sometimes it makes me want to cry.

But no one would believe me if I told them what Thomas did.

Therefore, I keep my mouth shut and try not to think about it. I’m not wealthy enough to see a therapist, and I will be fine. I can handle this. There is worse stuff happening in this world.

I’m not pregnant—I checked.

And my fear of men is a phase that will pass.

Despite the mess inside my head, I silently tap away on my laptop inside the library.

Since its the first year of college, our professor wanted us to bond and make new friends. He grouped us two-and-two to make a presentation together, but my partner wasn’t there.

I actually consider myself lucky because I’m supposed to be working with a guy—Maddox Daniels. And although all the girls squealed, I didn’t want to be paired with a guy.

Maddox Daniels sounds like a super scary name too.

And all the girls called him hot.

Sexy.

One girl sighed and fought the professor to switch partners with me; what the heck was that all about?

Girls are weird…

Yawning, I take a deep breath and stand up from my chair.

I’m getting hungry and should leave the library. I live with two other girls in a tiny apartment. They usually eat my food, but there might be something left.

I roll my shoulders and reach for my laptop. But before I can grab it and get out of here, heavy footfalls approach me.

“Hey, you!”

I slowly turn around and freeze.

Holy shit.

Who is that?

Anxiety churns in my stomach when I lift my chin.

An insanely colossal guy is heading in my direction. A grey hoodie hugs his muscular arms, and I’m forced to lift my chin to meet his irritated eyes; that’s how tall he is.

Judging by his ripped body type, he must be into sports. Football or wrestling? A lineman? Hard to tell, but it must be a position that requires height. I would guess he is six-foot-five, or possibly six-foot-six.

Regardless, he is intimidating and handsome. Enough to make me forget how to function. I just stand there like a fool, staring at him while my IQ rapidly drops to zero.

he a

the broody guy crosses his arms over his mighty

Deep, authoritative voice.

gulp and whisper.

dig into mine, and he takes a

fabric of his hoodie almost

Scary.

from him if the table wasn’t behind me, but I’m captured like

actually found you in the library…” the

to stare

broad, and

might be the most intimidating guy

you listening to

I’m checking you out.

my number—why didn’t you text or call me?

“Uhhh…?”

the table. Having him so close

mouth, but not a sound comes

He seems to be checking my eyes, and

glares at me, too nervous about making a move. Too damn scared of

“Are you on drugs?”

I shake my head.

haven’t

“C-called?” I stammer.

are supposed to work together! Explain yourself! Why didn’t you text or call me? Talk,

Work together?

“I’m…”

normal person! No one is going to

I gulp.

eyelids already, and my tongue darts

me for

Sorry… But

arms from his chest. He sighs and takes

shocked by his size. What do they feed this guy with? Screaming

He is huge.

attractive, but in a “he might be a serial killer” way that

away from me to pull out a chair and sit by

move. “Sit

stare at him harder, unsure what

lip, the guy glares at me with anger ticking

any clue who I

I shake my head.

fucking poster of me hanging on the campus wall, and

shake my head

head like I’m the weirdo. “I’m Maddox Daniels, your project partner. Now, do you

I’m just… Scared around

Especially around Maddox Daniels.

Wait.

does he have a poster

mind, I should answer

whisper, “No… I

to fail this class,” Maddox is eyeing my laptop like a predator. “What do you have so far? And why

I somehow find my voice. “I haven’t gotten that far yet

eyes and grabs the side of my screen. He pulls the laptop over so he can

“Hmmm…” Maddox hums.

close to passing out. My heart is racing, and my nerves root me to the spot. I’m not sure what to do

screen. “Who the hell decides to make a presentation about Sweden when you could choose any goddamn country in the

“Uhhh…”

the screen, sizing me up. “Wow, even the most innocent-looking girls are fucking predators. Don’t judge a book by

a cliff into the water in one of

are writing

are writing about

eyebrows shoot up into his hairline, but the relentless,

knew that—I can

do I get the feeling he had no

“Good…”

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