CHAPTER 1

“Lucky, wake up. I’ve been here since six a.m., and your mom is giving me the evil eye. Hey. Lucky. Wake up.”

Lucky shifted under her warm quilt, not ready to be awake. She’d stayed up late the night before, spending Friday evening studying for a Spanish test with her best friend, Autumn.

Peeking through her eyelashes, she saw a person she didn’t know running his index finger over the spines of the books that carefully lined her shelves, organized by color and series.

“What are you doing?” she asked, opening her eyes.

He didn’t look much older than her, and even though she could only see his profile, he was gorgeous.

He glanced in her direction, confirming her thoughts. Like a curated, filtered celebrity on social media, he was almost too attractive. “About time.”

“Who are you?” she demanded, gripping her blanket and preparing to scream for her mother. Stunning or not, there was no reason for a stranger to be in her bedroom. “Does Budgie know you’re here? Why are you in my room?” Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and flinched as the cool January air hit her skin. No one ever woke her up on Saturdays. Her mom usually slept until at least ten before rushing to her afternoon shift at the grocery store deli.

He pivoted around to face her, one eyebrow shooting upward. “Serious? I’d recognize you anywhere.” He shoved one hand through his dark, curly hair before tugging his lip ring between his thumb and finger. The lip ring was a jolting contrast to his