The loud buzzing of the alarm clock felt like a physical drill against Audrey’s skull. It was six in the morning. The sun was not even awake yet.
The apartment kitchen smelled like burnt toast and strong black coffee.
Zoya sat at the small kitchen island. She was already dressed, looking perfectly calm. Chloe was aggressively shoving a bright pink swimsuit into a plastic bag.
"I am absolutely not wearing a swimsuit," Audrey said. She dropped her faded grey duffel bag onto the floor with a heavy thud.
"It is a lake house, Audrey," Chloe argued. "Water is literally the main attraction."
"I am going to sit inside," Audrey stated flatly. "I am going to stare at a wall and memorize media law definitions. If I step outside, a football player will probably throw a ball at my head."
Zoya took a slow sip of her coffee. "Just survive the weekend. Do not let them feed you weird woods food."
A loud, obnoxious car horn blared from the street below.
Audrey groaned. She grabbed her duffel bag. Her stomach twisted into a tight, nervous knot. She did not want to do this. She hated the woods. She hated loud noises. And she really, really hated Mason Calloway.
She walked down the apartment stairs and pushed open the heavy front door.
The morning air was freezing. A massive black SUV was parked by the curb. The engine was running loudly.
Mason leaned casually against the passenger door. He wore a dark grey hoodie and black sweatpants. His dark brown hair was completely messy from sleep. He looked tired, but the second he saw Audrey, that highly irritating, playful smile spread across his face.
"Good morning, girlfriend," Mason called out cheerfully.
Audrey glared at him. "Do not speak to me until I have had coffee."
"I brought you coffee," Mason said. He reached into the car and pulled out a paper cup. He held it out to her. "Vanilla latte. Two sugars. Just the way you like it."
Audrey stopped walking. She stared at the cup. She had never told him her coffee order. Not once.
"How did you know that?" Audrey asked suspiciously.
"I am very observant," Mason teased. "And I might have asked Zoya yesterday when you went to the bathroom."
Audrey snatched the cup from his hand. The warm cardboard felt amazing against her freezing fingers. She took a sip. It was perfect. She hated that it was perfect.
"Get in," Mason said. He grabbed her duffel bag easily with one hand and tossed it into the trunk. "Leo and Jackson are in the back. Try not to let them annoy you."
Audrey climbed into the SUV.
The drive to the lake took two agonizing hours. The music was completely deafening. Leo sang along to every single song at the top of his lungs. Jackson kept throwing empty candy wrappers at the back of Mason’s head while Mason drove.
Audrey pressed her back against the door. She pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her cap down over her eyes. She just wanted peace.
"Are we there yet?" Leo whined loudly from the third row.
"If you ask me that one more time, I am leaving you on the side of the highway," Mason warned from the driver seat. His voice was tired but completely amused.
"Audrey is ignoring me," Leo complained. "Tell your girlfriend to talk to me, Captain."
"Leave her alone," Mason said smoothly. "She is mentally preparing to yell at me later."
Audrey peeked out from under her cap. She caught Mason looking at her in the rearview mirror. His warm brown eyes crinkled at the corners. He was definitely enjoying this. He did not like her romantically. He just treated her like a highly entertaining puzzle that constantly fought back.
The SUV finally turned down a long, winding dirt road.
Tall pine trees blocked out the morning sun. The air suddenly felt heavier, smelling strongly of wet earth and pine needles.
The trees cleared, revealing a massive wooden building. A large wooden sign hung over the front porch.
Halcyon Hotel Group - Lake Cabins.
The place was huge. It had massive glass windows, a wraparound porch, and a clear view of the dark, freezing lake. Five other cars were already parked in the dirt lot. Giant football players were pulling coolers and bags out of the trunks.
"We made it," Jackson cheered. He threw his car door open before Mason even completely stopped the engine.
Audrey stepped out of the SUV. The cold air hit her face. It was quiet here. Well, it would be quiet if twenty athletes were not currently shouting at each other across the parking lot.
Mason walked around to the trunk and pulled out her bag. He slung it over his broad shoulder right next to his own massive bag.
"I can carry my own things," Audrey pointed out.
"I know you can," Mason said. "But fake boyfriends carry the bags. It is in the contract."
He bumped his shoulder gently against hers and walked toward the cabin. Audrey rolled her eyes and followed him up the wooden steps.
The inside of the cabin smelled like old dust and firewood. A massive stone fireplace dominated the living room. Leather sofas were scattered around the open space. The team was already claiming spots, throwing jackets and bags onto the furniture.
Audrey immediately walked to the farthest, quietest corner of the room. She sat down on a small wooden chair by the window. She pulled her media law flashcards out of her jacket pocket. She just needed to focus on defamation precedents. She ignored the absolute chaos happening in the kitchen.
Exactly three minutes later, a heavy weight dropped onto the armrest of her chair.
Mason sat entirely too close. His broad frame completely blocked her view of the lake. The sharp scent of mint and clean laundry washed over her.
"You are hiding," Mason observed.
"I am studying," Audrey corrected. She did not look up from her flashcard.
Mason leaned down. He snatched the white index card right out of her fingers.
"Hey!" Audrey snapped.
Mason held the card up high where she could not reach it. He squinted at her neat handwriting. "What is the legal definition of actual malice?"
"Give it back, Calloway."
"Answer the question, Audrey." Mason smiled his incredibly annoying golden retriever smile. "Or I will throw it in the fireplace."
"You would not dare."
"Try me."
Audrey glared at him. "It is the reckless disregard for the truth or knowing that a statement is false. Now give it back."
Mason looked impressed. He handed the card back. "You are very smart. It is highly intimidating."
"You are not intimidated by anything."
"True," Mason agreed easily.
Before Audrey could tell him to go away, a loud whistle pierced the room.
Coach Miller stood on the coffee table. He was a terrifyingly large man with a very loud voice.
"Listen up!" Coach yelled. The entire room went dead silent instantly. "Welcome to the bonding weekend. We have drills at noon. We have film review at four. Right now, Jackson is going to hand out the room assignments. Grab your keys and drop your bags."
Jackson stepped up holding a clipboard and a massive ring of keys.
"Alright," Jackson announced loudly. "Listen for your names. Rooms have two beds each. No fighting over the top bunks."
He started reading off pairs of names. The guys cheered or groaned as they got their roommates.
Audrey kept her eyes on her flashcards. She assumed she would just get a tiny room somewhere in the back. Or maybe she could sleep on the sofa.
"Captain," Jackson called out.
Mason looked up.
"You and Audrey are in the master bedroom upstairs," Jackson said. He tossed a silver key through the air.
Mason caught it smoothly with one hand.
Audrey completely froze. The index card slipped out of her fingers and fluttered to the floor.
She slowly turned her head. She stared at Mason in absolute panic.
"Wait," Audrey said. Her voice sounded incredibly high. "We are sharing a room?"
Jackson laughed from across the living room. "You two are dating. Why would you need separate rooms?"
A few of the guys chuckled.
Audrey felt all the blood drain from her face. She looked at Mason. Mason just looked back at her. He did not look panicked at all. He just looked highly entertained by her absolute horror.
"Come on, roommate," Mason teased. He stood up and grabbed her bag.
Audrey stood up on completely numb legs. She followed him up the heavy wooden stairs. Her heart hammered against her ribs. This was a mistake. This was a massive mistake.
Mason pushed open the heavy door at the end of the hallway.
Audrey walked inside.
The room was huge. It had a massive window overlooking the lake. It had a private bathroom.
But Audrey only stared at the very center of the room.
There was only one bed.
It was a large king-sized bed. But it was only one.
"I am sleeping on the floor," Audrey announced instantly.
Mason dropped the bags. He laughed loudly. "I am not making you sleep on the floor. It is a huge bed. I will sleep on the edge."
"You take up entirely too much space," Audrey argued, her panic rising quickly. "You will definitely crush me."
Before Mason could reply, a very loud, frantic banging echoed from the front door downstairs.
It was not a normal knock. It sounded like someone trying to break the door down.
The noise in the living room stopped completely.
Audrey and Mason stepped out of the bedroom and looked over the wooden railing into the living room below.
Jackson walked over and pulled the heavy front door open.
Audrey stopped breathing.
Logan Foster stood on the porch.
He wore a pristine dark coat. His perfect hair was slightly messed up from the wind. He looked completely furious. He held a thick stack of papers in his hand.
"Can I help you?" Jackson asked, looking incredibly confused.
"The Student Council oversees all university club funding," Logan said loudly. His cold eyes instantly scanned the room and locked directly onto Audrey standing on the upstairs balcony with Mason. "I am here to formally audit this trip."
Audrey gripped the wooden railing so hard her hands hurt.
Logan was here.
And she had to share one bed with Mason Calloway.