—Mitch—Every woman I get involved with proves that it’s better to live without loving anyone. I learned a long time ago that my mother was out to destroy my father using the best weapon she had: me. So keeping the people that I can’t help care about at arm's length is safer for everyone. As much as I'd like to change this it’s not worthwhile. When I show back up in Rollinsford, my crazy stepsister’s new best friend shows me everything I could have. Or rather, everything I have yet to lose. You know what sucks the worst? We’d be perfect together if either us could get past our broken hearts. —Lindsey—In a short time at Rollins University, I’ve managed to wreck my reputation. Mitch is one of the few who knows the underlying truth of what actually happened. He doesn’t hold my poor choices against me. But Megan’s self-destructive brother follows the pattern I need to fall out of. So why did I fall so hard and fast for a guy who can't decide if he only wants to be friends? And how do I put my heart on the line again for a guy like this?

I shouldn’t have kissed Lindsey the morning after her husband died… Letting Lindsey leave kept her safe from the eventual unhappiness I’d bring to her life. The distance I’d maintained was only broken that one ill-fated day. Now she’s attempting to rebuild and I’m at a loss to reconcile the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. While I still can’t have Lindsey, maybe I can help her. I shouldn’t have let Mitch think that kiss was about us… Guilt over betraying my husband’s memory is killing me and letting Mitch take the blame for that kiss was wrong. He’s still battling his long-standing demons and, to make matters worse, we’re slipping back into the reckless pattern of our lives from when we were young. I know he’ll push me away like he’s done before. But I’m not sure how to stop us from hurting my daughter.