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

sure I’m gaping like a goldfish when the broody guy crosses his

Deep, authoritative voice.

gulp and whisper.

mine, and he

fabric of his hoodie almost brushes against me. He obviously lacks respect for

Scary.

away from him if the table wasn’t behind me,

think I actually found you in the library…” the guy

to stare at

is ridiculously broad, and the surrounding air screams

the most

listening

I’m checking you out.

“The teacher said he gave you my number—why didn’t you text or call me? We should work on

“Uhhh…?”

boxes me further into the table. Having him so close makes my heart pound. “Wait. Are

my mouth, but not a sound comes

to be checking my eyes, and I hold my

glares at me, too nervous about making a

“Are you on drugs?”

I shake my head.

why haven’t you

“C-called?” I stammer.

over me. “Yes, Michelle?! We are supposed to work together!

Work together?

“I’m…”

“Speak louder, like a normal person! No one

I gulp.

eyelids already, and my tongue darts to lick my

mistake me for

Sorry… But who

his arms from his chest. He sighs and takes a step back to leave

What do

He is huge.

be a serial

from me to pull out a chair and sit

move. “Sit

stare at him harder, unsure what to

teeth into my lower lip, the guy glares

any

I shake my head.

of me hanging on the campus wall,

my

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

I’m just… Scared around

Especially around Maddox Daniels.

Wait.

does he have a

I should answer

whisper, “No… I can

class,” Maddox is eyeing my laptop

carefully retake my seat. I’m shaking, yet I somehow find my voice. “I haven’t gotten that far yet

side of my screen. He pulls the laptop

“Hmmm…” Maddox hums.

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

decides to make a presentation about Sweden when you could choose

“Uhhh…”

man in the picture, is he fucking skinny dipping?” Maddox looks away from the screen, sizing me up. “Wow, even the most

the man jumping off a cliff into the water

we are writing about

We are

hairline, but the

that—I can see

the feeling he had no

“Good…”

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