Alicia has spent all of high school feeling invisible, convincing herself that burying herself in her studies was easier than standing out. But everything changes when she unexpectedly crosses paths with Logan—the school’s most popular guy—turning her world upside down. Now that Logan has noticed her, there’s no going back, and once he’s focused on something, he never lets it go.
Chapter 1
Most days, I felt invisible. Not in some dramatic way—just in the way that no one seemed to notice me. People bumped into me in the halls, didn’t remember my name, and barely made eye contact. And honestly, I told myself I preferred it that way. Being invisible meant I didn’t have to explain myself to anyone. I could hide in my schoolwork, coast through high school, and finally leave this town without any attachments.
The only person who ever really saw me was Jessica, my best friend since third grade. She was loud, fearless, and everything I wasn’t. The idea of leaving her behind after graduation was the only thing that made me sad about leaving.
“Holy crap! Do you see how he looks today?” Jessica practically squealed as we walked to my locker.
I didn’t need to ask who. I already knew. “Whoever could you be talking about?” I said, dripping with sarcasm.
Jessica rolled her eyes and spun me around so fast I nearly lost my balance. “Look!”
And there he was—Logan Saunders. The school’s golden boy. Tall, effortlessly hot, with jet-black hair and piercing dark blue eyes that didn’t look like they belonged in a high school hallway. His black T-shirt clung to his muscular chest and arms like it was made just for him, and the jeans… well, let’s just say they left very little to the imagination.
He was the guy every girl dreamed about and every guy wanted to be friends with. But underneath that perfect exterior was a walking ego, full of himself and completely aware of his effect on people. I’d had a couple of awkward encounters with him before—not that he even remembered—and I’d quickly decided I was better off not being part of his world.
“You’re drooling again,” I teased Jessica, trying to pull her eyes away from Logan before her boyfriend walked by.
She waved me off. “Kyle knows I love him. I told him last night.”
My eyes widened. “You said the L word?!”
She nodded with a grin. “And he said it back.”
I hugged her, genuinely happy. But then she glanced away, and I immediately knew she was hiding something.
“So,” I said suspiciously, “what are you not telling me?”
She bit her lip. “There’s this party tonight. And you’re coming with me.”
I groaned. “Jess, you know I don’t do parties. They’re sweaty, loud, and you ditched me at the last one!”
“Please! Kyle’s not even going. It’ll just be us. Come on, Alicia—just this once, to celebrate.”
I hesitated, but one look at her ridiculous pout and fluttering eyelashes, and I caved. “Fine. But if you disappear again, I’m never going to another one.”
Jessica squealed and jumped up and down in the hallway like she’d just won the lottery. “I’m gonna make you look so hot tonight!”
Later that night, I was regretting everything.
“Will you stop messing with your skirt?” Jessica hissed as I tried once again to pull it down to a more respectable length.
“This isn’t even a skirt. It’s a napkin,” I grumbled. I felt ridiculously exposed—cleavage I didn’t know I had on full display, legs out, everything just… out.
Jessica stopped at the edge of the yard and grabbed both my arms. “Listen. You are smart, beautiful, and way stronger than you think. Tonight, we’re not hiding. You’re going to walk in there and people are going to notice. Especially you.”
I tried to laugh it off, but I couldn’t help smiling a little. Jessica’s energy was infectious. Maybe, just this once, I could step out of my comfort zone.
The party was already wild. Music pounded from inside the house, and the living room was packed with bodies grinding on each other like we were in a club instead of someone’s family home. I stuck close to Jess, already feeling overwhelmed.
“Is there anywhere that doesn’t feel like a human sandwich?” I muttered.
She nodded and led me to a quieter corner near the wall. “I’ll grab us drinks. Stay here.”
I nodded, too anxious to say anything. People were everywhere, laughing, dancing, and clearly not feeling as awkward as I did. I started counting the seconds until I could leave without it being rude.
That’s when I saw Sarah Richards, the queen bee of the school, stumbling through the dance floor like she’d lost something—or someone. She was calling out for Logan, her voice slurred, her face flushed.
Of course. Who else would it be?
I sighed and turned away, but then I saw him. Logan had just walked in through the back door, and his face was tense—confused, maybe even a little panicked. He scanned the room quickly, ignoring the hands trying to pull him into the chaos.
And then he saw me.
For a second, I thought I imagined it. But no—his eyes locked on mine. Before I could even process what was happening, he pushed his way through the crowd and walked straight toward me.
He stopped just inches away, his body shielding me from everyone else like a wall. Startled, I took a step back until I hit the wall behind me. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, and in my confusion, they somehow ended up on his chest—his very firm, very real chest.
Mortified, I dropped them to my sides, heart pounding.
And then he looked at me. Really looked at me. Those deep blue eyes staring right into mine, as if I wasn’t invisible anymore.
“Logan… what are you—”
“I’m sorry about this,” he whispered.
Before I could ask what he meant, his lips crashed onto mine.