The dorm door creaks open behind me.
"Hey," I say, towel-drying my hair.
"Hi, Care..." Sam's voice is barely more than a mumble. She looks exhausted—her eyes have dark circles under them, and she's moving like every bone in her body weighs a ton. She drops her backpack and notes onto the floor with a soft thud before muttering, "Good night, Care."
I blink. "Uh,"
She doesn't make it two steps before collapsing face-first onto her bed, out cold in seconds.
She's been camped out in the library all week—typical exam-week Sam. When it comes to studying, she goes full machine mode. She's actually worse than me.
I've barely seen her in days, and we literally share a room.
She leaves before sunrise, comes back long after midnight, and at this point, I'm convinced her bloodstream is 80% caffeine. The girl practicallylivesin the library—surrounded by towers of notes, empty energy drink cans, and at least three half-finished coffees that all look identical.
She doesn't nap. She doesn't blink. She just studies, like she's in an academic war she refuses to lose.
Still, seeing her now, completely knocked out the moment her head hit the pillow, something in my chest softens. She looks so small, so tired. I tug the blanket up over her shoulders, brushing a stray strand of hair off her cheek and sighing softly.
"Good night, Sam," I whisper.
She doesn't move, just breathes evenly, lost to the kind of sleep she's probably been avoiding all week.
The following night, it's already past nine when I finally drag myself out of the elevator, muscles aching from hours oftwirling, leaping, and getting flung through the air like a rag doll. My bun's half undone, my tote's sliding off my shoulder, and my phone's in hand as I catch up on Zach's texts from an hour ago.
ZACH
Hey babe, text me when you're back at the dorm.
ZACH
I miss you. ***
I smile down at the screen, thumbs ready to type a reply—when a voice startles me.
"Texting another guy? Should I be jealous?"
"Zach!" I practically launch myself into his arms. He laughs, wrapping me up easily, his familiar warmth settling around me like home.
"Hey, baby. Glad you missed me too." He presses a quick kiss to the top of my head.
"I was literally about to reply to your text," I say, pulling back but still smiling like an idiot. It's ridiculous how happy I am to see him, especially when I just had lunch with him hours ago.
I unlock the dorm door and push it open.
Zach follows me inside, glancing around. "Sam's not back yet, huh?"
I shake my head. "You know your sister during exam week. She's probably still at the library."
I barely have time to drop my bag on the rack before a startled gasp escapes me—Zach's already got his hands on my hips, pinning me against the wall, his mouth crashing onto mine.
He starts soft—he always does—but the second I part my lips, giving him that unspokenyes, he deepens the kiss. His tongue slides against mine, slow at first, then hungry, deliberate. The air between us ignites, every inch of me straining closer.
Between kisses, his voice breaks through, low and rough against my mouth. "You have no idea how much I missed you..."
I manage a shaky laugh, words melting into the press of his lips. "You literally saw me at lunch."
He kisses me again, deeper this time, teeth grazing my bottom lip. "Doesn't matter," he breathes. "I've been counting the hours since then like a madman."
