WTF

I don’t do commitment. And though I swing both ways, I don’t do men either.
It’s too messy, too stressful, and just asking for trouble.
I’d rather shine bright like the sun than drown in the rain, so I adopt a pounce-and-bounce lifestyle for which my sparkling charm keeps me from being hated.
When I show up in Sweden for a semester abroad, I expect a roomie. What I don’t expect is Lars. The storm to my sun. The test of my patience. How easy he makes it to forget all my reasons for staying away from guys.
No big deal. I’ll just pivot from pounce and bounce to roomies with benefits. I’ll get to indulge in that side of me, then leave it half a world away. What happens in Sweden stays in Sweden… until he follows me home.
Lars shows up at Westbrook looking like my little brother’s new swim bro. Just as alluring as he did before.
And all I can do is ask myself,
My resolve for an uncomplicated, stress-free life isn’t something I’m willing to give up for anyone, even if his icy-blond hair begs for my fingers and those pale-blue eyes are haunted by shadows.
I might be the sun, but I am not his sun, and it’s not my job to chase away whatever sent him running here. He swears it isn’t me. But I’m calling bullshit. Why else would he show up on my turf?
But then shit starts happening, and the shadows in his eyes turn to panic. I catch a glimpse of the bruises on his creamy, flawless skin.
I can’t keep him at arm’s length anymore. I don’t want to. Protecting him means surrendering to everything I always refused. His destruction or mine.
The choice is simple, so achingly absolute that I can’t help but wonder once more…
WTF?

Please note that WTF contains stalking and domestic abuse (not between the main characters). There is also mention of (off-page) parental death. Some readers may find these things uncomfortable.