Chapter 1

A gorgeous new transfer girl arrived at our high school, boldly bragging to everyone that she’d get my childhood sweetheart, Ethan, into her bed within three months.

Ethan merely gave her a freezing glare and called her delusional.

Then, he grabbed my hand tightly, pulling me close as he whined like a spoiled puppy.

"Everyone knows I’ve been yours since we were in diapers, Daisy."

The transfer girl chased him relentlessly all the way until winter break, but Ethan never gave her the time of day.

Until the party right before the spring semester started.

Ethan got completely wasted, and I had to drive him home.

He mumbled my name the entire ride.

My heart fluttered. Looking at his handsome, sleeping face, I decided to steal a quick kiss.

This was going to be my first kiss.

But the second my lips brushed his, his hand shot out, locking around my waist. His voice was incredibly husky.

"Babe, why so shy this time?"

"No tongue?"

I froze instantly.

Ethan’s kiss was deep and intense. His movements weren't clumsy at all.

In fact, he kissed like an absolute pro.

He said this time. Who was the last time?

Before I could even ask, he let me go.

Ethan was too drunk to keep his eyes open. He let out a low groan, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Silly girl... still haven't learned how to breathe?"

"Did I teach you all those times for nothing?"

I took a sharp breath, placing my hand against his cheek to push him back.

My fingertips were trembling violently, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Ethan. Look at me. Who am I?"

Ethan went quiet, squinting his eyes to look at me.

I never expected those few seconds of waiting to be so torturous.

An answer was already screaming in my head.

But I wanted to hear it from his own mouth.

Ethan slapped his own cheeks, then pinched mine, mumbling drunkenly, "Babe... why are you still in my dreams?"

"Daisy... you're so much better in my dreams. You actually let me kiss you whenever I want."

My eyelashes fluttered. Hearing my name, the icy dread in my chest melted away instantly.

So, he thought he was dreaming.

Ethan cupped my face, his warm, wet lips pressing against mine again.

"Babe, breathe. Don't choke up and blush like you did last time."

He coaxed me gently between kisses, whispering all the pet names he had always used for me.

After he finished kissing me, he collapsed back onto the bed, burying his face under the duvet as if he were suddenly shy.

"Damn, it felt so real this time."

I sat by his bedside, my lips pressed into a thin line.

After a few seconds, I stood up.

Whatever. Ethan was an idiot, but he had chased me his entire life. If there was something going on, he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret from me anyway.

My parents weren't home today.

I pulled out my phone to order some takeout on DoorDash, but the screen flickered and died. Out of battery.

Too lazy to grab my charger, I reached for Ethan’s phone instead.

His lock screen was still my latest selfie.

Ethan always claimed he got bored of things easily. So, he insisted on receiving at least three new, different photos of me every week.

Otherwise, he’d throw a tantrum and ignore me. He was incredibly high-maintenance.

I used to tease him about it, saying if he got bored so easily, why had he only loved me for so many years?

He would just shrug and smile. "Well, I just love loving you."

But when I pressed my thumb against the home button, it read: Fingerprint Try Again.

Out of the five registered fingerprints on his phone, one was his, and the other four had always been mine.

I tried every single one of my fingers. All failed.

Did he delete them by accident? No, Ethan wouldn't do that.

I tried entering his passcode—my birthday.

He had used this passcode for years. He would never change it.

Incorrect Passcode.

Just then, his screen lit up with a notification from Snapchat.

It was a photo. Sent by Chloe.

The transfer girl who had been chasing him for months.