her mouth and shot Ava a glare over her sunglasses. "You just disappeared after

y, Mia. I just... I h

s vague. Did someone kiss you? Drug you? Kidnap you

r juice. "Oh my God, no

ead out in front of them. The Monday campus buzz was in full swing girls in tight jeans walking like the

r Haw

in her brain. That de

virgin, ar

in rooms like th

ruth. She couldn't. At le

," Ava said instead. "Took me

eyes. "Wrong ro

m of her sleeve. "it's

i

. Her current boyfriend, Jordan, had a motorcycle, a six-pack, and zero boundaries.

dn't alway

ho believed men were distractions sent by the devil. Just like Ava's. That's how they bonded in

s "gateway sin." Ava passed Mia a sarcastic note mid-class "Guess we're already ruined, I held a boy's hand last we

f rebellion. She called it "balance." Play perfect daughter in the day, live your

e. Be secretive. But if you end up on some 'missing girls' documentary, I'

eak laugh. "

's footsteps felt heavier with every step. She still hadn't

p internship sponsored by Hawthorn International. Please report f

tho

No

this e

ow was his the one she got paired with? Was it r

omach

c placement her top choices were a publi

why

of her face. "You've been zoning out since we lef

ighed. "I got selecte

up. "Omg! Final

p. "Hawthorn I

horn? Sexiest villain of the Forbes list? Black-sui

"That's... od

ll their grandma's kidney for that opportu

nside me, Ava thought. He got

shocked," she

ing directly under him, and you don't fall i

y tripped

led, wiggling her eyebrows. "You know he's never been in a public

ayed s

ns. I do pleasure.

ry hit h

t. Ava. You're blushing.

lence sa

bag. "You met Xavier Hawthorn?!

er arm. "Shhh

"You better spill. I'm your best

otel. He thought I was someone

say anyt

hesi

did. Did he touch you? Wait, don't tel

verything," Ava mumble

closer. "Do

the pavement.

. Ag

ll see him. The curve of his smirk. The flash of emotion he tried to bury.

eel that exposed. Especial

d sat at the back, headphones in, trying to focus. But

rom Unkno

close. Shame you didn

her mouth inst

i. Just those wo

he get h

ull her

t as she locked her phone, forc

iral. Don't be stup

omething inside

as a