The story is told from the perspective of Melaena Blackburn, a 19-year-old girl. Melaena has been haunted by the memories and feelings associated with Damion Grimm, a 20-year-old boy, for many years.
Melaena and her friend Kiara have been on a year-long backpacking trip around the world to help Melaena clear her head and decide what she wants to do with her life. The main purpose was to get away from Damion, but she still can't seem to forget him. Tonight, she will see him again for the first time in twelve months.
Melaena had her first "BAM" moment with Damion when she was 9 during a cross-country running event near a haunted house. They had another encounter on the first day of her seventh grade at Harvard-Westlake. She initially thought he was the one, but things took a turn for the worse. Damion has a reputation as a player, and he has hurt Melaena's feelings multiple times. He once took her to the boardwalk, had a great time, bought her a turtle soft-toy named Pan, but the next day she caught him kissing another girl. Another time, he kidnapped her and they had a special night at the zoo, but then he showed up with a black eye and another girl the next day.
Melaena hates Damion but also feels a strong physical attraction to him. She is currently dating Ren, the first guy to ask her out. However, she doesn't have strong feelings for Ren and is not sure if she wants to continue the relationship. Ren is moving too fast and is already talking about marriage and children, which Melaena is not ready for.
Melaena misses her mother, who was murdered eight years ago. The memory of that night and her mother's famous spaghetti bolognese recipe are important to her. She also has a complicated relationship with her adopted cousin Kiara. Kiara is a fashion-obsessed realist who doesn't believe in love or soulmates. She dates for sex and tries to give Melaena advice about her relationships.
Axel, a fireman and a close friend of the family, visits Melaena and Kiara. He tells them about a recent fire at the haunted house where they had their accident years ago. They recalling experiences in the house, including Kiara breaking her ankle and Melaena being shot in the arm with an arrow, Axel also mentioned items found in the house, such as a device for shooting arrows.
Melaena's brothers, Logan, Ilkay, Enrique, and Jackson, also make an appearance. Logan is celebrating his 21st birthday. Ilkay is a responsible and clever neurosurgeon in the making. Enrique is a successful model and actor who owns a nightclub, and Jackson is a troublemaker hockey player. They come to fetch Axel for some grilled food.
Overall, the story revolves around Melaena's complex feelings for Damion, her relationship with Ren, her friendship with Kiara, and her family dynamics. It also touches on the past events that have shaped her life and the challenges she faces in dealing with love, hate, and growing up.
