There are some people who come into your life at just the right moment, and then, somehow, drift out of it just as quickly. For Natalie Wright and Ethan Parker, that person was each other. High school sweethearts who shared a world of dreams, secrets, and whispered promises. They were supposed to be forever, or at least, that's what they thought.
But life, as it often does, took them down different paths after graduation. Natalie left their small town to chase a career in Chicago, while Ethan stayed behind, bound by family ties and the expectations of a life already mapped out for him. The years passed-fast and slow all at once-and with each passing day, the distance between them grew wider. They never expected to cross paths again.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]