"I don't want you to hate me when you're older." Elaura Elwood was seventeen years old when she met, and ultimately fell victim to, the first and last man she would ever Theodore Belaire. Charming, charismatic, and utterly adored by those around him, Elaura immediately finds herself entranced by her new neighbor, who doesn't hesitate to express his attraction to her as well. However, their relationship quickly becomes complicated by the fact that he is both fourteen years older than her and engaged. Desperate to escape the misery of her own deeply dysfunctional household and craving the attention of an older man, Elaura finds herself entangled in a forbidden affair with Theodore, while his fiancé is miles away. As their relationship progresses and becomes increasingly difficult to navigate, she begins to realize that the forbidden love story of her youth was actually something much darker that would negatively impact her ability to love herself and others for years to come. Novel contains themes of grooming, abuse, and suicidal ideation.