He leans down, bracing one hand beside my head. “Scoot over then.”
I shift left just as he moves in the same direction. It happens fast, a clumsy, off-beat choreography. Our faces turn the same way at the same time, and his mouth brushes mine. Not fully a kiss,but notnota kiss either. It’s warm, unexpected, soft in the way surprise can be soft.
We freeze.
I feel his slow exhale against my cheek. His face is still close, too close now to pretend it didn’t just happen.
“Um.” His voice is rougher than usual, the syllable pulled tight like a bowstring. “Sorry.”
Neither of us moves.
His eyes flick down to my lips, just for a second, and that second stretches. Something hot and unfamiliar pulses between us.
Outside, someone slams a door, and I flinch just enough to break the moment. He pulls back first, clearing his throat like he’s trying to swallow a thousand words.
“So…” My voice is too bright. “Scooting.”
“Yeah,” he mutters, shifting to the other end of the bed like it’s suddenly on fire.
I force a laugh that doesn’t sound right before burying my face in his pillow, desperate to erase any awkwardness over the fact that whatever just happened definitely wasn't in the friend-zone rulebook. “Ugh. I left my toothbrush in my stupid room with my stupid horny roommate. My mouth feels like a swamp.”
When I peek up at him, he’s grinning again, like he’s been waiting for this exact complaint. He reaches over to his desk drawer, rummages for a second, and then holds something out.
A brand new toothbrush, still in the plastic.
“Here.” He stretches it out to me, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. “I, uh… picked it up for you. Since this keeps happening.”
My heart trips over itself at his sweet gesture. It’s just a toothbrush, Birdie, I remind myself all while I feel a goofy grin stretching across my face. “You bought me a toothbrush?”
He shrugs, trying to look casual and failing miserably. “Figured I’d save us both the drama. Plus, you’re less grumpy with clean teeth.”
I snatch it from his hand, still trying to fight back that silly giddy smile. “You’re my hero, you know that?”
He rolls his eyes but can’t hide the pleased look that tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, yeah. Go brush your swamp mouth before I regret this entire arrangement.”
I sit up on my knees, still clutching the toothbrush, and lean in just close enough that, for one reckless second, I think about kissing him intentionally—friendship be damned.
But instead, I bump his shoulder with mine, grin, and hop off the bed.
“Don’t fall asleep without me,” I tease as I slip out the door toward the dorm bathrooms.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he calls after me, and when I glance back, he’s watching me like he’s memorizing all the parts I keep pretending he can’t see.
Chapter One
“Ma’am? Are you alright?”
My lungs are heaving, and not from the mile I’ve just run. All I can see is the cracked cement blurring between tears as I hold my head between my knees. The sobs wrack my body in between each shaky inhale. Lifting my head, I use the corner of his t-shirt to swipe at my dripping nose. The worn material falls away, black streaks smeared across the grey fabric. Why did I put on mascara before a run?
Oh. Right.
Because even if I’m just jogging, I need to look runway ready.
I knew I should’ve bought another tube of the waterproof stuff.Pull it together, Bridget.A few limp strands of my long, dark hair have escaped my ponytail, almost like they’re begging to be rescued.
Am I alright?
My husband of twenty-six years is dead.
