The key clicks in the lock, jarring me from sleep. With a creak, my old wooden dorm door swings open. My eyes flutter open, and it takes me but a second to remember falling asleep with Ozzie while he gently stroked my bare arm. He stayed all night. And I’ve had the best sleep I’ve had in a very long time. Possibly since before my parents divorced.

“Charlotte?”

The voice speaking isn’t Emily’s like I expected it to be. Emily coming home to find me in bed with Ozzie wouldn’t be a big deal. She’d tease me mercilessly after getting as many details as possible, but life would go on.

My mother finding me in bed with a man, on the other hand, has the potential to change my life completely. And not in the way most would think.

I shoot up in bed to a sitting position. My vision is blurry and I rub the sleep from my eyes before I focus on my mother and Emily standing in the hall. Emily wears a cat-eating-the-canary grin but my mother’s grin is wider. Then I squint and see my step-sister and my grandmother behind them.

Oh, shit!

Ozzie stirs, and one of his legs move to cover mine, which I quickly push off. Not because it’s heavy, though it’s heavier than a tree trunk, but because I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.

“Well, Charlotte!” Mom says in a sing-song voice. “I’m glad I caught you before class.”

I bet you are.

“What the hell is going on?” My sister pushes Mom and Emily aside and steps into the room. Her jaw drops. Grandma is cursing in Polish in the hall. I still don’t understand a word my grandmother says when she speaks, but I can tell from the tone it’s better if she’s talking in a foreign language. It’s early, she’s loud, and she will most definitely wake up the rest of the floor who are still lucky enough to be in bed.

“Can you give me a moment?” I say quickly to Mom.

Ozzie wakes and sits up. He stifles a yawn as he stretches out his arms. Rather than be concerned about Emily and three generations of my family staring at us, he waves at them. “Good morning.”

“Well, good morning to you, too,” Mom says, grinning.

“Mom!”

“Right. We’ll give you a moment.” She reaches out to grip my sister’s shoulders and turns her around to pull her out of the doorway. Emily shuts the door slowly, her face stuck in the doorjamb until her head can’t fit anymore. “That’s my girl,” she mouths exaggeratedly.

“Is that your family?” Ozzie asks.

“Yes.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“Not that kind of trouble,” I say with a groan.

“What do you mean?” He reaches out as he yawns, and when he’s finished, he wraps a hand around my neck and pulls me in close. Morning breath or not, I crumble from the intensity of his stare, and when he kisses me, I kiss him back. I forget for a moment about my mother, sister, and grandmother—my babcia—who I can still hear—please stop yelling in Polish—gossiping about me outside. When we break apart, my lips feel soft and wet and I lick them, savoring his taste. Jesus! Even in the morning he tastes like…more.

His eyes settle on my cheek. When he touches me, I flinch, only now feeling it throb. “You’ve got a bit of a bruise there. Does it hurt much?”

I cover his hand with mine. “It’ll be fine. Trust me when I say I’ve had worse.”

“We should ice it. It’ll help.”

“There’s no time. You have to go.”

“We can explain,” he says. “We’re both dressed. Nothing happened.”

“You don’t understand.” I groan. “Like I told you last night, I wasn’t popular in high school.” I frown at him. “I had one date. This is so embarrassing! Prom night. That’s it. My mother has played matchmaker with me since I was sixteen. She’s not upset you’re here. She’s ecstatic, and she’s never going to shut up about you now.”

He chuckles. “I don’t see how this is bad for me.”

“That’s because you don’t know my mother.” I take his hands and pull him up and off the bed. He towers over me, his hands reaching out to touch my face, his thumb lightly stroking my cheek.

“No! Seriously, you have to go.”

“Can I see you again?”

That damn blushing. How do I turn it off? “Yes. Of course. Now get out.”

He gives me one last tender kiss before I smooth my wrinkled clothing and open the door. “Hi, Mom.”

She’s about to grill me. I can see the excitement in her face...until she notices my face, and then I have to explain to all of them what happened the night before.

“Well, as long as you’re okay,” Mom says. “Should I take you to the doctor? What if it’s fractured?”

“I’m pretty sure I’d have more signs than a scratched cheek and bruising if it was broken.”

“If you’re sure.”

Amanda groans. “Stop fawning over her. She said she’s fine. You know she’s always hurting herself.”

Mom holds up her hands. “All right. All right. I’ll drop it.” Her eyes flicker to Ozzie. “So who’s your friend?” she says quickly.

My babcia and Amanda stare him down.

“He’s leaving.”

Ozzie chuckles as he tries to move around them, but Mom is planted in the doorway. She holds out her hand and Ozzie takes it. Mom holds up her other hand and nonchalantly covers the side of her mouth so he can’t see her speak. “Firm handshake.” She doesn’t whisper or mouth her words.

“He can hear you,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“Of course, he can,” Mom says.

“I’m Ozzie,” he says, and Mom shakes his hand a little too long. She studies him, all of him. I want to die.

“Marlene, Charlie’s mother. And this is Charlie’s babcia, Mila, and Charlie’s sister, Amanda.” Amanda forces an insincere smile while Babcia gives him the stink eye. He tips his head to both of them. “Nice to meet you.”

My grandmother surprises me. “Good for you. He’s big. Strong. I like him.”

God help me.

“This one-time thing?” she adds, her accent thick.

Ozzie purses his lips, fighting laughter. “I hope not.” He flashes a wink in my direction, earning me a groan from my sister.

“That’s enough, Mom,” my mother says. “No need to make him uncomfortable.”

She’s one to talk.

“Well, I hope we see you again,” Mom says. “Maybe at your sister’s engagement party next weekend?” She looks in my direction and then so does everyone else, including Ozzie.

“Is that an invitation?” Ozzie asks her.

“It certainly is.”

“Mom!” I say. I don’t want him to come because he feels forced. And chances are good I’ll have screwed things up by then. My story is set to come out the day before.

“Well, that’s great,” Mom says. “I’d arranged for Jonathan Mayberry to take you so I’ll tell him that there’s a change of plans.”

Grandma rolls her eyes, feigns snoring. “I no like.”

“Jonathan Mayberry?” Ozzie asks. All teasing aside, he seems curious and maybe a little confused.

“There’s nothing between us. Remember I told you Mom likes to play matchmaker?”

“Right,” he says. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. But you can tell Jonathan she’s taken now.” He winks at my mother, and I swear to God she swoons. Lets out a giggle and fans herself. I am definitely going to die.

Emily raises her eyebrows, and I shrug.

“How long have you two been together?” Amanda asks, her resting-bitch face showing.

“Guys, you're overwhelming him.” I move forward, wrap my hands around his arms, and push him out of the room. With Mom, Amanda, Babcia, and Emily inside, I shut the door behind us. When I turn, all I can do is shake my head. “I'm. So. Sorry.”

With a single finger, he tips my head up to force me to look into his eyes. “I’ll see you later.”

I nod, my mouth dry and begging to be kissed, but instead he strokes my cheek and backs away. After a few feet, he turns and disappears down the hall. I heave a sigh as I digest everything that’s happened. I was so focused and now I’m confused. Not about him—surprisingly. About everything except him. This isn’t like me. For a moment, I don’t recognize myself, and this should scare me, but I feel a weird sense of peace, a warmth in my chest that bubbles over to the rest of my body. I’m relaxed, even when faced with what awaits behind my bedroom door.

Inside, Amanda is scrolling through something on her phone. Mom sits on my bed, beaming. Babcia is sitting to her left, looking bored. Emily collects the rest of her laundry that's fallen into her closet. Embarrassed by our room, I suppose Em's trying to make her side look a lot less chaotic. Like my mother would care. Amanda, sure, but not Mom. And Babcia, who the hell knows what she’s thinking. She surprises me still, after all my nineteen years, usually in a good way, though. She keeps me on my toes.

Mom’s hands go to her mouth, and she lets out a quiet squeal. Amanda rolls her eyes.

“How have we never heard of this guy before?” Amanda asks, suspicious.

“It’s new.” I take a seat beside Mom, and the mattress depresses from the added weight. She wraps an arm around me before squeezing me in tight against her.

“I like him,” Mom says. “Handsome, charming…tall…dark…please tell me you like him. You’re not going to pick him apart and forget about him, are you?”

“Why would you think I’d do that?”

“Oh, please, Charlie. Ever since you lost the weight, you've brushed off every guy that shows an interest in you.” Amanda rolls her eyes at me and goes back to using her phone.

“What guys? Please tell me, because I must have missed every one of them.”

Mom waves off Amanda. “Don’t be negative.”

“No, really. What’s she talking about?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest.

Mom sighs. “Nothing. Just the boys I’ve tried to set you up with.”

“Mom, one was my second cousin.”

Emily tries to pretend like she’s not listening but she straightens with Mom’s last comment, a couple of dirty socks hanging from her fists. “Is that legal?”

I shrug. “Legal or not, I'm not interested in dating family.”

“He was a step cousin. Not a blood relative,” Mom says.

“I’ve been too focused on school and my future to ever consider the distraction that comes with dating.”

“Until now…” Amanda says, her tone a tad snide.

Why can’t she ever be nice? I take the high road after sucking back a deep breath. We never used to act this way toward each other. I can’t pinpoint the moment things changed. We were friends, playing in the backyard and at the park nearby, and then the next minute she was taking shots at me, first in private, and then in front of everyone else.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. I grab my day-timer from the drawer in my desk and flip through it. There is nothing here about them coming today. “I didn't think I'd see you again until next weekend.”

“Your sister was concerned you might not have anything to wear, so we thought we’d come down and help you find a dress.”

Emily stops folding some sweaters and meets my eyes. She glares at my sister and turns her back to all of us. She’s probably fuming. Begging me to say something, to stand up to my sister, but I don't. I never do.

“Mom, I wish you’d called.”

“Obviously,” Amanda says with a chuckle.

“I’m sorry, but your sister woke up this morning and decided we had to do it this morning. I called your cell, but it went straight to voicemail. What’s a mother to do?”

Stop enabling her step-daughter? “It’s fine.” It’s not. “But I feel bad you’ve come here for nothing. I was just going to wear the flowery summer dress I wore to graduation.”

Amanda tuts at me as she lowers her phone. “Not a chance. You’re going to be in my wedding party, and I'd like photos taken at the dinner to accompany the engagement announcement going in the paper.”

Emily picks up her school bag and drops it on the floor on purpose. The loud bang distracts Amanda and keeps her quiet long enough for me to get a word in.

“Emily, I'm wearing the dress. Besides, as much as I love that you guys came here to see me”—not really—“I have something I need to do this morning.”

“What is it, dear?” Mom frowns, touches her hand to my shoulder and rubs it gently. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, not wrong.” A lie. “I just have to meet with a professor.”

“Is there a problem with one of your courses?”

“Stop giving her the third degree,” Amanda says, jumping in. “We’ll just have to pick one out for her.”

I sigh before forcing a smile. “Sure. Whatever.” I agree just to please her and get her out of here. I’d love to spend time with Mom and Babcia today, but I don’t have the patience for my sister. She has taste; I know she’ll pick something nice, and I'd rather make her happy than deal with the drama that invariably follows if I tell her I will wear what I want.

“Well, we came all this way…” Mom says.

I shake my head, smiling. “Mom, you and I both know there aren't any decent dress stores in Hebbville. Amanda would have to come here regardless, and she'd probably rather pick out the dress herself than accept my input.”

“There, Mom,” Amanda says.

I hate that she calls her Mom. She has her own. Sometimes I think she does it because she knows it bothers me.

“We can go, and we should,” she continues. “We don't have a lot of time. I have to be back home before three for a conference call with work.”

Grandma makes a face at my step-sister. She mutters something under her breath. God, I love this woman.

“Well, I suppose if you can't come…” Mom says.

I kiss Mom and Babcia goodbye while Amanda leaves the room. She waits for them in the hallway while texting on her phone. I wave at her. “So nice to see you!”

She turns her back to me. I want to throw my pillow at her. Or worse, the paperweight in the shape of a horse that holds up my text books on the top shelf of the desk.

“Just ignore her,” Mom says quietly. “She's been so cranky since she got engaged.”

“I can hear you,” Amanda says.

“Eat a dick,” Emily says in a sing-song voice so Amanda can hear her, too. Mom shakes her head at Emily, but she fights a smile.

“Heard that, too!”

They leave a few minutes later, and when the door is firmly shut, I listen to Emily while I brush the knots out of my hair and get changed. She’s so torn between bitching about my sister and talking about Ozzie that it's almost comical how quickly she changes back and forth between topics.

“I hate that bitch.” Emily rings her hands at chest level. “If your mom and grandma hadn't been here…” She glowers in my direction, but then her lips lift from a tight line. “But holy shit, Ozzie spent the night! I mean, what?” She slaps at the air, making groaning noises. “Please tell me you slept with him.” She frowns. “And what the fuck is with you? You need to tell your sister to fuck off once and for all.”

“I don't know what to respond to first.”

I pause brushing my hair, and she grips my arm, pulling me forward to sit next to her on her bed. “Fuck your sister. Tell me about Ozzie, because no matter what I say, you’re never going to stand up to that bitch.”

“Nothing happened.”

She tips her head to the side and raises her brows, looking incredulous.

“I’m being honest! Nothing happened. I mean, we kissed, and it was amazing, but that was it. We just talked and fell asleep beside each other.”

“Oh, my God. That’s so cute. I’m going to throw up now.” She makes retching noises.

I elbow her. “It was nice. He was a complete gentleman.”

“Are you together?”

I shrug. “I don't know. We didn't talk about that. I mean, he definitely seems to like me.”

“And you?”

“Of course, I like him. What's not to like? He doesn’t exactly fit in with my plan, though. He’s a distraction from school, and I can’t be with him and do the story I’m supposed to do. Liking him is beyond inconvenient. Just when I’d finally got through to Jack, Ozzie takes me by complete surprise and threatens to ruin everything.”

She laughs and wraps an arm around me. “You can’t pick who you like or how much you like them. I’ve never known you to change your plans for a guy. Come to think of it, I’ve never known you to really like a guy, period. If you have feelings for this guy, you need to see where it goes.” She rubs my shoulder and looks at me expectantly. “So what are you going to do?”

“I can't be with him and do the story. It’s wrong and it’s not fair. He doesn’t deserve to be lied to.”

“You’re giving up on this? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? It’s not like you to budge for anyone or anything, least of all for a guy.”

“I’m not giving up what I want. I’m going to do an amazing story, and I’m going to get a spot on the paper. I’ll just have to convince Jack that there’s another story here. A better one.”

“If anyone can do that, it’s you.”

I place my hand on top of hers and squeeze. “Thanks, buddy. You’re always there for me. No matter what.”

“You’d do the same for me.”

She pulls me into a hug, and when I let go of a deep breath, my entire body sighs and the tension in my body fades for a moment. After I let her go, I scoot off the bed, looking for my shoes that I left at the bottom corner of my bed. Where I always leave them. Somehow, they got kicked under the bed, so I get on my hands and knees to grab them. When I stand back up and slide into them, I say, “What’s Ozzie going to say when I tell him the truth?”

Emily holds up her hands. “Pump the brakes. You want to ditch the story, fine. But why tell him? Brad told me that this guy doesn’t give people second chances. If he finds out you lied…”

“I already tried to tell him. He asked me if it would stop him from wanting to get to know me and I told him it would, so…he told me not to tell him. But when he wants to know, I’m going to tell him everything.”

She groans at me. “Telling him is about you, not him. To ease your conscience. Just let it go. Trust me. It won’t make anything better. It will only wreck things.”

I drop my head to my hands and shake it. When I look back up, Emily is grimacing.

She stands and takes my hands in hers. “It’ll be ok. I promise.”

But we both know this is one promise she can’t make.