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.

a movie

like a goldfish when the broody guy crosses his

Deep, authoritative voice.

and whisper.

eyes dig into mine, and he takes a

fabric of his hoodie almost

Scary.

would get away from him if the table wasn’t behind

think I actually found you in the library…” the guy mutters. “It must be

to

ridiculously broad, and the surrounding air

most intimidating guy

you listening

I’m checking

said he gave you my number—why didn’t

“Uhhh…?”

closer and boxes me further into the table. Having him so close makes

my mouth, but

my eyes, and I hold my breath. Is he going

as he glares at me, too nervous about making a move.

“Are you on drugs?”

I shake my head.

haven’t you

“C-called?” I stammer.

to work together!

Work together?

“I’m…”

like a normal person! No one is going to hear you

I gulp.

behind my eyelids already, and my tongue darts to lick

he mistake me for

Sorry… But

make him drop his arms from his chest. He sighs and takes a step back to leave my personal

by his size. What do they feed this guy

He is huge.

a “he might be a serial

slowly walk away from me to pull

move.

unsure what to say or do. “Are

into my lower lip, the guy glares at me

any clue who

I shake my head.

fucking poster of me hanging on the campus wall, and you don’t

shake my head

through his sandy hair, shaking his head like I’m the weirdo. “I’m Maddox Daniels, your project partner. Now, do you have

just… Scared

Especially around Maddox Daniels.

Wait.

does he have a poster on the

I

whisper, “No… I

my laptop like a predator. “What do you have so far?

I somehow find my voice. “I haven’t

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

“Hmmm…” Maddox hums.

my nerves root

the hell decides to make a presentation about Sweden when

“Uhhh…”

skinny dipping?” Maddox looks away from the screen, sizing me up. “Wow, even the most innocent-looking girls are fucking predators. Don’t judge

off a cliff into the water in one of my

writing

We are writing

eyebrows shoot up into his hairline, but the relentless,

that—I can

the feeling he had

“Good…”

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