Obsessed with the Alpha Professor

asn't until my eighteenth birthday that I rea

h gifts. Across the room, my sister brooded

when Dad confirmed his friend and the man of my

runched up like she'd just bitten into a rotten lemon. "You did

, black gown I'd been saving for tonight-the one that hugged every curve like a second skin and left just eno

's daughter, my best friend, c

fec

d giving birth to me, and the anniversary always made this day har

friend, my best friend's ridiculously attract

of my attention-and pretty much everyone else's too. It was like he

rl with a pulse practically drooled over him. Unfortunately, he didn't seem

to admit. The competition was fierce, and I was stuck on the sidelin

who loved him. In my mind, he'd flash that roguish smile, call me by name in that deep voice, maybe

ica, who had stubbornly read my journal. She threatened to r

than you, stupid. How a

e to be in love with someone you

to notice me as a wom

r face, I'll be right there to tell you 'I told you so.' Mimi is your best friend. Do you honestly think she

was eighteen now, technically a full adult. What was so wrong with telling Damien how I fel

me back and ended up r

sting, but I

My dad, ever the eccentric, was dancing around with my classmates, h

ed the room, searching for Damien. He hadn't arrived

lued to the driveway, waiting for that

ding a bag of gifts. She was saying something, but I barely heard her. All I could see was Da

just enough of his muscular chest to make my

ve me a brief nod, his f

tly wrapped gift. "I'm not great at picking out pr

y opened it to find a beautifully illustrated encyclopedia about forests. I smiled, rememberi

my voice shake. He gave me a small smile but

ragged me inside, completely oblivious t

r eyes sparkling mischievously. "I mean, seriously, how are yo

at her dad as he made his

right man," I said proudly, letting the

unning around with no ambition beyond their next video game sessio

o walked into a room and made every head turn. Someone

you're straight out of one of those weir

. All I could think about was finding Damie

he house for Damien. I found him in the studio, but

n his neck, and she

opped into

out, my voice tre

at me. Erica's face went blank, but

d, shaking my he

tepping toward me. "It

blurring my vision. I slammed my bedroom door shut and c

s website and accepted my spot at Brookstones Universit

from Erica. Away from Damien. Away