I turn my head slowly, my eyes sweeping her frame with indifference. The same way I look at my team when I know they’ve already let me down.
“Amber, is it?”
She flinches and backs up a step until her spine hits the mirrored wall.
“Y-yes?”
I take a step forward. Not loud. Not fast. Just… final.
“You can keep talking about the love of my life like that,” I murmur, “but it won’t change a damn thing. I’ll still want her. Only her.Alwaysher.”
She swallows hard.
“And for the record,” I continue, my tone steady and polite. “Even if I were available, taking shots at another girl isn’t going to impress me. It reads more desperate than you think.”
I lean in just slightly, enough to make it land without sounding like a threat. “So, let’s agree you don’t talk about her like that again. Trust me, everyone will have a better day if we stick to those rules.”
I give her a smile, and yeah, it’s a dickish move to pull, but she asked for it.
Ding.
Fifth Floor.
I step out without looking back. She’s been humiliated enough.
I’ve tried being nice. Tried being the clean-cut, press-ready quarterback who smiles through every grabby hand and poorly disguised proposition. But nice has gotten me shit—just too much attention and people acting like Honey is temporary.
She’s not.
She’s it.
And she’s behind the door with the silver numbers 507.
Are there other girls stopping and gawking as I walk by? Yes.
Am I ignoring them? Also, yes.
I’ve spent the whole day nodding, answering questions, and smiling to make the college look good. Now it’s my turn, and the only person I want to see is her.
My lips tug as I reach her door.
My girl. My everything is right here.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The second the door opens and I see her, I lose all control. The flowers fall to the floor, and I step in, grab her face, and kiss the ever-loving shit out of her.
How can I not when she looks like this?
The messy top bun. The oversized jersey. Her bare legs.
Myjersey.Mygirl.
Home.
That’s what she tastes like. Honey-sweet, with a hint of stubbornness and cinnamon gum. My lips part hers, deepening the kiss until her knees soften, and her hands cling to my wrists.
She moans just as I slam the door shut with my foot, the sound echoing through the room and no doubt down the hall.