Hooking Her Up

Kayla
All of my life, I’ve worked hard to be perfect. From my appearance to my academics, I was expected to do my best, and I went above and beyond. If I’m being honest, it’s exhausting. I dream of having the chance to let it all go, to live my life without the fear of being or doing exactly what’s expected of me. But they’re called dreams for a reason. There’s no way someone would be able to accept my flaws—to care for me as I truly am—that’s why I keep them as hidden as I can. When a car accident leaves me shaken and rattled, I run into the worst possible person—my high school crush, a boy I somehow never got along with, who’s become even more attractive as a man. Why would the universe do this to me?

Liam
Even though I was a star athlete in high school, I never got out of the town I grew up in. I guess that explains how I ran into Kayla—perfection personified—again. Even now, after a literal run-in with a tree, she’s ethereal and gorgeous. But even with the mask she always has on, I can tell this accident has her rattled. Something about seeing her show a sliver of vulnerability like this makes something dark and feral stir inside me. I have the instinctual urge to whisk her away and protect her from the world, from anything that makes her feel like she has to keep this mask up. While we never got along in high school, something’s changed between us. I’m determined to find out what it is.