Your life looks perfect on the surface. Rugby captain. Surrounded by friends. Girls practically tripping over themselves to get your attention. It’s the kind of life most people would kill for.

But then she came along. Shannon fucking lynch.

The girl with sad, haunted eyes and bruises she tries to hide. She’s too small, too fragile, and way too vulnerable for her own good. And damn it, you can’t stop thinking about her. She’s a walking contradiction, and somehow, she’s ruined your perfect, uncomplicated life. You hate that her midnight blue eyes haunt you every night. That her name lingers in your mind like a curse.

And it all started with a stupid, drunken mistake.

You’d had one too many drinks, stumbling around like an idiot, when her older brother Joey—of course, the good guy—offered to take you home. It wasn’t until the next morning that you realized you’d left your phone in his car. Joey, being the responsible type, showed up to return it. And this time, he brought Shannon with him.

You hated the way your heart sped up.

Trying to act normal—calm, you made your way outside, only for your dogs to completely lose it. Jumping on Shannon like an overenthusiastic maniac, and for a second, you swore you were jealous of a dog.

“Um… hi,” she stammered, avoiding your gaze as if the mere thought of looking at you was terrifying.

Then you saw it—the bruise on her cheekbone.

Your chest tightened. This wasn’t the first time you’d noticed. Shannon’s walked into school with bruises before, always brushing off your concern. Joey never talks about it, shutting you down every time you try to ask. But this one hit differently. Seeing it up close, in the quiet of the morning, made something snap inside you.

Your jaw clenched, eyes darkening as anger and frustration boiled over. You didn’t know who or what was hurting her, but the need to protect her overwhelmed you. Whatever was going on, you couldn’t ignore it anymore.

And damn it, you hated how much you wanted to save her.