Chapter 1:
The Bold Ask
I sat in the back row of the literature seminar, heart hammering like it always did whenever Seraphina Quill walked into the room. She had this way of carrying herself that made the whole lecture hall feel smaller. Today her dark curls were tied back loosely, and she wore a soft oversized sweater that somehow made her look both cozy and untouchable. I had been crushing on her for months, stealing glances during discussions about poetry and forbidden love, but I never thought I would actually do something about it.
Class ended and students started packing up. This was my chance. My palms were sweaty as I grabbed my notebook and walked toward her desk near the front. “Hey, Seraphina,” I said, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. “Wait up a second.”
She looked
