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CHAPTER ONE

CHARLIE

PRESENT DAY —TEN YEARS LATER

“Charlie!” my mother calls from the bottom of the stairs. “Are you about ready to go?”

I zip up my duffel bag and look around my childhood bedroom and sigh.

From the time I was a little girl, my parents always talked about Casey and me attending Walker University. He and I had big ideas about what we wanted to be when we grew up, and we thought we could fulfill those aspirations at Walker. Granted, it was where our parents had met and gone to school.

When we were little, I wanted to be a waitress while Casey wanted to be a professional football player. He’s had a football in his hands since the day he was born. However, my plan of becoming a waitress quickly died. I tried it in high school, and let’s just say, it did not live up to my expectations. Casey’s dream, well, he’s still living it—or he’s on his way by playing football at the college level.

Casey went on to become a Walker University legacy. I, however, strayed from the family plan and went to another school.

I followed my friend Britney Stevens to Chandler State University. We had been close since middle school. Once I had gotten boobs and started to get noticed by boys other than Beck, she’d wanted to hang out. So, when we reached our senior year, she literally begged me to go to State with her, saying how great our college years would be together. It took a lot of coaxing, but I eventually caved, especially since my entire life had imploded that year.

Unfortunately, my freshman year of college at Chandler State University didn’t turn out exactly the way I had planned.

Britney and I decided to room together, and to say things were tense from the beginning would be an understatement. For someone who was so adamant that I not go to Walker, it was as if once I was at State, she didn’t have a use for me anymore. She quickly found a group of friends and often left me behind. I tried to settle in and even joined a sorority and dated a frat guy, Tony Pastorelli, for a while. I made some friends and did okay on my own for the first time in my life. Still, it never felt right.

Britney and I had a falling-out at the end of our freshman year, details of which I try not to think about, and it firmly solidified my decision to transfer. Her manipulation and her mind games were just too much for me to handle—which, looking back, I hadn’t recognized in high school, but it’d become blatantly obvious in college. And I resented her for making me choose between her and my brother and my intention to go to Walker.

My family couldn’t understand why I’d chosen to go to college with Brit instead of my brother. And even though he didn’t say it, I knew Casey was disheartened that I wasn’t going to be with him. It was the first time we would be separated for really any period of time. Sure, we’d each gone to sleepovers, and he’d gone off to football camp, but we’d never actually lived apart. I missed him terribly. I did visit him a few times, but it was too hard for me to be around Beck. When it got really bad with Britney and I broke up with Tony, I spent a lot of weekends at home.

So, this year, I’m transferring to Walker, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter and be there to support my brother. Casey is a wide receiver and has worked really hard to make the starting lineup this season.

With one last look around my room and one final count of three switches of the light on my desk, I grab my bag and head down the stairs.

“Casey is waiting outside for you,” Mom says as I round the landing.

“I still think it’s unfair that we have to share the truck,” I huff.

“Honey, he’s right around the corner from you. I’m sure if you need the truck, you can grab it.” She wraps her arm around mine when I reach her at the bottom of the stairs.

Casey lives in a house off campus with some of the other players on the team. She’s right; it’s not that far from the house I’ll be living in. And luckily, the Walker campus is easy to walk around even though it’s big. But still, that means I have to go over to his house and potentially run into Beck. Which is really the bigger problem.

My dad is waiting near the door. As we walk up to him, he reaches out to grab my duffel from my hand, and Mom lets go of my arm.

“Thanks, Dad. I’m going to miss you guys, but we’ll see you in a few weeks for the opening game.”

“Yes, your mom and I will be there early that day, so if you want to ride with us to the game, let us know, and we’ll pick you up,” he says while putting his other arm around me as we walk out the door.

“You sure you have everything you need?” Mom asks.

“Yeah, I think so. If I forgot anything, I’ll have you bring it when you come to campus.”

“Okay, that works,” she says. “I know you’re going to roll your eyes at me when I say this, but I feel much better about you going to Walker with Casey and Beck than I did when you left for State with Britney last year. You know she was never my favorite.”

At the mention of Beck, my heart sinks. “I know, and I agree. I feel much better about this year overall. I have a better handle for what I want to specialize in too. I feel like psychology is a good route for me. And I’ll admit, it was hard, being away from Casey last year. Twins have to stay together—ya feel me?” I say with a laugh.

Rolling her eyes, she says, “Yes, I feel you. Just please keep an eye on each other and make good choices.”

I love to tease my mom, so I can’t help but say, “Mother, I promise we will make very good bad choices; don’t worry.”

She shakes her head as we walk up to the truck. “Casey, please keep your sister in line. But seriously, I love you both. Have an amazing year, and we’ll see you in just a few weeks. Call us when you get there. Oh, and, Charlie, don’t forget to call Aunt Linds when you get closer to campus so she can meet you at the sorority house with your room key.”

“Okay. Yeah, I have a reminder set on my phone to call her. I’m just glad they could fit me into the house so I don’t have to live in the dorms this year.”

My mom was in a sorority in college, which I really didn’t think would be my thing, but she made some really great lifelong friends, so that’s why I rushed last year at Chandler State. And because I was a legacy, it was really just a formality. I’m really glad I did it, given how things ended up with Brit. Now it will also make my transition to Walker easier because I already know a few of the girls in the house. One is Lindsay’s daughter, Arbor, and the other is her roommate, Lily. Plus, the house is a freaking mansion.

Lindsay Gibbs—who I refer to as Aunt Linds—and my mom met their freshman year at Walker. They rushed together and have been friends ever since. She’s the alumni chair for the sorority, so she basically keeps all the girls in line and helps manage the operations of the house.

“Aunt Linds is practically family. You know she always has your back,” Mom says as she gives my hand a squeeze. “Aren’t you a little sad you missed the rush festivities? I always had so much fun, making the skits and dances.”

I turn to look at her with a you’ve got to be kidding me expression on my face, but when I see her smile is genuine, I just smile and nod. “Maybe next year.”

Casey has nothing to load into the truck since he’s been at school for over a month now for training. He just decided to come up to get me instead of Mom and Dad taking me.

Dad hands Casey my duffel bag and he loads the last of my things into the back of the truck bed when he says, “Charlie, you need to ride in the back.”

“No, sir. Why?” I ask.

“Because I’m sitting in the front,” Beckham’s deep voice booms as he crosses the street and reaches the truck.

Fuck .

When I turn, I make eye contact with Beckham, and he gives me a snarky look. I just huff and shake my head.

I hear Mom and Dad talking, but I can’t really focus on what they’re saying. I mean, it’s kind of hard to when I have the intense eyes of my ex-boyfriend staring me down.

Literally.

Beckham Linson—the one I once loved fiercely before our relationship shattered into a million pieces. It’s been two years since we were a couple, and the pain of the fallout still stings despite the fact that he’s remained Casey’s best friend and my parents’ second son.

I’ve done everything I could to stay away from him. My heart is still attached to the memories, and my body betrays me when I look at him. Beck—with his stupid-hot blue eyes that are nearly gray and his brown hair that’s almost black—sort of has the whole Clark Kent–looking thing going, minus the glasses. The look he has right before he rips open his shirt and looks all hot and shit. And his height—the only way I can match his six-foot frame is if I’m on stairs or something. He’s no longer a teenage boy. He’s a man.

A man I will see a lot more of now that we’ll both be at Walker. Beckham is the starting running back for the football team. He was recruited heavily by Walker to play football, so he was able to earn a starting spot on the team, even as a freshman.

Between him being Casey’s best friend and a star athlete on campus, there’s no way I’m going to be able to avoid him.

I hear Mom say one last goodbye, and I head toward the front seat of the truck anyway. Completely ignoring my brother’s order. Right as I’m reaching for the handle, Beckham comes up behind me, crowding me against the door.

That imposing frame of his blocks me in, and I can feel the heat of his skin burning through his T-shirt and smell the fresh scent of the cologne he’s worn since our freshman year of high school. It was originally a gift from me. I’m actually a little surprised he still wears it, but I can’t say it doesn’t give me a little bit of satisfaction.

“There’s no way I’m sitting in the back. You get back there,” he drawls.

Luckily, I’ve become immune to his good looks and broody charm, which have everyone in this town—other than me—falling at his feet.

“Are you kidding me right now, Beckham? You know I get carsick.” I mean, it’s a double-cab truck, and it’s a beast, so I probably won’t get carsick, but I’m going for it anyway.

“That’s not really my problem, Charlene.”

Casey looks over at us and grunts, “Are you two at it already? Can’t you call a truce for the two-hour ride? Charlie, you know Beckham can’t fit in the back seat. His legs are too long. Just try to deal with it. Put your headphones on and tune out the noise or read your book. Anything to make it a chill ride. I can’t deal with you two fighting the whole way.”

Beckham still has me crowded up against the door, so I finally turn around to face him. He has a smirk on his face, knowing he’s won this round. He’s still not backing up, so I have to put my hands on his chest and push him away, which makes him laugh even more.

I reach out to pull the handle of the rear cab when Beck beats me to it. “I’ve got it. I don’t need your help, Beckham.”

“Oh, but it’s my pleasure, Charlene.”

I throw my bag in, step up onto the sideboard, and pull myself up into the massive truck, using the oh-shit handle. I’ve had to use it many times, so we’re well acquainted. Casey and Beckham like to go off-roading in this truck, even though it makes my mom crazy. It’s massive and pretty freaking awesome. But it’s a pain in the ass to get in and out of. Especially for me. I think my brother took all the tall genes when we were in the womb.

Beckham is still smirking at me as I grab the door handle and pull the door shut.

This is going to be a bitch of a ride.