A'S

g was huge, with red bricks that seemed darker than the rest of campus. Its tall windows

my spine, like the place was hiding

y made such a rule? Is there so

nside. Maybe it's because the building's old. They're pro

here's something

d and leaned

ething. Yest

, eyes narrowing.

nything , a deafening cras

les. They were dressed in the school's football uniforms, still sweaty from practice. "Hey! Di

guessed was the quarterback-tall, loud, far too confident-stood on a bench,

the air

mouths. He didn't wear a uniform, just dark clothes that fit him like they were made for him alone. Broad shoulders. Sharp jaw. G

ispered b

d. "Okay... that is one

ench. His gaze locked on the

e said quietly.

We're just celebrating. You should try it sometime." He clapped him

's expression

llar and yanked him closer, their faces inches apart. His vo

myself," he said. "Next tim

rterback

unded hard against my ribs. I s

econd, the captain's ey

t. Not because he

tight, shoulders squared like no

ut

n of a second, l saw

Fe

ust a flicker in his dark

hen it

t, controlled a

turne

noise-followed behind him without a word. The doors sw

realizing I'd been

istle. "Wow," she said.

es wide. "Remind me neve

h my attention wa

ade no sense. Our eyes had met-just once-but it felt like a

rstand it. And

ind of attention I had no interest in inviting into my li

had

abbing her tray. "We'll be

ughts back into order as

easy certainty settled in me