Tender Hearts

After months of refusing, I finally agreed to make the move to Alrick Falls. My family thought it was best-that a new scene would be good for me-and I was sick of having the same conversation. So here I am, and the plan is simple. Smile through each day and avoid her at all costs. It's perfect. Until the cocky quarterback comes into play. The last thing I want is his crooked grin and dark brown eyes focused on me. Yet here he is, constantly in my space, pushing me, daring me to care. Telling me what I think and feel, as if he knows. He doesn't know anything. And I plan to keep it that way. He's the persistent playboy who refuses to walk away. I'm the impassive new girl with nothing left to give. Things are about to get complicated. Contains mature themes.

After months of silence, here she stands on my front porch, waiting to be let in again. But it's the same play every time, and I know how this ends-I give her all I have and she carries it with her on the way back to him. I should turn her away, but I won't. Couldn't do it if I tried. Because no matter how many times she pops back up, pulls me in and drags me under, it will never be enough. I'll always want more. More of her. More for us. And she'll always choose him. Contains mature themes.