Chapter 1
Alli
If there’s ever a bad time to spill coffee on your hallway crush, it’s probably during the biggest moment of your life or when you’re having the worst morning ever.
I, Allison Castillo, just tackled Ethan Díaz walking into Microbiology. Ethan freezes mid-step, his face a gorgeous blend of surprise and mild horror as my caramel latte stains his pearly white shirt. I stand there, completely mortified, probably looking like a live version of The Scream, gripping the empty cup like it’s my lifeline in what’s the most embarrassing moment of the year.
“I am so sorry,” I blurt out, already fumbling for napkins in my bag. “I didn’t see you there, and—”
“You’re good,” Ethan says, his grin downright smug, even with coffee dripping down his shirt. “I guess it’s not every day someone tackles me with coffee.”
I shove a wad of napkins at him, avoiding the mess I just caused. “I’ll… buy you a new one?”
Ethan chuckles, blotting at his shirt with the napkins. “Sure, but maybe next time, aim for the floor.”
“Ha,” I laugh dryly, trying to brush off the awkwardness. “Yeah, for s-sure.”
Ethan walks into the lab, still blotting at his shirt, while I wonder if Professor Moua would even notice if I skipped today.
“Allison,” Professor Moua says as she swipes next to me to enter the lab, “care to join us, or will you continue standing there like a mannequin?”
That answers my question.
“Yes, sorry, I was just having a moment.”
“Don’t we all?”
I react with a nervous laugh and quickly follow her inside. I beeline for my seat, where I nod to my only friend in this class, Olivia Kim. She slides my green folder over towards me. “Hey, thanks again for letting me borrow your Anatomy notes.”
I grab the folder and toss it into my bag. “Anytime.”
Olivia leans closer, her lips twitching like she’s holding back a laugh, while Professor Moua drones on and on about microbial genetics. “So,” she whispers, “did it hurt when your beloved latte sacrificed itself to Ethan’s perfect shirt?”
I glance down at the empty cup in front of me, the caramel scent still clinging faintly to the rim. A small sigh slips out as I picture the puddle of my once perfect latte on the floor… and on him.
“Awesome start to the day,” I mutter, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “And I really needed that caffeine.”
“You’ll survive,” she says with a laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners. I can’t help but laugh with her.
I hear guilty giggles and look up to find Ethan’s friends making jokes about hisgirlyscent for the day. Dear Earth, just swallow me now.
Ethan Díaz is single-handedly the hottest sophomore at Carolina Coast University. Ever since I laid eyes on him atfreshman orientation and learned we were both Biology majors, I’ve been obsessed.
Okay, never mind. That sounds creepier than I meant.
I barely saw him my freshman year. And when I did, he was always with his friend group. They always looked like they were having the time of their lives—laughing at everything, moving like one solid posse that’s impossible to break through. It’s not like they were mean or anything; I just didn’t know how to step into that kind of energy without feeling like I’d throw things off… or make a complete fool of myself.
How can you expect a girl to casually walk up to a hot guy and, I don’t know, talk to him with the intention of wanting to get to know him better?
You fucking can’t, apparently.
Well, maybe others can. Surely not me, not anymore at least.
“So,” Olivia says, bringing my attention back to her, “there’s this party happening tonight at Omega Kappa. Come with me?”
I hesitate, that familiar wave of uncertainty hitting me at the thought of going out. My muscles tense, a prickling heat climbing the back of my neck as a shy sweat breaks out on my forehead. I clench my fingers into fists to keep them from fidgeting.
I consider going out for a second, but then doubt shows up front and center.
