Chapter 1: The Breakup

The common room of Westbridge University’s Hawthorne Hall was unusually peaceful.

For once, nobody had an exam the next morning, nobody was frantically finishing a paper, and nobody had a class or event they desperately needed to rush to. It was the kind of rare evening college students learned to appreciate: cheap drinks, bad snacks, comfortable couches, and absolutely nowhere to be.

The group had claimed nearly the entire lounge.

Adrian had somehow acquired two cases of beer from somewhere, Marcus was halfway through another ridiculous story about the time he and Theo had gotten lost on a road trip, and Noah and Cole were laughing hard enough that neither of them seemed to care whether the story was even true anymore.

Theo, sitting beside Noah, rolled his eyes.

“That is not what happened.” He said to Marcus.

Marcus was impossible to miss.

He was tall, athletic, and perpetually smiling, with warm brown skin, dark eyes, and an easy grin that made it nearly impossible to stay annoyed with him for long.

Well, impossible for everyone except Theo.

“That is exactly what happened.” Marcus defended.

“You got us lost.”

“Technically, the GPS got us lost.”

“You threw the GPS out the window.”

“It was giving me attitude.”

Cole nearly choked on his drink.

Across the room, Spencer sat cross-legged on the carpet between Nadia and Willa, listening with an amused smile.

This was what she loved about nights like this.

For all the stress that came with university—the lectures, assignments, exams, part-time jobs, and the constant feeling that she was forgetting something—there were moments when they could just be students.

Friends.

Normal people.

No deadlines. No responsibilities.

Just each other.

Marcus had just reached the best part of his story when Spencer’s phone buzzed against her thigh.

She glanced down.

Her expression immediately soured.

“Oh my God. He’s an idiot.”

She tossed the phone onto the carpet beside her.

Marcus stopped talking.

Nadia sighed, annoyed on behalf of her bestie.

Nadia had perfected the art of looking unimpressed.

She was petite but carried herself with enough confidence to make people twice her size think twice before crossing her. Her dark hair usually fell in sleek waves around her shoulders, framing sharp features and dark, watchful eyes.

She was observant, blunt, and almost impossible to fool.

Spencer often joked that Nadia could read a person’s entire dating history from the way they held their coffee.

Unfortunately, she was usually right.

“Is it Cameron again?”

Spencer groaned. “He won’t piss off.”

Willa rolled her eyes. “God, I hate him.”

A surprising statement from the gentile girl. But anyone who mistook her kindness for weakness only ever made that mistake once. She had long, dark auburn hair, warm brown eyes, and a gentle face that made her look almost perpetually sweet.

Willa was the softest-looking person in their group, which was deceptive considering how quickly she could become fiercely protective.

“He really doesn’t understand the concept of no contact,” Spencer muttered.

The conversation had officially been hijacked.

Adrian leaned forward from the couch.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Spencer gave him a dry laugh.

Adrian would insist he was the funniest person in the room.

Everyone else would insist he was the most annoying.

Both were usually true.

“There is no paradise. We broke up.”

Theo’s head turned so quickly toward her that Noah immediately noticed.

He raised an eyebrow with a classic boyish smile.

Theo ignored him. “What?”

Spencer looked at Theo. “You didn’t know?”

“No.”

Apparently, neither did most of them.

Nadia and Willa exchanged a knowing glance.

Cole leaned toward Spencer. “What happened?”

A look of concern etched on his normally stoic, no bullshit expression.

He was observant in a way people often underestimated.

Cole noticed everything.

He just didn’t always bother commenting on it.

Spencer took a sip of her drink before answering.

“He’s a serial monogamist with zero emotional maturity. We had too many stupid fights where he thought he could never do anything wrong. He was constantly convinced he wasn’t good enough for a relationship, but somehow every problem was still my fault.”

She shook her head.

“At the end of the day, he just couldn’t give me what I needed.”

Marcus winced. “Harsh, Spencer.”

He took another drink. “But I’m not gonna disagree with you.”

Cole nodded.

“Yeah, I can’t say I’m sad he’s gone. He was always weird around us.”

Spencer frowned.

“What do you mean?”

The boys looked at one another.

Nobody seemed particularly eager to be the first to explain.

Theo had no such hesitation.

“Well…” he began. “It was kind of love-hate with him.”

Spencer waited.

“He liked us,” Theo continued. “Or at least he liked the idea of us. But he also clearly hated that we spent so much time with you.”

Willa nodded.

“Exactly.”

Nadia picked up where she left off.

“Remember when we went out for Cole’s birthday? Cameron spent half the night glaring at the guys whenever they talked to you.”

“And then,” Marcus added, “he’d turn around and tell everyone at the bar that he was friends with us.”

Adrian laughed.

“I could never figure out whether he actually liked us or wanted to punch us.”

Spencer swirled the ice around her glass.

“Honestly, that might’ve been why he dated me. To say he was friends with half the football team…”

Theo immediately shook his head.

“No.”

The room went quiet.

Spencer looked at him.

Theo shrugged, suddenly looking uncomfortable beneath everyone’s attention.

“He dated you because you’re you. He lost you because he wasn’t good enough for you.”

Spencer’s expression softened.

“You deserve someone who actually supports you,” Theo continued. “Someone who likes your friends. Someone who doesn’t make you feel guilty for having a life outside your relationship.”

She smiled.

“Thanks, Theo.”

She stretched her leg out and gently nudged his knee with her foot.

“Find me a guy like that, would you?”

The room erupted into laughter.

Spencer looked around, confused.

“What?”

Adrian grinned.

“Yeah, Theo. Know anyone?”

Theo’s face immediately turned red.

“Shut up.”

Spencer laughed, completely missing the reason everyone was suddenly so entertained.

She took another sip of her drink.

“I’m sorry I didn’t let go of Cameron sooner.”

Willa reached for the bottle beside her and topped up Spencer’s glass.

“Honestly, I don’t know why you kept him around.”

“Probably for the sex,” Marcus said.

Spencer snorted.

Theo shot Marcus an annoyed look.

“You’re disgusting.”

“What? I’m just saying.”

Spencer shook her head.

“God, no.”

She wiped a drop of wine from the corner of her mouth.

“Never even happened.”

Cole frowned.

“Seriously? Three months and you guys never—”

“No.” Spencer narrowed her eyes. “I mean I’ve never had sex.”

Silence.

Theo choked on his drink.

Everyone froze.

Marcus stared at her.

Adrian’s eyebrows practically disappeared into his hairline.

Cole looked like someone had just told him the university had cancelled graduation.

Spencer blinked. “What?”

Marcus finally laughed. “Oh, come on.”

“I’m serious.”

The laughter died instantly.

Theo stared at her. “You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

The girls didn’t react nearly as dramatically.

Nadia simply took another sip of her drink.

Willa shrugged.

“We knew.”

The boys stared at them.

“You knew?” Adrian asked.

“Girls talk,” Nadia said.

Noah cleared his throat. “So… you’re waiting until marriage?”

The girls burst into laughter.

Spencer wiped beneath one eye. “Not my style, Noah.”

She shook her head. “I’ve just never found the right guy.” And Cameron definitely wasn’t him. He was grumpy and whiny all the time. It was a complete turnoff.”

She shrugged. “Everyone I met back home was either too stupid, too immature, or just… gross. And since I’ve been here, I haven’t really had the time.”

Marcus leaned back. “I can make the time.”

Theo immediately grabbed a handful of pretzels and threw them at him.

“Stay away from her.”

Everyone laughed.

Spencer raised an eyebrow.

“Let the man speak.”

She looked at Marcus with a teasing smile.

“Who knows? Maybe if you make a good enough offer, you might have a chance.”

Marcus looked slightly horrified by the direction the conversation had taken.

Cole leaned forward.

He had sandy brown hair, hazel eyes, and a lean, athletic build. He was usually the quietest person in the room until he decided to speak, at which point his dry one-liners had a habit of killing an entire conversation.

“Does that offer apply to the rest of us?”

The room erupted again.

Spencer laughed into her glass.

Nadia watched her carefully.

Spencer was confident. She always had been.

But this was different.

Spencer had the kind of face people tended to remember.

She wasn’t conventionally delicate; there was something warm and expressive about her features, from her wide eyes to the slight curve of her smile. Her hair fell past her shoulders in loose waves, naturally a soft, mousy brown that looked almost golden under warm lights. She had a soft, feminine figure and carried herself with an easy confidence that made her seem more approachable than intimidating.

She was pretty without seeming particularly aware of it, which was probably part of the problem. Spencer had never quite understood the effect she had on people.

So this newfound attitude of… adventurousness would certainly ripple the group dynamic.

“Are you actually thinking about dating again?” Nadia asked.

Spencer considered the question.

She swirled her drink slowly.

“I don’t know.”

She glanced around the room.

“Maybe.” Her voice softened. “I’ve never really thought about actively looking before. But things have changed.”

Theo’s stomach twisted.

He looked down at his drink.

This wasn’t actually happening.

Was it?

He couldn’t stop himself.

“What exactly are you looking for?”

Spencer turned toward him.

For a second, her expression changed as she looked over Theo.

Theo was the sort of guy who could look intimidating without ever actually trying to be.

Tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that never seemed to stay perfectly in place, he had sharp features softened by an almost permanent hint of amusement around his mouth. His eyes were an unusually pale blue-gray, made more noticeable by the dark brows above them.

He usually dressed like he hadn’t given much thought to what he was wearing—jeans, worn sneakers, a sweatshirt, sleeves pushed carelessly up his forearms. Somehow, it always worked.

Despite his appearance, Theo was quieter than most of the guys in their circle. He was observant, sarcastic when he felt comfortable, and far more thoughtful than people initially assumed.

Especially when it came to Spencer, though she didn’t know that.

There was something playful in her eyes.

She took a slow sip, seemingly buying herself time.

“Depends.”

She lowered her glass.

“What are you offering, Theo?”

His mouth went completely dry.

Adrian cleared his throat dramatically. “Excuse me. He’s not the only eligible bachelor in this room.”

Theo eyed up his competition.

Adrian looked like he had been born knowing exactly how attractive he was.

He had thick dark hair, sharp brown eyes, and the kind of effortless confidence that bordered dangerously on arrogance. His clothes were always slightly nicer than everyone else’s, even when the dress code was technically sweatpants.

He might not be Spencer’s type, but who knew? He was certainly everyone else’s.

Nadia laughed. “Don’t answer that. You’ve had too much to drink.”

Spencer finished her drink.

“I don’t think I’ve had enough.”

She looked toward Willa.

“Do you have anything left?”

Willa held up the empty bottle.

“Not this.”

She gestured toward her room.

“But I have schnapps.”

She stood and grabbed Nadia’s hand.

“Come on. Girls’ trip.”

The two disappeared down the hallway with Spencer following behind them.

The second they were gone, the room went silent.

Every set of eyes turned toward Theo.

He stared blankly ahead.

Marcus slapped a hand onto his knee.

“Buddy.”

Theo didn’t respond.

“Either you make a move,” Marcus continued, “or I will.”

Theo finally looked at him.“What?”

“She practically handed you an invitation.”

“Marcus.”

“I’m serious.”

Noah shook his head. “Okay, ease up.”

Always the mediator, he tried to keep the peace.

He was thoughtful, responsible, and annoyingly good at giving advice.

Naturally, the rest of the group made it their personal mission to drag him into trouble whenever possible.

Which he had tried to put a stop to currently, But Marcus was already committed.

“I’m just saying, if Theo doesn’t want the opportunity, I don’t mind stepping up.”

“I second that,” Adrian said.

Theo glared at both of them.

Cole took a sip of his drink.“If I weren’t already taken, I’d probably throw my hat in the ring too.”

Theo groaned.

He grabbed a pillow from behind him and shoved his face into it.

“This is a nightmare.”

Caving, Noah laughed. “Come on, Theo. You can’t honestly expect everyone here to ignore the fact that Spencer is single.”

Theo lifted his head. “She’s not a prize.”

The room quieted slightly.

He ran a hand through his hair. “She’s a person.”

Marcus nodded. “Obviously.”

“And she’s our friend.”

“We know.”

Theo sighed. “Then stop talking about her like she’s some competition.”

Nobody argued.

Because Theo was right.

They all cared about Spencer.

She was one of them.

But she was also beautiful, funny, intelligent, and suddenly single.

And apparently, everyone had noticed.

Noah laughed under his breath. “God, you guys are idiots.”

Theo dropped his head into his hands.

The worst part was that he knew exactly what was happening.

He had liked Spencer for months.

Maybe longer.

He had just never done anything about it.

Being her friend was easy.

Studying together was easy.

Walking back to the dorms after late classes was easy.

Sitting beside her during movie nights, listening to her complain about professors, stealing fries from her plate—easy.

The moment he imagined doing any of that with actual romantic intentions, however, his brain stopped functioning.

She made him nervous.

And now she was single.

And looking.

And apparently willing to consider him.

That should have made things easier.

Instead, it terrified him.

Marcus sighed. “You’re going to regret doing nothing.”

Theo didn’t answer. Because he already knew.

The following week was unbearable.

Apparently, word had spread through Hawthorne Hall faster than any campus gossip normally could.

Everyone suddenly seemed interested in Spencer.

“Here, I grabbed you a coffee.”

“Spencer, do you need a study partner?”

“I saved you a seat.”

“Hey, you look stressed. Want me to give you a shoulder massage?”

Spencer laughed.

Even people she barely knew had started making excuses to talk to her.

One morning, a girl in the atrium handed Spencer a blueberry muffin before their first lecture.

There was a folded napkin tucked underneath it.

Spencer opened it.

A phone number. Underneath it read:

“Have a good day :) Maybe we could get coffee sometime?”

She looked back up at the girl.

The girl smiled.

Spencer smiled back.

“Well…”

She tucked the number into her pocket.

Theo watched the interaction from across the hall.

He hated it.

Not because Spencer owed him anything.

She didn’t.

He couldn’t even blame anyone else for asking her out.

But watching people flirt with her so effortlessly made him painfully aware of how little he had done to express himself.

He wanted to be confident.

He wanted to walk up to her and flirt without immediately forgetting every coherent sentence he’d ever learned.

He wanted to touch her hand.

Ask her out.

Tell her that he’d liked her for longer than he was willing to admit.

Instead, every time she smiled at him, he became an idiot.

And Spencer had no idea.

The worst part was that Theo didn’t want to be the guy who saw her inexperience as an opportunity.

She wasn’t something to win.

She wasn’t a challenge.

She wasn’t a prize for whoever got there first.

She was Spencer.

His friend.

A woman he respected.

And if he ever got the chance to be something more, he wanted it to be because she genuinely wanted him—not because he’d taken advantage of a vulnerable moment.

But that didn’t make watching other people pursue her any easier.

Every day, he told himself he would say something.

Every day, he chickened out.

Until, apparently, someone else decided he’d waited long enough.