sagesack
Winnie Carter has always had a love-hate relationship with Malachi Hayes-emphasis on the hate. He's her older brother's best friend, practically a fixture in her house, and a certified expert at getting under her skin. For years, their banter has been more war zone than playful, and that's exactly how Winnie likes it: distant, sharp, and easy to ignore.
But the first week of sophomore year brings change she wasn't ready for. Theo-charming, low-key, and impossible to read-appears out of nowhere, sliding effortlessly into her life with an unbothered smile and a spark of mystery. He's everything Malachi isn't... which might be exactly why she can't stop thinking about him.
Between late-night kitchen talks, group hangouts that always end in someone storming off, and stolen glances that feel like they mean something, Winnie finds herself stuck between the boy who's always been there-even when she didn't want him-and the new one who makes her feel like maybe she could finally let someone in.
But nothing in this friend group is simple. Secrets simmer. Loyalties blur. And when lines get crossed, Winnie has to decide: is it better to fall for someone safe... or the one you swore you'd never even like?