Chapter 1

“Are the balloons really necessary, Mom?”

Her mother, dressed in a pencil skirt and sky-high heels—the most ridiculous outfit for college move-in day—maneuvered around the tiny dorm room carrying an ostentatious purple vase filled with white roses. Large foil balloons in the shapes of hearts that read “Congratulations,” “We love you,” and “Good luck” were tied to the rim. She set them on the desk that stood at the foot of the single bed. “They give the room color, don’t ya think?”

Teghan dropped her face into her hands and shook her head in disbelief. “Paint will give the room color,” she mumbled.

“Don’t talk back to your mother,” her father said as he entered the room, arms full of luggage. “Besides, you can’t paint the walls.” He piled her suitcases on the bed. “This is it?” Rob looked around the sardine can of a room. “Well, this is just unacceptable. I’m going to the student housing office.” He pointed his finger at the luggage. “Don’t unpack a thing until I get back.”

“Dad! Don’t!” Teghan rushed toward him.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t allow you to live in these conditions.”

“Your father’s right, sweetie. It doesn’t look as though this carpet has had a proper cleaning in years.” Her mother, Rachel, scrunched her face in disgust.

“I agree. This room sucks and it’s ugly, but causing a scene at the housing department isn’t going to change anything,” Teghan said.

“Trevor! Get in here,” Rob shouted, sticking his head out the door.

“Oh God,” Teghan groaned. She’d begged her brother to stay home.

“Now stop it, Teghan. Your brother wanted to be here for this,” Rachel said. “He’s leaving for Rygard on Monday. You should be happy he wants to share this day with you.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s too bad your sister couldn’t be here, too.”

“Mom, don’t cry.” Teghan gave her mother a hug.

“I refuse to participate in a group hug.” Trevor walked into the room and whistled. “Bitchin’ room, sis.”

“Watch your mouth, boy,” Rob scolded him.

“Sorry.” Trevor frowned.

Teghan broke free from her mother’s death-grip hug and glanced around. There were far too many people in her small room. Claustrophobia set in, and she moved toward the door.

“Where’s that person? You know, the resident assistant?” Rob asked.

Trevor laughed. “It’s called the resident advisor.”

Rob walked toward the door. He had that certain gait about him again—the one where he’d tuck his hands into his pockets, purse his lips, and purposefully step harder than necessary, making it sound like he was stomping—which meant only one thing: he was displeased and intent on getting results. She cringed.

“Dad, please.” She stood in the doorway in a feeble attempt to block his path. “I know this room isn’t the greatest, but it’s temporary.”

“This isn’t fit for a dog to live in, let alone my daughter.” He pushed past Teghan and into the hallway.

Rachel had composed herself and was beginning to unpack. She started with the smallest suitcase, which contained Teghan’s bras and panties. “Mom!” Teghan grabbed her black lace panties from her mother’s hand and shoved them back in the suitcase.

“I was just trying to help,” Rachel said. “Why don’t we just leave this stuff for later? These walls are so drab. Let’s go shopping and get some wall hangings.”

Trevor laughed.

Teghan glared at him. All she wanted to do was be left alone. And then she heard her father’s voice from down the hall. “What do you mean this is a co-ed dorm? I specifically asked for an all-girls dorm. How did this happen?” Seconds later, Rob came back to the room. “Trevor, start taking Teghan’s stuff back down to the car.”

Her eyes widened, and horror struck her speechless for a moment. “Dad!”

“There is no way I’m letting you live in a co-ed dorm. You can stay at home until I find you a suitable apartment nearby.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, his bushy eyebrows raising a fraction of an inch, daring her to argue. But she knew better.

“Hey, Mr. J,” Annabelle said, walking into the room with her father close behind. Her wild, fiery red hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

“Annabelle.” Rob nodded at her. “Good to see you.” He turned to Annabelle’s father. “Did you know this was a co-ed dorm?”

“It is?” Annabelle asked with fake surprise.

“Annie,” Teghan whispered through clenched teeth.

“What?” Annabelle mouthed the word with a shrug.

“Am I taking these to the car or what?” Trevor asked. He had his arms full of luggage.

“Yes,” Rob said.

“No,” Teghan said as she resumed her position, blocking the door.

“What?” Annabelle asked.

“Honey.” Rachel put her hand on Rob’s arm. “Don’t overreact.”

“Dad,” Teghan said in the sternest voice she could muster. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m not living at home. I’m staying right here. Annabelle and I have been planning this for years. Plus, you’ve already paid the housing fee. Do you really want to throw away your money like that?”

Rob stared at his daughter for a moment. “Put the bags down, Trevor.”

She grinned. Hitting him in the wallet always worked. “Thank you, Daddy!” She gave her father a big hug.

“There are rules, Teghan,” he said.

There are always rules. She refrained from rolling her eyes.

“Absolutely no boys in this room.” Rob pointed at her. “And if there are any problems with any of the boys around here, you come to me. That RA is an idiot and wouldn’t know—”

“Knock, knock.” The words interrupted Rob’s tirade.

The entire room went silent as they turned to look at the guy standing in the open door holding a bouquet of pink and purple lilies. His brown eyes sparkled, and his wavy, dirty-blonde hair was neatly combed. A thin mustache and goatee framed his smiling lips.

Teghan’s stomach clenched at the sight of him. It had been months since she’d seen him. She swallowed hard. “Alex, what are you doing here?”

“It’s moving day. I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Alex said. “Here.”

She folded her arms over her chest and refused to take the flowers. “How did you know where to find me?”

“Don’t be rude, Teghan.” Rachel pushed past her and took the flowers from Alex. “It’s great to see you again, honey. How are you?” She gave him a one-armed hug.

“I’m okay,” he said, keeping his eyes on Teghan.

“Answer my question, Alex.” Teghan shifted her weight. She’d wondered a lot about when she’d see him again, about what she’d say, and how she’d feel—she never dreamed it would happen in front of an audience like this.

“I told Trevor to invite him,” Rob said. “He’s like family. He belongs here.”

Trevor walked up next to his sister, patted her on the shoulder, and said, “Geez, sis, I didn’t know you were sleeping with family. That’s called incest and it’s wrong.”

Teghan sighed. “Not funny.”

“Hey.” Trevor gave Alex a fist bump. “Been a long time. I thought maybe you’d disappeared for good.”

“Nah.” Alex shook his head.

“Glad you’re back, man. Things just haven’t been the same without you,” Trevor said.

How could her brother act like everything was okay? She wasn’t the only one Alex had cut out of his life for the past few months. Had Trevor forgotten that Alex had bailed on him, too? Unless Trevor still blamed her for what had happened. Figures.

“We need to talk.” Teghan ushered Alex into the hallway and closed the door behind her. “You can’t just show up here like this. We’re not together anymore.”

“I know,” he said, leaning against the wall.

“Then why are you here?”

“Trevor invited me.” He smirked, and for the briefest moment, she forgot why she’d broken up with him. “And I never turn down a Jacobs family invitation.”

“I don’t care if God himself invited you. You shouldn’t be here.”

His smile vanished. “I miss you, Teghan.”

“Don’t.” She held up her shaking hand to stop him from saying more. Tears stung her eyes. “If you think you can just show up here with flowers and everything is going to be all right, you’re crazy.”

“Things are far from right.” He straightened to his full six-foot height. “If things were right, we’d be together.”

“Stop it! If you care about me so much, why did you disappear, huh? You take off to who the hell knows where. You don’t text me. Not even a call or an email to let me know you were okay.”

“You broke up with me, Teghan!” He raised his voice, and his brow furrowed. “Being near you wasn’t an option. I needed to get away.”

“You’re so selfish.”

“I’m selfish?” He laughed. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. Tell me again why we broke up. Oh, that’s right.” He snapped his fingers. “You wanted to be single for college.”

She flinched at his harsh words. “That’s not why, and you know it.” Well, that was part of it, but she wasn’t about to rehash their break-up conversation. The constant replay in her mind was enough.

He hung his head. “After dating for three and a half years and best friends for most of our lives, I just don’t understand why you feel the need to experience college without me.” Alex looked up at her, his eyes sad. “We should be doing this together, Teghan. Me, you, Annie, and Trevor. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Teghan stared at him. “That’s how it used to be. But that’s not how it is now. Face it; we’re not in high school anymore.”

“I shouldn’t have come here,” he admitted, a pouty look on his face.

“Don’t be like that.” Teghan crossed her arms over her chest.

“Like what?” He stepped closer, and his familiar scent settled over her. She took a deep breath. “Hurt? Pissed off? Frustrated? So damn heartbroken I don’t want to breathe?”

“Alex,” she whispered. The tears she’d kept locked at the brims of her eyes spilled free. The truth was she missed him a lot more than she’d realized. But saying so would be leading him on, and she couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t do that.

“Oh, man, Teghan. Don’t cry.” Alex hugged her. “You know I hate it when you cry.”

Teghan sniffled, but kept her arms at her sides. Regardless of how comfortable his arms felt, she wasn’t going to get sucked back in. “You should go,” she whispered.

“I’m not leaving until we fix this.”

“Fix what?” Teghan pushed him away. “There’s nothing to fix, Alex. We’re over.”

“Well, why can’t we try to be friends?”

“Now really isn’t the time to be making jokes.”

He scowled. “Just because you decided you don’t want me in your life doesn’t mean they don’t.” He pointed to her closed door. “Those people in there are my friends. They are family to me. You have no right to take that away.”

Teghan’s mouth hung open in surprise. This wasn’t the Alex she knew. What had happened to him the past few months to cause him to lash out at her? Sure, a broken heart would make a person do strange things, but Alex was the most level-headed guy she’d ever known. Her throat constricted with the threat of more tears.

“I can’t do this.” She turned to walk away.

“Teghan!”

The commotion in the hallway stilled briefly. Teghan looked around, embarrassment coloring her face. “Go home, Alex.”

She headed for the closest exit, unable to get outside fast enough. Teghan closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of freshly cut grass and pine trees. It was a perfect August day. Well, almost perfect. She took a few deep breaths, wiped the tears from her face, and walked down the steps of her residence hall.

The res halls were positioned in a half moon on the west side of campus. In the center was a lush patch of green grass, wooden benches, Monterey pine trees, and bright yellow and white flowers. She’d give Alex enough time to say good-bye and leave. Then she’d go back to her room.

All the benches were taken. Teghan sighed in frustration when she realized that the only empty seat was next to a super hottie. Great! First cute college guy I meet and I look like hell. She sat beside him.

“Having a bad day?”

The most amazing pair of green eyes greeted her. She tucked her hair behind her ear and licked her dry lips. “You have no idea.”

“It can’t be that bad.” He smiled, showing off the dimple in his left cheek. “I’m Donnie.” He extended his hand.

“Teghan.” She gave his hand a weak shake.

Her gaze moved from his large hands up his muscular arms, across his solid chest, and landed on his face. A light breeze tousled his dark brown hair, causing it to become disheveled. A mixture of scents washed over her—cologne, fresh air, and soap. Odd but enticing.

“This campus is huge,” he said.

“Yeah, it’ll be a small miracle if I don’t get lost going to my first class.” She laughed nervously and twisted her hands in her lap. “Are one of these your residence hall?” She nodded at the brick buildings that surrounded them.

“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “I don’t go here. I’m waiting for a friend.”

“Oh.” Disappointment settled over her. So much for possibly having a class with him or running into him again. With a sigh, she stood. “It was nice to meet you, Donnie.” She hesitated. There was no way Alex would be gone yet, but sitting here next to Donnie wasn’t something she wanted to do any longer, either. Getting into a new relationship now was a bad idea, and even if she were considering it, she wasn’t going to waste her time with a guy who didn’t even go to the same college. “I really should get back to the crazy party.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder.

“Stay sane.” He flashed his dimple-laden smile, and she smiled in return.

“I’ll try.” Her heart raced as she walked back toward her res hall. Teghan paused at the door and looked over her shoulder. Donnie was still sitting on the bench, watching her. He smiled. She considered going back and asking for his number. Maybe dating a guy who wasn’t local was exactly what she needed—no strings attached. But then she remembered all the unfinished business she had with Alex and decided against it.

She smiled back at him.

Moving day wasn’t a total disaster after all.