They were never supposed to fall in love. In fact, they were probably never even supposed to meet. But life does that sometimes; it brings you someone who unexpectedly turns your world upside down. For Ella, it all began on the last day of summer, in a small bakery on the edge of town. With three teenage boys, a plastic knife and a rocketship birthday cake. lol I'm not dead guys

She knows how to survive. Trusting him is the dangerous part. Charlotte has spent years perfecting the art of staying hidden. Smart, observant, and careful, she keeps her world small and her heart even smaller. Christian is her best friend's older brother - the kind of guy people warn you about... and the kind you fall for anyway. For most of her life, she was background noise to him until one unexpected moment changes everything. The tension between them is unmistakable - but so are the secrets she keeps carefully hidden. Christian can't ignore the things that set her apart - her sharp wit, her unexpected humor, the quiet strength beneath her reserved exterior. She isn't like the girls who drift in and out of his world. She's thoughtful. Mysterious. Surprising in ways he never saw coming. And the closer he gets, Christian realizes her guarded nature isn't accidental. She's protecting something - and earning her trust won't come easily. For the first time, this isn't about the chase. It's about earning a place inside the walls she built to survive. AN EMOTIONAL NEW ADULT ROMANCE about love, healing, and learning to TRUST AGAIN.