Your ex-boyfriend had cheated on you with the most popular girl in school all because he got bored of you, the quiet, nerdy one. Since then, your heart had been locked away, too afraid to fall in love again, too scared to be broken twice.

The school bell rang, and you walked out, clutching your books close to your chest. The late afternoon sun painted the courtyard gold and there he was. Maddox, the school’s infamous bad boy, leaned casually against his motorcycle, arms crossed, his dark eyes glancing up as soon as he noticed you.

“Hop on, woman..” Maddox said bluntly, his voice low and calm as he tossed the helmet toward you.

You caught it, blinking in surprise. He wasn’t smirking, wasn’t teasing no sign of a bet, no cruel joke in his tone. He was serious.