"I never knew what love was until I met you." I looked up. "Stop joking around like that." Theo's deep blue eyes bore into mine. "Who says I'm joking?" *** In the shadow of her prodigious twin brother and the periphery of neglectful parents, high school senior Cora Kinsley navigates her world alone. Her life takes a turn when Theodore Thorsen, a mysterious and wealthy new student, arrives at school.Constantly thrown together, Theodore's stoic demeanor clashes with Cora's reserved nature, sparking a complex love-hate dynamic between them. Amidst their turbulent relationship stands Jin, Cora's steadfast friend who offers support and challenges her perceptions of love and friendship. Is Theodore the key to helping Cora break free from her isolation? And what secrets lie behind his captivating exterior and enigmatic personality? And as Cora navigates these questions, will Jin's presence becomes crucial in shaping her choices and understanding of true connection?
View MoreI barely have the chance to breathe before Hailey starts her interrogation.“So…” she started, dragging out the word as we walked out of Jin’s apartment building. “You and Jin, huh?”I sighed. “Don’t start.”“Oh, I’ve already started,” she says, grinning. “That man literally lifted you up and twirled you around like you were in a rom-com. And you let him! Which means something.”“I was just being friendly,” I muttered, staring straight ahead.“Right, and I’m the Queen of England.” Hailey smirked. “You should’ve seen your face when you saw him, Cora. You practically lit up.”I scoffed. “I did not.”“Did too,” she sang. Then, in a more dramatic voice, she clutches her chest. “‘Oh Jin, you’re back! Your hair! Your smile! I feel whole again!’”I shoved her lightly. “Shut up.”She laughed but didn't let up. “So, are you gonna tell me how you feel about him? Or are we pretending this doesn’t exist?”I hesitated. Because the truth is… I don’t know. Seeing Jin again did make me happy. And hea
Chapter 51His lips brush against mine, soft at first. Almost hesitant.Then, like something clicking into place, the hesitation disappears. His fingers tilt my chin, deepening the kiss, pulling me closer—so close I can feel the warmth radiating off him, wrapping around me like a second skin.My heart pounds in sync with his. I can feel it.I can taste it.Theo.I don’t want it to end. I want to stay here forever.A harsh beam of sunlight pierces through my window, dragging me out of the dream like a riptide. My eyes snap open, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I stare up at the ceiling, disoriented.For a few blissful seconds, I’m still there. In the guest room. In his arms.And then reality comes crashing down.The room around me is cold, empty. My bed untouched on one side. My phone sits on the nightstand, screen dark and silent.No messages.No missed calls.Nothing.I exhale, forcing myself to sit up even as a sinking feeling settles in my chest. It’s been days since that nigh
The room seemed to blur around me the moment I saw her.Cora stood at the top of the staircase, the soft glow of the chandelier casting a warm light over her, catching the silk of her dress in a way that made it shimmer. But it wasn’t just the dress. It was the way she held herself, the way she hesitated for only a second before stepping forward.My pulse stuttered.I had spent the last week trying to push her out of my head—out of my thoughts, out of my goddamn system. It was easier when she was just Cora in her usual jeans and oversized hoodies, when she was quiet but sharp-tongued, when she looked at me like I was nothing more than an inconvenience she had to tolerate.But this? This was something else entirely.I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, watching her, my hands clenched at my sides.Cora met my gaze briefly, then looked down at her dress, like she wasn’t sure if it suited her. That small, uncertain movement made something tighten in my chest.She didn’t know.She had no
I woke up feeling… warm. Not just warm—comforted. Held. My brain was sluggish, unwilling to process anything beyond the cozy sensation spreading through my chest. My fingers curled against soft fabric, and I buried my face deeper into—wait. Fabric?My eyes snapped open, and I instantly regretted it. The sunlight filtering through my window hit me like a hammer, and for a moment, I had no idea where I was.Then it all came flooding back. Theo. The argument. The apology. The tears.And now, Theo’s arm was still draped around me, his chest rising and falling against my back, his breath warm against the top of my head.My heart jumped to my throat. I tilted my head ever so slightly, trying to sneak a glance at him without waking him. But of course, Theo Thorsen was already awake. His blue eyes met mine, amusement dancing in them as if he’d been waiting for this moment.“Good morning,” he said softly, his voice husky with sleep.I tried to push away from him, my face heating up, but his ar
Even after a week, the house still felt bigger than I imagined. Or maybe it just felt that way because it was mine—or at least, it was supposed to be. Each step I took echoed slightly, the sound of my own presence making me feel smaller somehow. The furniture was sleek but not flashy, the kind of understated elegance that whispered money. Theo's influence was everywhere, even in the smallest details.My eyes landed on a low shelf near the window, in what was supposed to be my study, and my heart stopped for a moment. Books. Not just any books—my books. The entire series I’d once mentioned offhandedly during one of our teasing arguments about taste in literature. Theo had remembered.I crouched to touch the spines, running my fingers over the titles. What did it mean, really? That he listened? That he cared? Or that he simply didn’t know how to set boundaries when it came to fixing things he thought were broken—like me.I sighed, trying to push the thoughts to the back of my mind, when
I stared at the address Theo had sent me, then back up at the sleek, understated house in front of me. The clean lines and large windows practically whispered sophistication. I had no idea what I was walking into, but with Theo, I’d learned to stop asking questions in advance.The door swung open before I even knocked. Theo stood there, dressed down in a fitted black t-shirt and jeans, his usual confident smirk in place."Right on time," he said, stepping aside to let me in.“What is this place?” I asked, walking in and taking in the minimalist interior. The open floor plan, the neutral tones, the way the sunlight poured in—it was beautiful in a way that didn’t try too hard.“Just a little project I’ve been working on,” Theo replied nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the doorframe.“A real estate project?” I guessed, looking over my shoulder at him.He shrugged, the barest hint of a grin tugging at his lips. “Something like that.”I turned back to the space, t
Chapter 46I sat at my usual spot near the window in the library, a half-eaten sandwich and an untouched apple beside my notebook. The quiet hum of the overhead lights provided a thin blanket of comfort as I attempted to block out the world. It wasn’t working. Not when my mind kept circling back to Theo’s voice from the night before—raw, uncertain, nothing like the confident front he always wore.I’d just decided that my thoughts (and the assignment I was working on) were officially unproductive when I saw him heading my way. Theo Thorsen. Of all the places in the school, of all the tables in the library…“Hey,” he said, standing awkwardly by the chair opposite me. He was holding his history textbook like it was a shield. “Mind if I sit?”I glanced at him, then at the completely empty table a few feet away. My brows arched on instinct. “You’re asking?”His lips quirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Guess I am. So?”I sighed and waved a hand at the seat. “Go ahead.”Theo settle
The knock was soft, almost hesitant, but still enough to snap me out of my late-night haze. I glanced at the clock: 11:42 PM. Everyone else in the house should have been asleep by now.I pushed my chair back from my desk, crossing the room quietly to the door. Opening it, I found Theo standing there, dressed in a plain black T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair slightly mussed like he’d been running his hands through it—or tossing in bed.“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked, folding my arms and leaning against the doorframe.Theo shrugged, though his tense shoulders gave him away. “Not really. Mind if I come in?”I stepped aside, letting him in without a word. He looked... off. His usual confidence was nowhere to be found, replaced by a kind of restless energy. My eyes caught his hands, fingers fidgeting against each other.“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked, closing the door behind him. “And don’t say ‘nothing,’ because your fingernails are bleeding.”He glanced down at his hands, like he hadn’t eve
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the warmth. Not just the sun streaming through the cracks in the curtains, but the steady heat of Theo’s arm draped lazily across my waist. His breathing was soft, steady—almost too peaceful for someone like him.I turned my head slightly, careful not to wake him. His room was… different, seeing it in the morning light. Minimal, yes, but not cold. There were books stacked haphazardly on the desk next to his bed too (does he actually read a lot?), a pair of running shoes by the door, and a framed photo of him as a baby and his mom on the nightstand. It was the kind of place that felt like him, even without him in it.“Morning, snooper,” came Theo’s voice, low and rough with sleep. I jumped slightly as his eyes fluttered open, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.“Wasn’t snooping,” I mumbled, cheeks heating. “I was just… observing.”“Sure you were.” He stretched, the lazy grin still firmly in place. “How’d you sleep?”“Like a rock,” I admitted.
Chapter 1I walk into school and the hallway is even more crowded than usual. My boisterous school mates all seem to be whispering excitedly to the other making it seem like I'm the only one not in on some inside joke. Where are my manners? My name is Cora Kinsley and I'm a high school senior at Crestview Academy. I live with my parents and two siblings; an older brother and a younger one. Yep. I'm the middle child. Aaanyway. I make my way over to my locker to get the books I'll need for homeroom when I feel someone pull my bag from behind me, until my back is flush against them. "Good morning Cora!" A deep but cheerful voice greets me. "Would that if it were, Tony. And let go of my bag please.""No can do!" Tony replied, his voice still cheerful. I sigh. Seriously, how can anyone be so cheerful on a Monday morning? And I tell him so.Although out of sight, I imagine Tony's grinning. "Well, the thought of seeing you fuels me with energy, you know. That and a lot of coffee."I s...
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