Sixteen-year-old Danica has always flown under the radar-quiet, observant, with her head buried in romance novels and her heart tucked safely behind well-built walls. After transferring to a new school, she's relieved to finally escape the judgmental stares and mocking whispers of her old one. She's not here to stand out-just to survive. But then she meets him. Xavier Moreau is everything she's not-charming, magnetic, and universally adored. The golden boy of the school. The one who makes her laugh in English Lit, steals glances when he thinks she isn't looking, and somehow knows she likes apple juice and purple highlighters. She tells herself it's nothing. That he treats everyone like this. That a guy like Xavier doesn't fall for girls like her. Except... maybe he does. As whispered rumors swirl and lines blur between friendship and something more, Danica must decide if she's willing to risk her carefully guarded heart-or let it slip away in the name of playing it safe. Because sometimes love finds you when you least expect it. And sometimes... it writes a story all its own. A slow-burn, coming-of-age romance full of bookish banter, unlikely friendships, and that aching question: What if he actually means it?

𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵.

He's the shy one. She's the quiet one. A late night grocery run turns into a awkward moment. And a stare that says, "Relax. I got you."