Sabrina Nicole Smith had been called Cole for almost fourteen years.
She still hated it.
The nickname started when she was five, the day her mom remarried and moved them into a big two-story house that already belonged to Jackson Lee Adam.
Jackson had been six.
Old enough to decide he didn't like the new girl who suddenly lived in his house.
And unfortunately for Sabrina… Jackson had never grown out of it.
Now they were in college.
Jackson was nineteen.
Sabrina had just turned eighteen.
Both attended the same university twenty minutes from home.
Which meant she still had to deal with him every day.
And unfortunately…
Jackson's best friend.
Ethan David Reid.
Sabrina walked into the kitchen early Saturday morning wearing what she always wore.
Oversized hoodie.
Loose sweatpants.
Hair tucked under a beanie.
Her clothes made her look almost shapeless.
Almost.
But if someone actually looked closely… they'd notice the hoodie stretched slightly over her chest and dipped inward at her waist before falling over her hips.
Sabrina knew exactly what she looked like underneath.
And that's why she hid it.
Because the last people she wanted noticing were the two idiots currently sitting at the kitchen island.
Jackson and Ethan.
Jackson looked up first.
His familiar smirk spread across his face.
"Well if it isn't Cole."
Sabrina groaned.
"Good morning to you too, jackass."
Jackson leaned back in his chair.
"Morning, lumberjack."
Ethan snorted beside him.
Sabrina grabbed orange juice from the fridge.
"Original. Really creative."
Jackson watched her pour the drink.
"You ever think about wearing something that doesn't come from the men's department?"
She rolled her eyes.
"You ever think about shutting up?"
Ethan rested his chin on his hand, studying her.
Quietly.
Too quietly.
Jackson teased her loudly.
But Ethan watched.
He noticed things Jackson didn't.
Like the way the hoodie pulled when she lifted her arm.
Or the way the sweatpants tied tight around her waist.
Or how her hips curved when she leaned against the counter.
Ethan swallowed.
Hard.
Jackson tossed a grape at her.
"Earth to Cole."
She glared at him.
"My name is Sabrina."
Jackson grinned.
"Too late. Been Cole for fourteen years."
Ethan spoke suddenly.
Low.
"Why do you hate it so much?"
Both Sabrina and Jackson looked at him.
Sabrina crossed her arms.
"Because it's not my name."
Jackson shrugged.
"Relax, Cole. It's a compliment."
"How is it a compliment?"
"You look like a Cole."
She stared at him flatly.
"You're an idiot."
Jackson laughed.
Ethan didn't.
His eyes stayed on her.
And Sabrina noticed.
That was the weird thing about Ethan.
Jackson was predictable.
Loud.
Annoying.
Easy to ignore.
But Ethan…
Ethan looked at her like he was trying to figure her out.
And sometimes it made her nervous.
Jackson suddenly stood up.
"We're heading to campus later. Party tonight."
He looked at Sabrina.
"You should come."
She nearly choked on her drink.
"You've never invited me to a party in your life."
Jackson shrugged.
"Could be funny."
Ethan's eyes flicked to Jackson.
Then back to Sabrina.
Something dangerous sparked there.
"You should come," Ethan said.
Her eyebrows lifted.
Jackson grinned.
"Oh this I gotta see. Cole at a college party."
Sabrina sighed.
"Hard pass."
She turned toward the stairs.
But Ethan's voice stopped her.
"Sabrina."
She froze.
It was the first time he'd used her actual name.
Slowly she looked back.
"What."
His gaze was steady.
"You hide too much."
Jackson snorted.
"She hides because she looks like a—"
"Jackson," Ethan cut him off.
Sharp.
Jackson blinked.
Ethan rarely interrupted him.
Sabrina studied Ethan carefully.
Something about his tone felt… different.
Almost protective.
But then he leaned back casually.
"You might actually have fun," he said.
Jackson smirked again.
"Yeah Cole. Live a little."
She shook her head and headed upstairs.
But the moment she disappeared…
Jackson looked at Ethan suspiciously.
"You're acting weird today."
Ethan grabbed another grape.
"Am I?"
Jackson shrugged.
"Yeah."
Ethan popped the grape in his mouth.
"Maybe."
But what he didn't say was this:
The reason Ethan watched Sabrina so closely…
The reason he noticed things Jackson didn't…
Was because Ethan had realized something months ago.
Something he absolutely couldn't admit.
Sabrina Nicole Smith…
The girl he'd spent years teasing…
The girl hidden under baggy clothes…
Was actually beautiful.
And the worst part?
He had a feeling Jackson was starting to notice too.