My grin widens — dangerous, excited — and I slip out.
The hallway is dim and quiet, most of the guys long passed out when we got here. I walk lightly, trying not to wake anyone. A couple of voices float from somewhere, so some of the boys must still be awake, but overall the place is calm.
I'm halfway down the hallway when a door suddenly swings open, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
Taylor Lewis freezes in the doorway like a deer caught in headlights.
"Uh—hi," she blurts out, recovering with a too-fast smile.
I haven't seen Taylor around the hockey house in forever. Not for any dramatic reason — she's just been busy with the part-time job she started a couple months ago. That's what Zach told me, anyway.
She and I have never really had the chance to get to know each other. We've never hung out or talked beyond a quick "Hi," but we always acknowledge each other around campus — a polite smile, a small nod, that kind of thing. Nothing weird, nothing tense.
And honestly? I don't feel any jealousy toward her.
...Well, not anymore, not after Zach told me the full truth about their old "arrangement."
There's no bad vibe from her at all. She actually seems pretty cool. Sweet, even.
Part of me hopes we get the chance to know each other properly someday.
I tilt my head... and notice which room she just slipped out of.
Kentaro's.
A slow, knowing smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.
Taylor's eyes widen slightly — she follows my gaze, realizes exactly what I'm realizing, and her cheeks flush pink so fast it's actually impressive.
"Oh—I just... um..." She clears her throat. "Helped Ken-chan— I mean Kentaroget home."
"Mhm," I say, still wearing that knowing, not-subtle-at-all smirk. "I see."
Taylor forces a tiny, nervous chuckle. "Anyway—I should go."
She starts speed-walking down the hallway, almost makes it three steps, then stops abruptly and turns back toward me.
"I'm really happy to see you and Zach together," she says, more sincere now than flustered. "I've never seen him this happy since I met him."
The warmth in her voice catches me off guard in the best way — soft, genuine, with absolutely zero weirdness.
"Thank you," I say, giving her a warm smile of my own.
She lifts a hand in a small wave. "See you around, Caroline."
I wave back. "Yeah. See you around."
Then she disappears down the hallway, and I'm left standing there with a stupid grin on my face — because something isdefinitelybrewing between Taylor Lewis and the Ridgewater Warriors' grumpy goalie.
I make my way back down the hallway, the little metal can cold in my hand. Zach always keeps whipped cream in their fridge because I like it on everything — hot chocolate, fruit, straight from the can when I'm stressed — so it's not exactlyshocking that there's extra stocked... but tonight, I have a different plan for it.
When I push open his door, the first thing I see is him.
Exactly where I left him.
Exactly as instructed.
Zach is stretched out on the bed, hands tucked behind his head, biceps flexed just enough to be unfair, gaze already sliding toward me the moment he hears the door.
