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 chest. “You’re

Deep, authoritative voice.

and

relentless eyes dig into mine,

hoodie almost brushes against me. He

Scary.

the table wasn’t behind

in the library…” the guy mutters. “It must be

continue to stare at

and the surrounding air

most intimidating guy I’ve

you listening

checking

sighs. “The teacher said he gave you my number—why didn’t

“Uhhh…?”

was that?” He leans in closer and boxes me further into the table. Having him so

my mouth, but not

leans closer. He seems to be checking my eyes, and I hold

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

“Are you on drugs?”

I shake my head.

haven’t you

“C-called?” I stammer.

are supposed to work together!

Work together?

“I’m…”

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

I gulp.

are prickling behind my eyelids already, and my tongue darts

he mistake me for someone

But

chest. He sighs and takes a step back to leave my

do they feed this guy

He is huge.

might be a serial killer” way that

to pull out a

lips move.

unsure what

my teeth into my lower lip, the guy glares at me with

don’t you have any clue who I

I shake my head.

me hanging on the campus wall, and you

my

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

just… Scared

Especially around Maddox Daniels.

Wait.

does he have a poster on the

I should

whisper, “No… I can talk

class,” Maddox is eyeing my laptop like a predator. “What do you

my seat. I’m shaking, yet I somehow find

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

“Hmmm…” Maddox hums.

root me to the

decides to make a presentation about Sweden when you could choose any

“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 a book by its cover. You can’t trust anyone these

a cliff into

are writing about Norway, not

We are

his hairline, but the relentless, unfriendly expression returns a second

that—I can see the

get the feeling he

“Good…”

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