She rolls her eyes, pulling her hair into a ponytail. She's already dressed like she's about to head out somewhere, which makes me frown.
I carefully peel myself away from Caroline, moving slow so I don't wake her. She looks so peaceful, tangled in the sheets with her lips slightly parted. My chest squeezes a little just looking at her.
Now sitting at the edge of the bed, I rub the back of my neck, yawning. My hair's a wreck, sticking out in every possible direction. I set my alarm last night for 5 a.m. because I've got to leave by 5:30 for morning workout with the team—but now I'm panicking that I might've slept through it.
I grab my phone from the nightstand, thumbing the screen in a hurry.
4:30 a.m.
Relief floods me, followed quickly by confusion.
"Wait, are you leaving already?" I ask, frowning at my sister's reflection.
"I'm heading to the library. I want to get there early before it gets crowded. It's exam week—by five, there won't even be a seat left."
I frown deeper. "Shouldn't you sleep some more, angel? Why can't you just stay here and study—or crash at my place? You could lock my room for all I care, as long as you let yourself rest for a little bit more."
She shrugs, still gathering her things. "I like studying at the library. It keeps me focused, you know? Something about being surrounded by a hundred other stressed-out students and the smell of old books—it just puts me in study mode." She grins, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Besides, if I stay here or at your place, I'll just end up bugging Eli or texting him nonstop. The library gives my brain a clear signal: 'you're here to study, not to fantasize about my Eli.'"
"But you came home past midnight, angel. You've barely slept."
She glances at me, flashing that teasing grin. "You sound like Mom."
I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. "I just worry, you know. You're my little sister."
"I'm fine, Zach," she says softly.
Except she doesn't look fine. There are faint dark circles under her eyes, and her skin's paler than usual. She runs herself ragged sometimes, like she forgets she's only human.
I drag a hand down my face, fighting the urge to keep her home like she's still a kid. "Just... don't push yourself too much, okay?" My voice comes out softer than I mean it to.
She meets my gaze—just for a second—and smiles that tired little smile. "I'll be fine, big brother. Don't worry about me too much, okay?"
Easier said than done.
She shifts her bag higher on her shoulder. "Oh—and I made Eli'sMean Green Monstermorning shake. It's in the fridge. Don't forget to give it to him—you know how he gets when he skips it after workouts. Grumpy, sulky, full-on monster mode all day."
I let out a quiet breath, half amused, half exasperated.
The thing's a disgusting mix of spinach, kale, almond butter, banana, oats, protein powder, and—because Sam swears it's her secret weapon—a spoonful of beet powder and a dash of cinnamon. No one else would touch it, but Eli claims it makes him feel 'invincible.
I watch my sister brushing off the exhaustion she's too stubborn to admit.
She's barely been sleeping these past few days, and yet she still never forgets to make my idiot best friend his special drink.
He doesn't even know Sam's the one who makes it. She told me once that if he found out, he'd stop drinking it out of pure stubbornness. Typical Elijah.
I watch her slip out of the room, the faint sound of the front door closing a minute later. That uneasy feeling settles in again—the kind that doesn't go away no matter how many times she says she's fine.
CHAPTER forty-four
ZACH
Workout's done, and me and Elijah hop in my car to drive back to our dorm. I'm in too good a mood to care about how sore I am—whistling, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, the morning sun flashing off the hood.
Taylor Swift'sWe Are Never Ever Getting Back Togethercomes on, and yeah, I start singing along. Loudly. With feeling. Head bobbing, full performance mode.
