Chapter 1

Selena’s Pov

I had never been this nervous about a party in my entire life. It was my coming-of-age party, but that wasn’t the only reason I was eager.

Tonight, Jake promised me he’d finally tell everyone about us.

For months, we’d kept our relationship a secret. He said it was better that way—for both of us. He said things were complicated because of who he was, because of his family, and something else he never quite explained.

And being the hopeless lover girl that I am, I believed every word. Because the most important thing was that we loved each other, and that was enough for me.

And now, knowing that he was planning to make our relationship official, I couldn’t help the excitement sizzling in my chest.

“Tonight. Everyone will know you’re mine, and I’m yours.”

His words rang in my head for the millionth time, and I couldn’t stop the little giggle that escaped my lips.

“You seem to be over the moon,” my best friend Ava observed, taking a sip from her cup.

My smile instantly faded as my eyes darted to her. “Huh?” I raised a brow, forcing a half-smile.

“Well, I’d be too. You got half the school to show up, and that’s damn surprising,” she said, shaking her head with a soft laugh.

I bit my lower lip, scanning the room. The house was packed. Students from campus, even some from the hockey team, had shown up.

I wanted so badly to tell her that it was all Jake’s idea, but I couldn’t. No one knew about us—not even Ava, which always made me feel guilty. But tonight, that would change. Tonight, everyone would know, and the guilt would finally disappear.

“So… how did you pull this off?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at me and my breath seized. Typical Ava—she always found a way to dig deep.

“Jake offered to help,” I blurted, my voice shaky. “You know, maybe he wanted the students to have fun and—”

I stopped mid-sentence when Ava’s brow arched. She wasn’t buying it.

“You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?” she accused, and I quickly jumped to my feet, clearing my throat awkwardly.

“Why would I?” I forced a chuckle, avoiding her eyes. The guilt burned deeper, but I had no choice.

“I’ll be upstairs. I need to use the restroom,” I said quickly before she could ask more questions and darted off.

As I made my way upstairs, I glanced down at my phone, expecting it to ring or at least beep with a message which I wouldn’t mind. But there was nothing.

Jake still hadn’t called or texted since this morning when we met at school. He’d said he might be late to the party because of something “important” he had to handle, but I hadn’t expected him to take this long.

I had called and texted him, but there wasn’t any reply.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I slowly climbed the stairs, trying to ignore the unsettling thoughts swirling in my mind.

I was about to dial his number again when I heard a laugh I instantly recognized. Jasmine. The cheer captain.

I paused. What is she doing here?

Shaking my head, I turned to leave, deciding it wasn’t my business—until I heard another sound.

Jake’s voice.

And then… a sound I didn’t want to believe. Moans.

Loud moans. And they were definitely Jasmine’s.

My heart flew to my throat immediately and I suddenly found it hard to breath. Let it not be what I’m thinking please. It can’t be….

With my heart threatening to burst out of its rib cage, I crept toward the half-closed door and pushed it open slowly. The scene that unveiled itself before me made me momentarily lost my breath. 

Half-naked Jasmine was in shirtless Jake’s arms — my boyfriend’s arms— kissing him like there was no tomorrow. 

And Jake. He had his arms wrapped around her as she grinded his torso, both oblivious to the fact that I had caught them almost fucking each other right inside my room.

“J-Jake,” my voice came out weakly as tears pooled in my eyes, unable to digest the scene in front of me.

Realizing they had been caught in the act, they pulled away and stared at the door. Jake’s eyes widened when he saw me, and Jasmine’s lips curled in a smile. A mocking one actually.

“Selena—,” Jake called but I didn’t want to hear the rest before I slammed the door shut and ran off in tears. My heart thudded loudly against my chest as I pushed through people, ignoring Ava who was calling out for me. 

I didn’t care if it was my birthday anymore. Screw it.

I ran until I was far from campus, finally slowing down when my legs couldn’t carry me any further. My knees shook as I collapsed onto a bench, and the tears poured freely. I didn’t even bother holding them back.

How could he?

After everything we shared… months of sneaking around, hiding from everyone… how could he do this to me?

And on my birthday?

He’d ditched me all day just to be with Jasmine. He hadn’t even bothered to run after me, to explain himself. That could only mean one thing: he never truly loved me like I thought.

Sniffling, I buried my face in my hands and cried quietly, my chest aching. My birthday—the day that was supposed to be the happiest of my life—had turned into the absolute worst.

Pathetic.

“Selena?” The deep, familiar voice made me choke on my tears. 

I raised my head slowly, and found myself staring into the eyes of Cullen, the captain of the hockey team.

I sniffed my tears and quickly wiped my tears, but it was pointless. He’d already seen everything.

His jaw clenched as he crouched down to my level, his sharp blue eyes locking on mine. “What happened? Why are you out here alone?”

I swallowed hard, shaking my head. “Nothing,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I… I just needed to get some air.”

He didn’t believe me. I could tell by the way his brows furrowed, but he didn’t press. Instead, he sat down beside me quietly. No words. No questions. Just… sat there.

I turned my head slightly, watching him as he gazed up at the night sky. I didn’t know him well. I’d only heard rumors about him—that he was cold, strict, and distant.

But up close, those rumors felt wrong.

The boy sitting next to me wasn’t cold at all.

“What did that bastard do to you?”

The sudden sharpness in his tone made my breath hitch. He turned his head and his intense gaze met mine, and they locked. 

“Huh?”

He didn’t say a word, and I forcefully tore my eyes away from his. I needed no soothsayer to tell me what he meant by that which only confused me the more. No one knew about my relationship with Jake, not even my best friend, but how did he…

“How did you know?” I asked slowly, disbelief evident in my voice. 

He raised an eyebrow. “Does that even matter?” His voice was steady but laced with something I couldn’t quite place. “It’s your birthday. You’re supposed to be having the best night of your life, and yet here you are, crying your eyes out.”

He paused, staring straight into me.

“What did he do?”

This time, his voice wasn’t soft—it carried an edge that made my chest tighten. And before I knew it, everything spilled out.

“I found him in bed with Jasmine,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “He… he cheated on me.”

Fresh tears slid down my cheeks, and I buried my face in my palms, shaking.

“I feel so stupid for believing everything he told me. I thought he loved me. I thought—” My words cut off when I felt something soft drape over my shoulders.

I looked up, startled, and realized Cullen had taken off his hoodie and placed it around me.

“It’s freezing out here,” he murmured.

I nodded weakly, clutching the hoodie closer, inhaling the faint scent of his cologne.

“You shouldn’t cry over him,” Cullen said, his jaw tight. “That bastard isn’t worth your tears.”

I blinked up at him, caught off guard by the sharpness in his tone. And again, I couldn’t help but wonder why he kept addressing Jake as a ‘bastard’.

“And don’t you ever call yourself stupid,” he added firmly. “If anyone’s stupid here, it’s Jake.”

A small, shaky smile crept onto my lips despite everything. His words eased something deep inside me, even just a little.

I wiped my face again, forcing a weak laugh before my gaze wandered. Now that his hoodie was off, I couldn’t help but notice the way his shirt clung to his chest—broad, sculpted, flawless.

I swallowed hard, looking away quickly before my thoughts betrayed me.

“Do you…” I hesitated, my voice small, almost unsure. “Do you wanna have a drink with me?”