When Raven agrees to help sheltered Cassian complete his list of firsts in exchange for cash, it's strictly business-until their deal ignites an undeniable chemistry neither of them saw coming.
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After making a deal to finish her last year at Bria...
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Cassian's POV
I nervously looked around the auditorium where our year gathered for graduation practice.
Teachers stood near the stage, calling out instructions, but their voices felt distant.
All I could do is look around.
Chloe was here, Sophie, Emma, Abigail, Carter, James...practically everyone in our year.
Except for her.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to look straight ahead, but my thoughts refused to let go of her.
So I checked my phone.
No new notifications.
I know Sophie and Chloe said to forget about her, but how could I?
We had bonded to well.
We had shared so many firsts.
She took my virginity, for crying out loud.
Something like that keeps you connected forever.
No matter how much I wanted to pretend otherwise, no matter how badly she treated me, or acted like I didn't exist.
I'm sick without her.
I can't eat. I can't sleep.
I even think straight for a few seconds without my mind returning to her.
It's been an about week since she just stopped coming to school.
I couldn't take it anymore so I sent a text...many a few.
Then I called and called and called, but it went straight to voicemail.
So I went to her house and knocked on her door, but no one answered.
I gripped my phone tighter.
I hate her.
She's the one who hurt me, yet she somehow managed to make me still care about her.
Just one more time.
I just want to hear her call me baby and touch me one more time.
I won't be satisfied, but at least I'll be happy in that moment—a temporary relief.
Someone tapped me on my back and I quickly turned around to see if it was Raven smiling at me, telling me she's willing to fix everything between us, but it was just Chloe.
She gave me a frown. "I don't think she's coming today either."
She, too, was worried about Raven.
She had called her a few times and followed me to Raven's house.
"Okay everyone!" Ms. Lee shouted. "Take a ten minute break and then we'll run through everything one more time."
Everyone in the auditorium groaned before they began to grumble.
