Charles Selin

Starting at the Beach Charles Selin

A junior at UC Santa Barbara, Sondra Rogan didn't understand what kind of man drove her passions. Confounding Sondra's search, Tony Barbero spotted her, arranging a first date after his 21st birthday in June. Sondra wouldn't go out again. Tony channeled his wealth to manipulate Sondra's choices, enlisting students to eliminate other senior year options. Her roommate fell in love with a graduate student Tony paid. Other students watched Sondra, discouraging guys, saying she dated Tony away from campus. Men stopped asking her out. Winter quarter, Sondra's friend Clarissa Thomas mentioned Dale Carlsson, a student who helped her and her boyfriend late one night, causing Sondra's thoughts to shift. Sondra knew both Dale and his girlfriend. He bore little resemblance to the man her passions imagined. If Dale didn't have a girlfriend, Sondra knew he wouldn't ask her out. Tony hated Dale. Sondra knew dating Dale would detonate Tony's temper, endangering Dale.81,000 words
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