Prologue

Five summers ago

Jess watched Charlie fiddle with the keys in his hands as he stepped up to the apartment door. "It's not the biggest place in the world," he admitted.

Jess wrapped her arms around his waist. His fidgeting slowed as he turned to face her. "It doesn't matter, as long as I'm with you."

He grinned and reached for one of her hands, then kissed her knuckles.

She stared up into his bright blue eyes, at his tousled black hair, and felt like she could melt right then and there. They were really doing it, moving in together. After everything they'd been through—the lying, the sneaking out late at night, the covered-up texts on her phone—they were finally going to be together. No more having to wake up earlier to go to school so she could kiss him. No more fighting with her parents or pretending like everything with Charlie was over.

She was free to be with the one she loved…even if it cost her everything.

Charlie slipped his hand into hers as he unlocked the door, tugging Jess through the entryway and into the apartment.

He was right—it was small. The door led into a main room that served as the living and dining room, attached to a tiny galley kitchen. To their left was a narrow staircase that she knew from pictures opened up to a loft bedroom. Even from here, she could see sunlight pooling in from the windows, casting a clean, bright ambiance.

"Like I said, it's—"

"It's perfect," Jess interrupted him, her eyes roaming over the space.

He smiled, tucking her under his arm and squeezing tight, kissing her on the forehead. "How are you doing?"

She shrugged. "The best I can…"

He kissed her again. "They'll come around," he mumbled, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke.

She nodded, holding back the tears that welled in her eyes. I will not cry again today , she thought. She'd done enough of that, and she was through with holding the pain in her heart.

She pushed away from him and scanned the apartment, brushing the water in her eyes with the back of her hand. "So how exactly is this going to work? What did your father say?"

Charlie nodded. "He told me that rent is due by the fifth of every month, and utilities are included…whatever that means."

Jess sniggered. He's so naive. It's cute . "Gas, water, heat? Those kinds of utilities. Didn't you ever play Monopoly?"

"Ohhhh," Charlie said, his eyes wide. "That makes way more sense now."

They remained silent, eyeing the empty apartment. Charlie eventually gazed in her direction but didn't look directly at her, his eyes somewhere at the top of her left ear. He reached for her, tucking a lock of her blonde hair behind it. "You going to be okay here alone?"

She nodded. "Yes, I think so. I have Scoops, and Ron said he's going to train me to make the cakes. That'll get me a lot more hours."

"I can't believe I have to leave you…"

"It's okay. I made my choice, Charlie. And you said you would help me pay for this place. Our place, as you like to call it."

"About that," he said, twirling a strand of her hair with his finger. A nervous tic she picked up on over the years. "You know, with me going to college and everything, I'm not sure how helpful I can be…"

She bristled. "What do you mean?"

"Paying for stuff. Rent and whatnot."

She nodded as her head spun, avoiding the queasy feeling in her stomach. This is what moving in with someone was about, right? Sacrificing for one another, taking care of one another? Charlie had been taking care of her since graduation, since the day she walked out of her childhood home and never looked back. He was the one who advocated for the apartment, one of the many properties his father managed in Haverport. He made all of the arrangements necessary for them to move in—even though he'd technically be away until he graduated college. Maybe it was her turn to sacrifice. He would help her out soon. Eventually.

Jess wrapped her arms around Charlie's neck. "Don't worry about it, I got it."

He grinned, pulling her close. "We did it, Jessie. No more hiding."

She pressed her lips to his. Even if the queasiness in her stomach had yet to subside, she knew it would. The nerves would go away, and eventually, everything would be as it should be.

And maybe Charlie would be right. Maybe they'd all come around.