Cassie’s head’s stuffed with romantic fairy tales where the kiss is always the start of the Happy Ever After, but I know from experience that life isn’t as simple as that. Love and sex are messy. People get hurt.
Where did that word ‘love’ come from? I’m not in love with Cassie. I like her. I want her. I care about her. Maybe that’s what love is.
We’re standing in my room looking at each other. Although we’re only inches apart, there’s a gulf between us – one filled with all the things we want to say and do but can’t. I want to tell her that I’ll be gentle with her heart but I’m afraid it’s a promise I won’t be able to keep. Better to say nothing than to give her a lie.
“I didn’t know this would be so hard,” she whispers, her eyes not leaving mine.
I put my arms around her and pull her into me once more, letting her rest her head on my chest while I stroke her hair.
“I can hear your heart,” she says after a while. “It’s saying my name: Cass-ie. Cass-ie. Cass-ie.”
I hold her a little longer, thinking she might be right.


Zach and Cassie are now secretly dating but hiding their relationship from their parents isn't without complications - including working out how to be together on their own. And when Zach seems reluctant to let himself get close to her, Cassie realizes there's something her boyfriend's not telling her.
Can she convince him to let down his barriers, or is the spark between them about to fizzle out?