She has one rule for college: don’t fall for her best friend. He has one secret: he already did, years ago.
Zae: I came to college with my anxiety high, and one rule. Do NOT give into the feelings I have for Cassius Wilder. He’s been my best friend since high school.
The boy who could talk me down when my brain tries to tell me I’m not worth it. The one person who knows when I’m acting, when I’m putting on a mask. But college changes things.
And so does the way he looks at me now, like he might just love me too.
Cass: Zara Hart thinks she’s hard to love. She thinks her dry humor and bad mental health days make her something people tolerate instead of adore. But she’s wrong.
I’ve loved her quietly for years, doing my best not to act on it because I can’t take her safe place away. So I did what I thought I had to do and got myself a girlfriend. I moved on…or tried to.
Now Zae is in college with me and pretending feels near impossible. The life I built without her is starting to crack.
But she’s sunshine wrapped in razor wire, and I’ve never been afraid to bleed for what I want.
Tropes: Best friends to lovers Mental health rep College romance Slow burn/Angst/Yearning Forced proximity Sunshine x Grumpy Trauma bonded Found Family Open Door Spice Dual POV
