Claire Dawson never thought she’d return to Oak Ridge High, the place where she once dreamed of conquering the world. Now back as a temporary librarian, she battles self-doubt and whispers of small-town gossip, trying to rebuild her confidence one book at a time. The last thing she expects is to cross paths with Ethan Cole—the former golden boy turned devoted single dad—who was once the unreachable star of her teenage heart.
Ethan is used to carrying the weight of loss, burying his grief beneath lesson plans and raising his daughter with steady hands. But when Claire walks back into his life, she stirs feelings he thought were long buried. She’s sunshine and second chances, and he’s not sure he deserves either.
Drawn together by after-school programs, stolen moments, and the quiet hope of something more, Claire and Ethan must navigate old wounds and fragile trust. Risking their hearts again means facing fears too big to name—and daring to believe that love can be stronger than the ghosts of the past.
Will they find the courage to build a future together, or will fear keep them locked in the memories of what they lost?
