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“I haven’t talked about it with anyone outside my family and a few of the guys on the team. But I trust you, Elliot. And I want you to know this part of me.”

“I’m honored that you’re comfortable sharing this with me, Gerard. Really.”

Gerard nods, and a few strands of his wavy blond hair fall across his forehead. I resist the urge to reach out and brush them away. “My dad came out to my sister, Lily, and me when I was in middle school. It was a big deal for him, you know? But he said he wanted to be honest with us. My mom knew already. They’ve known each other since college, and it wasn’t a secret or anything.”

“That must have taken a lot of courage for him to tell you guys.”

“It did,” Gerard agrees. “But he’s always been that way—brave, authentic, unapologetically himself. He taught Lily and me to always be accepting of others, no matter who they love or how they identify.”

There’s a fondness in Gerard’s voice as he speaks of his father. I smile, imagining a younger Gerard learning these valuable lessons from his dad while seated at the kitchen table. It’s cute. “Your dad sounds like a great guy.”

Gerard’s face lights up. “He’s my best friend.”

He pauses, considering something else. “The team is second. And you, Elliot? You’re right up there, too. Number three on my best friends list.”

His gaze meets mine, soft and sincere, and my breath catchesin my throat. I duck my head, hoping to hide the blush staining my cheeks.

“I…I’m flattered. You’d be third on my list, too. After Jackson and Sarah, of course.”

“Of course.”

Gerard switches the conversation to his latest hockey practice, and I steal glances at him when he isn’t looking. The way his muscles ripple under his shirt, the way his nose crinkles when he laughs, the way his ass bounces with each step, it’s all so…alluring.

And then a thought hits me. “Hey, aren’t you going to be late foryourclass?”

Gerard stops mid-sentence and shrugs. He jostles my books slightly as he steers me around a pile of soggy leaves. “Yeah, probably. But it’s only Psych. Oliver’s in that class, so I’ll copy his notes. No biggie.”

I frown at him. “No biggie? Gerard, you shouldn’t miss your class because you’re helping me.”

Gerard smiles, utterly unbothered by the consequences. “I’d rather be a few minutes late than see you stressed. I get the sense that good grades mean a lot to you.”

He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Of course, he’d prioritize my needs over his. And he’s not wrong. Gradesdomean a lot to me.

Being here at BSU on a scholarship is both a blessing and a curse. I’m able to attend an amazing institution, but there’s no room for error, not even a hiccup. Every assignment, every test, and every paper carries the weight of my future. One lousy grade could send everything I’ve worked for crashing down around me.

Instead of having wild and crazy nights with the rest of the student body, I study until my eyesight blurs and my head pounds. I survive on the campus food when I can and vending machine snacks when I can’t. And rent, well, that’s not something I’m willing to talk about—to anyone.

Sometimes, when the pressure pushes down on my chest andmakes it hard to breathe, I wonder if it’s all worth it. The constant stress and the never-ending struggle to keep my head above water.

I wish I could be someone whose tuition is paid for with trust funds and financial safety nets. I wish I could go through life knowing that one misstep won’t send me tumbling into an abyss of debt and destitution. But this is the path I’ve chosen. The price I have to pay for a shot at a better future.

I have to believe that it will all be worth it in the end. That the sleepless nights and my growling stomach will one day be nothing more than a distant memory.

Shaking off my depressing thoughts, I notice Gerard staring down at me with concern. I flash him a small smile and push my worries and fears back to where they belong—in the back of my mind.

We finally arrive at Russo Hall, slightly out of breath but with minutes to spare. I lead Gerard up the well-worn steps and pull open the giant oak doors. Our footsteps echo in the cavernous entryway—his more than mine. The interior features dark wood, and the air is heavy with the scent of old books.

Gerard’s eyes widen as he takes in the building’s grandeur. “Wow, I’ve never been in here before. It’s huge!”

I chuckle at his awe-struck expression. “Yeah, it’s pretty impressive. Did you know this used to be a place of worship before BSU became an educational institution?”

Gerard shakes his head, his blond hair catching the light streaming through the stained glass windows. “No, I had no idea. Tell me more.”

I launch into the history of Russo Hall, my love for learning shining through with every word. “Back in the late 1800s, this was actually a cathedral. The campus was originally founded by a religious order who believed in the power of education to transform lives and uplift communities.”

We stroll through the hallowed halls so I can point out the intricate carvings on the wooden beams and the soaring arches that frame the halls.

“The stained glass windows depict scenes from the Bible, but they also incorporate elements of nature and science. See the one with swirling galaxies and exploding stars? It’s showing the creation of the universe.”