My jaw dropped a little, and I think my soul left my body for a second.
He grinned wider, clearly enjoying how flustered I was. “Relax, I’m kidding. Unless… you want me to be right.”
I hid behind my notebook, shaking my head again, cheeks burning so hot it hurt. Miles just laughed softly, leaning back in his seat, flipping through his notes like he didn’t just set my entire nervous system on fire.
—
After about an hour, Miles started packing up, mumbling something about being late for his class.
“Don’t miss me too much,” he teased, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
I looked up at him and lifted my hand, giving him a tiny wave, cheeks still warm. He chuckled and walked away, leaving the faint scent of his cologne behind.
The library felt too quiet without him. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, tried to focus on my notes, tried to slow the stupid heartbeat that still hadn’t calmed down.
A beat. Just one.
Then someone dropped into the chair in front of me, the thud sharp enough to make me jump.
“Away game tomorrow.”
My head snapped up.
Joshua.
He didn’t even look up from his phone as he spoke, elbows resting on his knees, voice low, clipped. “Come.”
I blinked, confused, gripping my pen tighter. Come?
He finally looked at me. Sharp eyes, dark hoodie, expression unreadable but somehow heavier than usual. “You’ve shadowed home games,” he said. “You should see how we play away. It’s different. Good for your research.”
Good for my research.
Of course.
I nodded slowly, trying not to stare too long, trying not to notice how his hair fell into his eyes or how his voice sounded less like an order and more like something… else.
He tilted his head, watching me for a second too long. “You free?”
I nodded again.
“Good,” he said simply, pushing his chair back. “Be at the bus by ten.”
And just like that, he stood up and left, as if the air hadn’t just shifted, as if my stomach hadn’t just dropped to the floor.
My fingers twitched around my pen. I looked back down at my notes, the words blurring again.
Tomorrow.
I wasn’t sure if I was dreading it… or if I was starting to look forward to seeing him again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Aurora / Joshua
Aurora
The bus was packed.
