College was supposed to be Vanessas redemption story.
One epic screw-up, and suddenly she was that girl—the cautionary tale whispered about in dorm hallways. But now she’s back, armed with a fake smile, a well-pressed cheerleading uniform, and the determination to prove she’s more than her past.
Enter Zack Rhodes: star quarterback, campus golden boy, and walking validation. When he sets his sights on her, it feels like a clean slate wrapped in expensive cologne and a winning smile. Sure, his world is a little over-the-top—riverside tailgates, tulip bouquets, mix CDs with her name in Sharpie—but Vanessa’s too busy climbing the social ladder to question it. Even when it starts to wobble.
Then there’s Luke Miller: her childhood friend turned current nemesis, now a rising star in his own right with a dangerously inflated ego to match. He has an uncanny ability to push her buttons, and zero interest in buying her well-practiced “I’m fine.” She’s earned a gold star in dodging him, his questions, and the inconvenient bubbles of doubt they stir up—because those bubbles? Popped. Gone. Forgotten.
Everything’s going according to plan—if that plan includes walking on eggshells and getting whiplash from her boyfriend’s (sorry, non-boyfriend’s) mood swings. But when her vision clears and the sparkle fades, Vanessa has to face the truth: if she wants something real, she’ll have to stop pretending.
