I was utterly drawn into the intense affair between a teacher and a charming mechanic, who turns out to be Pax Smith, a student and rugby luminary at Florence U. Their intricate, secretive relationship is marked by Pax's troubled history and physical scars. The story's brevity left me desiring more, as the connection and potential between Pax and Thomas were profoundly compelling. Sara Cate's evocative writing and the poignant themes of forbidden love, age disparity, and hidden identities made this an unforgettable story.