Page 2

She takes my hand. Hers is soft, and her nails are freshly manicured with pale pink polish. Her thumbs have little birds on them, just like the scarf in her hair.

“I’m Molly Vanderbilt,” she says. Her voice is like a songbird … happy and soothing.

Molly. That’s not what I was expecting. I hold her gaze for a moment, something wordless running between us like an invisible current.

“Only one name?” I ask before I can stop myself.

“What do you mean?” Her voice is serious, but there’s a twinkle in her eyes. I’m not sure if she’s amused or irritated.

I smile my flirtatious smile, the one that gets me girls’ phone numbers. “You strike me as someone who has at least two names.”

It’s an old money thing. For some reason, wealthy people can’t choose just one name for their daughters.

She huffs out a laugh and lowers her voice to a whisper, leaning in slightly so I can smell her perfume. Chanel No. 5, if I’m not mistaken. My mom used to buy it for my sister, Sophie. Sophie always gave it to a friend because she didn’t think the scent suited her … but it suits Molly.

“I don’t know how you guessed that. My full name is Mary Elizabeth. But I go by Molly.”

I try not to look smug, but it’s hard not to. “It’s nice to meet you, Molly.”

I’m about to say more, maybe ask for the number of this beautiful girl with the old soul … but the guy next to her finally notices me and leans forward. He eyes me warily, sizing me up, before draping an arm possessively around Molly.

“Hey, I’m Todd. Molly’s boyfriend.” His hair and eyes are dark brown, and he’s dressed in skinny trousers and a crimson red Harvard sweatshirt over the top of a white dress shirt.

Does he even go to MIT?

I nod my head towards him in a friendly manner. “I’m Brooks,” I say simply, not bothering to extend my hand, what with the hostile look he’s giving me. But I can’t help but ask the question on my mind, “Do you go to MIT or Harvard?” I glance down at his sweatshirt.

He sets his shoulders proudly and smirks. “Harvard. But I came to orientation with my girl for moral support.”

She smiles stiffly, making me wonder if she actually wanted him to come to orientation with her. Briefly, I think about asking for her number, anyway. This Todd guy is honestly no competition for me.

But in the end, I decide not to make enemies on the very first day of college. There are plenty of other girls here, anyway.

I just have to wait for another one to fall at my feet.

Chapter 1

Molly

Walking toward the front door of my boyfriend’s house—okay, more like a suburban mansion—I stop in my tracks, noticing a hot pink sticky note stuck on the windshield of his sleek black sports car. No, I don’t know what type of car it is. Which greatly annoys him.

Normally, his precious baby is in the garage tucked in tight … but today is Friday, which is when his detailer comes and polishes the shiny black coupe until Todd can see his handsome reflection in it.

“No wonder he wanted me to drive tonight,” I mutter under my breath as I walk toward the car.

I’m curious what the sticky note is for. Especially since I know how annoyed he’ll be to see a sticky note plastered on his freshly detailed baby.

When I’m a few feet away, I see the red lipstick kiss under the handwritten note and my heart stops inside my chest. My mind whirls back to a comment from my best friend Brooks a few months ago … I saw Todd having lunch with someone today… a woman. Does he have a sister?

No. No. he does not have a sister. I had brushed off his comment, thinking it was probably another man with dark hair and Brooks was mistaken. No biggie. But that red lipstick kiss was, most assuredly, not left by me.

Although I do love a classic red lip.

Leaning over the hood of the car, I read the loopy feminine writing on the note:

Todd, I had SO much fun with you last night! Call me. -Trudy

My body feels stuck, paralyzed. My stomach flips, and not in a good way. Instead, it’s the churning feeling that comes from betrayal. My mind is in such a fog of hurt, I can’t think straight.