I cocked an eyebrow, trying to parse what she wanted me to do. She tapped an empty box with her pen, so I decided to just guess. “You want me to fill it in with my schedule?”
Her eyes brightened when I understood. She nodded like a child, surprised and happy that I’d caught the signal.
Her and those nods. Always timid, always pathetic, like she was rationing out the smallest scraps of acknowledgement. They annoyed the hell out of me, but I never said a word because at least it was something.
At least it was mine.
But this time, this wasn’t one of those weak, scared little dips of her chin. She nodded more than once, big and sure, like she wasn’t afraid of me at all. Like she could finally let her guard down.
It was odd. Wrong, even. But I’d take it. I’d take whatever she was willing to give me, so long as it was only for me.
“I’m busy,” I said flatly, stretching my hand out, palm open. “Give me your phone. I’ll text it to you.”
She hesitated before sliding it into my hand, and in that moment, our fingers brushed, barely, but enough. A spark, sharp and unwanted, shot straight through me.
My jaw clenched. I told myself it was nothing, just skin against skin, but fuck if it didn’t make me want more.
I tapped on the screen. Locked. Before I could scoff, she stepped closer—so close her shoulder brushed mine—and tilted her face toward the screen.
The phone unlocked instantly, her features glowing in the reflection. I didn’t look at the phone. Not once.
I looked at her. At the glow on her skin from the screen, at the way her lashes cast shadows, at the shape of her lips parting just slightly in focus.
Fuck. Her lips.
The same lips I’d been dying to hear move, to shape my name, to curse me, to beg.
I caught myself staring, caught the way heat slammed into my chest, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t.
She was too close, and my mind was already painting the image I wanted most… those lips moving for me, onlyme.
I swallowed down the urge to lean in further, to close the gap, to see what sound she’d make if she realised how badly I wanted to taste her this close.
My lips curved before I could stop them. “Brave,” I muttered, low.
Her head snapped toward me, startled.Good. She should be startled. She should remember who she’s standing this close to. Because I’m not harmless, and she damn well knows it.
But she didn’t step back. Not this time. Her throat bobbed, her gaze flicked down, but her feet stayed planted right there in front of me, like she’d forgotten I’m the same person who made her life hell.
And maybe that’s what fucked me up the most.
I typed my number into her phone, saved it under my name, and let the device rest on top of her folder. No explanation. No instructions. Just mine now.
Straightening up, I turned to leave. “Text me for it,” I threw over my shoulder, casual as if I wasn’t already anticipating it. “Sayplease,and maybe you’ll get it. I’m a busy man.”
I didn’t look back, but I didn’t need to. The way her silence pressed heavily behind me was enough.
She’d do it. I knew she would.
And when that single word hit my phone, it wouldn’t matter if it was written or spoken; it’d be hers. Directed at me. And that’s all I fucking wanted.
I headed back inside the locker room to grab my bag and head out to meet Alex, since we didn’t have any classes left today. He was planning on crashing at mine, which was nothing new. Clingy.
Bag slung over my shoulder, phone in hand, I stepped out of the locker room. A couple of teammates called out goodbyes, but I barely nodded back. My eyes scanned where she had been standing earlier, only to find the space empty.
She was gone.
Then—
