Her words hit a bit harder than I expected, but I let it slide. “One of these days, Allison.”
She just smirks, reaching for another puzzle piece.
I watch her for a moment before leaning back on my hands. “Can I ask you something?”
She’s mid-reach for a puzzle piece when her hand hesitates, fingers hovering over the pile. Her gaze flicks to me, curious. “Yeah?”
I hesitate, then glance at her. “Why don’t you cheer anymore? Serena’s doing college cheer, and I always thought you’d be more into it than her.”
Alli pauses, her fingers idly sorting through the puzzle pieces. “I don’t know… I guess I just fell out of it. When I came to college, everything changed, and I needed to reprioritize my life. Cheerleading was something I loved in high school, but I didn’t really see a place for it here.”
“Really?” Alli was top-tier at cheer growing up. In high school, she was the best girl on the team; it used to be everything to her.
She shrugs, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. “Yeah, it just didn’t fit into my life anymore. Like this damn puzzle piece that should go right there.” She points at a spot in the puzzle, frustration bubbling under the surface.
I lean in, eyes scanning the remaining pieces. A smirk plays at my lips as I spot the one that fits. With a quick flick of my fingers, I slide it into place.
“Found it.” I meet her gaze, satisfaction lacing my voice.
“What the fuck? I didn’t see that piece! Where did it come from?”
“Gotta see things from a different perspective,” I say, grinning.
We continue piecing together the puzzle, the conversation flowing effortlessly between us. Lighthearted stories, insidejokes, and laughs fill the air. The evening stretches comfortably around us as we finish the puzzle.
“Job well done,” Alli says, her voice laced with amusement as she takes a sip of the Gatorade I brought over. She leans back against the couch, her eyes scanning the completed puzzle, a satisfied smile on her lips.
“Not bad at all,” I agree, feeling accomplished. I never realized how much fun puzzles can be. I might have to invest in a new hobby other than making matcha.
Alli lets out a soft laugh, sprawling out on the couch as she stretches her arms above her head. “I have to admit, this was actually kind of fun.”
“Yeah, it was,” I reply, a smile playing at my lips. “But I should probably head out before it gets too late.”
“Right,” Alli nods, standing up from the couch. “Thanks for coming over. It was nice.”
I make my way to the door, her footsteps just behind me, but something about tonight feels different. There’s a warmth in my chest, familiar but unsettling, and I can’t put my finger on it.
“Goodnight, Alli.”
“Goodnight, Jared,” she replies from inside the apartment.
With one last look, I step out into the cool evening breeze. As I make my way down the hallway, thoughts of the game next week and the role Alli will play in it swirl in my mind. I can’t help but feel excitement and trepidation stirring about what’s to come.
Just as my foot hits the stairwell, Alli’s soft humming drifts through the crack in her door. I pause, mid-step, somethinginexplicable twisting in my gut. It’s a fucking hum. Nothing special. But everything about it hits me harder than it should. It pulls me in, like it’s been anchored inside of me all along. Her laugh earlier replays in my mind, and the way her eyes caught mine all night like she knew something, or maybe I did. Soft, teasing, but there was a fire in there that had me wanting more.
I rub the back of my neck and force myself to keep moving, shaking off whatever the hell this is. Still, the sound sticks with me, wrapping around my thoughts like a whisper I can’t ignore. One thing’s for sure: this fake relationship is starting to feel a lot more real than I expected. And as I head back to my place, I find myself hoping that whatever happens, it’ll be worth it.
Chapter 12
Alli
The crisp morning air greets me as I walk across campus to Turner Hall, the science building on campus. The familiar hustle and bustle of college life swirls around me as students pass by with textbooks tucked under their arms, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafts from University Hall as faculty and students line up for their morning fix, and clusters of people lounge around the pavilion, their casual conversations filling the air.
Despite the busy scene, my thoughts keep drifting back to last night with Jared. It’s strange how a simple night of puzzles and snacks can take up so much space in my mind. I feel a smile tug at my lips before I can stop it, fervor sneaking into my chest as I adjust my backpack strap. It reminds me of family game nights when I was a kid—easy, effortless, and safe.
I reach up to gather my hair, tying it into a loose bun as the cool breeze threads through the strands, and take a deep breath. The rush of it feels relaxing, though I can’t ignore the way my stomach dips every time I think about Jared’s stupid smile or the way his arm brushed mine when he handed me that last puzzle piece.
I push open the door to the lab, and the quiet hits me like a breath of fresh air. I get a head start on setting up for today’s assignment since Jared isn’t here yet. I hang my bag on a nearby hook and slip into my lab coat, letting out a small sigh, relieved for the moment of peace. My mind’s been running in circles, and for once, I can just focus on the task in front of me with no distractions.
