Kieran circling the net. The tap over his heart. The way he looks straight at the camera—at me—like the rest of the arena doesn’t exist.
I watch it again. Then once more before I catch myself.
This was supposed to be simple. Fake dating. Clean variables. Measurable outcomes.
Theo doesn’t make my pulse race anymore. Somewhere between late nights in the library, Kieran’s hand warm in mine and his jersey on me, the lines blurred.
I close the laptop and stare at the ceiling.
Focus, I tell myself.
But how am I supposed to focus when the thing I’m trying not to think about just invited me away for three days?
My phone buzzes.
KIERAN
Upstate gets cold at night. Pack warm
You’re going to love my sister
Fair warning, she asks a lot of questions
Looking forward to it, Rules
Looking forward to it.
Not see you there. Not something careful.
I type back before I can overthink it.
WREN
I’ll be ready
The lie glows on the screen.
Because I’m not ready.
Not for a weekend away.
Not for whatever this is becoming.
But I’m going anyway.
And that might be the most dangerous variable in the entire equation.
17
THE STUDY PARTNER PROBLEM (KIERAN)
She fell asleep somewhere past Worcester, head tipped against the window, dark hair spilling across her shoulder. I drove one-handed, glancing over every thirty seconds, trying to memorize her like this.
This is what wanting feels like when you shouldn’t.
She’s here as a friend. I haven’t told her the truth. I’m still the asshole who took a bet to break her heart.
The highway narrows, pine forests closing in, snow piled high where the plows cut through. My phone sits dark in the cupholder. No texts from Isabelle yet, but they’ll come.Making progress? Clock’s ticking.
