[Prologue]

...ROSE...

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"Morg! I called from my closet inside my room in hopes that she could hear me over her Netflix-binging marathon "Do you still have my tan-colored tote from Zara?" I asked rummaging through the bin I had at the bottom of my closet where I kept some purses and bags. "I can't seem to find it. But I wanna use it this semester to put my books in!"

Sometimes. We shared accessories, tops, and jackets every once in a while. We'd just returned from our winter break and were starting our last semester of senior year at Darwin State University. We were finally twenty-one and told each other we would try to live it up a little.

The only thing was, I didn't "live it up." I couldn't live it up because I had way too much weight on my shoulders. I worked two jobs in the small college town of Grantford, Pennsylvania, and have been since I got to college.

Being from an even smaller town in Pennsylvania and as an only child to a widowed father who tried his best. I had to rely on my two jobs and the academic scholarship I won in my senior year of high school to pay for my rent, books, and schooling.

Ever since my mom passed away from a rare brain tumor when I was fourteen, my dad hadn't been the same. I didn't blame him; I felt like there was a piece of my heart missing without the presence of my mom in my life.

My mom didn't have the best health insurance, so her options were limited. I was the typical small-town girl story, but not the romanticized one. My parents both came from little, and my mom worked as a receptionist for years before her passing, while my dad still worked as a quality technician.

Yes, my parents were loving, and my dad still worked his ass off every day, but I was the one who wanted something bigger for myself, I worked and studied my ass off in high school and luckily won that academic scholarship to help me a bit.

Darwin State was a pretty well-known university on the East Coast, and it boasted everyone from the locals, the rich private-school students, the sports jocks, and the in state nerds...like me. The school was older, historic, and quaint, with a town that only existed because of the college.

And even though I was a hardworking Business major and f tried to dress trendy and all, anyone could tell I was out of place at Darwin. It was hella cliquey, but I scored big when I met Morgan Belmore in one of my general-ed classes in my freshman year.

I was this little shy freshman who wanted to mind my own business. But the sweet and bubbly girl that Morgan was she asked me if anyone was sitting beside me. When I told her no, she sat down next to me, reached out her hand and introduced herself.

She was more of a suburban gal but was sweet as sugar. She was from Western New York and was from a pretty well-off family. Luckily, she wasn't posh and snobby; her parents and older brother were seriously the nicest people ever.

Morgan was majoring in Event Planning, so her major required her to take some business classes as well. And being the besties and roommates that we were, we signed up for a Business Marketing & Strategy class together which was on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Oh...and it started tomorrow.

We got back a few days ago, organized our apartment a bit, restocked our fridge and pantry, and now we were getting our first-day outfits and bags together.

Correction: I was getting my first-day outfit and bag together; Morgan was snuggled up on our couch in the living area, watching some rom-com. She was a bit of a procrastinator, yet still managed to get decent grades.

I couldn't procrastinate; I had way too much on the line. Thankfully, even with working my two jobs-which were being a waitress at one of the popular restaurants in town and being a front-desk receptionist at our school's visitor's center-Id managed to keep my GPA above a 3.5.

Nobody in my family had ever gone to college; I had some stray aunts and uncles all over the East Coast, but they didn't really keep in contact much. My grandma on my mom's side was the only grandparent I had left, and she lived on the other side of Pennsylvania, so I didn't see her much, either.

Needless to say, I was just trying my best. I've always beer strong-willed and looked on the brighter side of things...although that may just be my survival instincts and knowing that I had to graduate college if I wanted something bigger for myself.

Right as I exited my closet to head to my doorway, Morgan was already there. What did you say? Sorry, I was busy with... She wiggled her brows. "Only the best steamy series out there right now," she murmured seductively.

I winced, rubbing my forehead. "And does Blake know you watch that smutty stuff, huh?" I teased, raising my brows at her.

She scoffed, looking off to the side. "He doesn't have to know. and even if he did, he can't tell me what to do," she sassed, holding her head high.

Blake Durnam was the starting pitcher of our school's baseball team. He was scouted in his sophomore year of high school and already had a pro contract signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. And fate being on their side, of course, there was only a giant bay of water that separated Morgan's family's home from Toronto.

Blake was good at baseball, like really good. We were excited for spring to come along, so we could attend his games in the nice weather. This was his last vear since he was a senior as well. and he for sure was one of the "superstars" in our college town.

Morgan met Blake in her sophomore year at Darwin, and they've been inseparable ever since...or they were just dealing with each other at this point. They were at that point where they were just comfortable with each other.

Morgan really was a nice girl, and Blake was truly a nice guy, too, but with him being a hotshot at school that meant he went to all the parties, had the hype boosting his ego, etc. Morgan and I didn't really go ta parties; it's not that we were opposed to them, but it just wasn't our crowd.

I knew Morgan supported Blake's baseball career and was happy for him, but I also heard endless rants about a girl's Snapchat or Instagram story with "Blake in the background." It was quite tiring, but I always just tried to be the best friend that I could be to her.

It's not like I knew anything about the boy department. I'd worked my ass off all of high

school and college; I didn't have time for boys. I don't even know what type I would have: the jocks, the nerds, the preppy boys?

Men were complicated, and I didn't need that distraction Heck. Id even forgotten what male interaction felt like. I wasn't talking about having a class with a guy or talking to one in line at the school's café; I was talking about physical touch.

The only thing Id ever done was kiss this random guy at my friend's house one summer when we were playing a game of truth or dare. I was eighteen, desperate, pressured, and he was hot as hell. I think his name was Noah. but we never exchanged numbers or social media though.

I sighed. "Okay, well, I was wondering if you had my tan-colored tote from Zara? I can't find it in my closet, and I swore Id let you use it at some point. I wanna use it to carry my laptop and books in for the semester." I said. and she walked away and across our apartment toward her room, with me following close behind.

"You know what. I think I do come to think of it." she murmured as we entered her closet. She fumbled through the middle shelves, pulling a few bags out. "Oh, here it is! she exclaimed, pulling it out and handing it to me. "Sorry I forgot to give it back, she cringed as we walked back out to the living area.

I waved the flimsy faux leather bag in the air as she plopped back down on the couch. "Girl. it's fine. We share stuff all the time. but thanks! I exclaimed as I headed back into my room to organize and pack up everything for my first day.

After I got everything ready and packed just how I wanted it, I took a sigh of relief. I had to be organized, and I loved to be, too. Thankfully, Morgan was pretty clean, so we agreed on a lot of things that concerned the apartment. That included the interior decorating theme we went with, keeping the fridge and pantry organized, and things like that.

We've been living together for our senior year; all of my other three vears. I lived on campus with random roommates. Living with my best friend off campus was a lifesaver, especially at one of the most modern apartment complexes in town.

Even though Morgan paid more since she had the master suite-which was paid for by her parents; literally everything-I still had an en-suite bathroom in my room. Morgan's parents offered to pay for our whole rent at the beginning of the school year--since I'd beer "such a good friend ta Morgan,"--but I refused. It's not that I wasn't gracious, it was just way too much to accept.

It was getting late. so I dlecided to take a shower and get ready for my last semester of college starting tomorrow. Once showered and glowing with skincare, I collapsed onto my comfy bed and smiled in contentment.

I worked an eight-hour shift today at Rocky Bones Roadhouse, so I was pretty worn out. Being the nerd that I was, I logged in to the university's app just to make sure I knew my schedule for tomorrow. I also had an Entrepreneurship class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., so I would definitely get a nice lunch break.

It was my dream to start my own business; I didn't know what kind yet, but I wanted to break that chain for my family. Seeing my dad bust his ass iust to get by, and with a cigarette always in his mouth, I knew I wanted more...needed more.

I clicked on each class, and when I clicked on my morning class. Business Marketing & Strategy, I just couldn't help but notice the professor's name.

Roman Whitlock.

What a cool freaking name, I thought to myself.

All of my professors have been men and women in their forties. fifties. or sixties so I was sure Roman was na dlifferent. I plugged my phone into its charger, texted Morgan goodnight, set several alarms, and set my phone down on my nightstand.

And when I tried to fall asleep, for some reason, all I could repeat in my heac was...

Roman, Roman, Roman.

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Should I continue this....!

It was prologue to make you understand what is the thing and what will come next, suggest me by comenting please...... 🥺

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