Chapter Four

The alarm won’t stop ringing. I fumble around, trying to shut it up, but I can’t even find my cabinet.

I slowly open my eyes to a completely different room.

Where am I?

My gaze drifts around—and then lands on the person beside me.

Sleep vanishes.

Dominic.

Alice’s nerdy younger brother.

Please… it’s not what I’m thinking.

I slowly lift the sheets.

Fuck.

Stark naked. Both of us. Beneath the same sheets.

Flashes come rushing back—his hands, my hands, the kiss, the sound I made—

No. No. No. Alice will kill me.

I jump out of bed. The room is his—posters, books, pictures—all Dominic.

I grab my clothes and shove them on, my hands shaking.

Of all the insane things that could happen… sleeping with my best friend’s brother?

Does the universe hate me that much?

Alcohol made this curly-haired nerd look hot. Too hot.

God, I’m never drinking again.

I spot my phone on his pillow and tiptoe to grab it.

Just as I reach for it—his eyes open.

“Good morning,” he says groggily, voice still heavy with sleep. “Are you better now?”

“Better?” I whisper, my chest tightening. “Dominic, I feel worse! We had sex last night! Why did you let that happen?”

He sits up, confused. “You said you were okay—”

“I was drunk, Dominic! Dead-beat drunk! And you thought having your way with me was the best thing to do?”

He throws off the sheets, standing. “Slow down, Catherine. You’re making it sound like I forced you. You said you wouldn’t regret it, that’s all you wanted.”

“That was the alcohol talking, Dominic! Me? Catherine Young? Have sex with you? Come on—no.” I roll my eyes, snatching up my phone.

“What’s wrong with me?” he asks quietly.

“Everything!” I snap. “You’re my best friend’s younger brother! A goofy nerd! I’m sorry if you don’t see anything wrong with that, but I do. This—” I point between us, “—was a mistake. A full-blown mistake. And no one can know about it. Not even your sister.”

I storm out before he can respond. My pulse is pounding so hard it hurts.

What’s wrong with having sex with me? His voice echoes in my head.

I hiss under my breath, slamming the door behind me. I can still feel his hands on me.

I need a shower. A long, scalding one to erase everything.

Thankfully, Alice isn’t home. If she were—God, it would’ve been a disaster. She’s the only real friend I have left. I can’t lose her too.

At home, I clean up, throw on fresh clothes, then face the next horror—hickeys.

His stupid teeth left marks on my neck and even my hand. Who bites someone’s hand? Childish.

I cover it all with makeup, tie a scarf around my wrist, and stare at my reflection.

Everything in me screams to skip school—but that would only make Jennifer feel glorified.

No one breaks Catherine Young.

I grab my bag and take a taxi to school.

The assembly feels endless. Alice isn’t here. Maybe she stayed over somewhere else.

Afterward, I return to class. Jennifer and Asher are at it again—kissing, holding hands, like they’re in a music video. I roll my eyes and keep quiet.

The periods crawl by. When the cafeteria bell finally rings, I grab my bag and head out.

The dread hits when I see our usual table—Jennifer, sitting in my spot.

Of course.

I move to the counter, order something, and find an empty corner to sit in.

I settle down to eat, ignoring the stares and the whispers. I pull out my phone, scroll through videos, and take a sip of my drink. The food doesn’t even look appealing today.

“Catherine! Catherine!”

I look up. Alice’s voice cuts through the cafeteria noise. She’s marching toward me—rage blazing in her eyes. Behind her, Dominic follows, looking panicked.

They stop at my table.

“What the hell did you do to my brother, huh?” she screams.

My heart pounds. The cafeteria goes still.

“Alice, please keep your voice down,” I beg, reaching to grab her arm, but she jerks away.

“Don’t tell me to calm down, Catherine! How dare you have sex with my brother!”

Gasps ripple through the cafeteria. I can’t even breathe. Dominic tries to hold her back, but she glares at him.

“We made a pact,” she spits, “we stay away from each other’s relatives. But after breaking up with your boyfriend, you used my brother!”

“I wasn’t using him—”

“He was a virgin!”

I almost choke on my drink. Virgin? Seriously? That’s the part everyone’s going to gasp at? The room buzzes louder. My fingers tremble under the weight of a hundred stares. I can’t admit I was drunk.

“You and I are not friends anymore, Catherine.”

“Alice, wait!” I blurt. Desperation floods my voice. “I knew he was a virgin—but I love him, okay? It happened, and I thought maybe I needed someone good. Someone different.”

The lie rolls off my tongue before I can stop it. Alice’s glare doesn’t soften. I move closer and grab Dominic’s arm, ignoring the murmurs.

“Your brother is kind and soft-spoken,” I continue quickly. “He’s all I need.”

I wrap my arms around him. He stiffens but doesn’t pull away. He’s uncomfortable—too young, too unsure—but now he has no choice. He told his sister everything.

Alice’s voice breaks the silence. “Is that true, Dominic?”

He hesitates. I pinch his waist sharply, whispering, “Come on, Dominic. You keep saying you love me. Don’t get shy now.”

He nods, awkwardly.

I turn back to Alice with a strained smile. “See? You don’t have to worry. I love your brother. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” Another lie, but it sounds almost convincing.

Laughter slices through the moment.

Jennifer.

“The Queen Bee and a nerd,” she snickers. “Dumped by the soccer captain and hooked up with a geek. Wow, talk about downgrading.”

“Shut up, Jennifer!” I snap, glaring daggers at her.

“Catherine,” Asher says coldly, “he’s younger than you. Why would you do something so reckless?”

“We’re not together anymore,” I hiss, my voice trembling between anger and humiliation. “So don’t stand there judging me. I won’t let you or anyone disrespect the guy I want. Let’s go, Dominic.”

I grab his hand and drag him out of the cafeteria. Eyes follow us, whispers trail behind.

We don’t stop until we reach an empty hallway near the school clinic—quiet, isolated. I drop his hand, breathing hard.

“Why the hell did you tell your sister we had sex?” I snap.

“She found out,” he mutters. “You left your bracelet in my room. She saw it, and things just… went downhill.”

“Look,” I cut in, swallowing hard. “Alice is my friend. I love her, and I won’t lose her. So until everything calms down, we keep up the act.”

He blinks. “What act?”

“That we’re together, of course,” I say, impatient.

He meets my gaze, voice low. “I thought you meant it.”

I almost laugh. “Meant it? No way. Me and you? No freaking way.”