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Gerard must sense my hesitation because he steps closer, his expression softening. “Think about it, okay? This could be good for you.”

My heart skips a beat at his proximity. Up close, I can see the faint dusting of freckles across his nose and how his long lashes flutter when he blinks. It would be so easy to get lost in those eyes and drown in the depths of that blue.

I take a deep breath to steady myself. “I’ll think about it.”

My voice comes out shakier than I’d prefer it to, but Gerard neither notices nor cares. In fact, he beams.

“That’s all I ask.” He squeezes my shoulder, sending pleasure through my body.

As he walks away, my mind races with possibilities. Living with Gerard is tempting, even with all the potential drawbacks. But am I ready to take that leap?

Fate is a cruel mistress.

When I go to the library for my midday shift, I’m met with a padlock on the door and a sign in the window. It says that the building is closed for fumigation—the fuck?—and to come back on October 25thfor a grand reopening.

“Closed for a week?” I run my hands through my hair and curse.

Now, what am I going to do? I guess I could sneak into the gym and sleep on one of the workout benches. I’ll go to Jackson’s dorm and swipe his key card. That way, it won’t raise any questions when campus security finds the door unlocked late at night.

I’m already grimacing at the thought when the traitorous voice in my head suggests a different option—Gerard’s offer to move into the Hockey House.

No way. I’m not that desperate…am I?

Grumbling under my breath, I trudge across the quad, my backpack growing heavier with each step. As I pass by the student center, a flyer catches my eye.

“Need a place to stay?” it reads in bold, colorful letters. “The Hockey House has a room available! Inquire within.”

I blink, then blink again. This has to be a joke, right? Some sort of cosmic prank or something Gerard did, knowing I walk this way all the time?

I tear my gaze away from the flyer and quicken my pace, determined to put as much distance between myself and that accursed piece of paper as possible.

As I round the corner near the dining hall, I nearly collide with a group of students huddled around a bulletin board. Mumbling an apology, I try to sidestep them, but something on the board snags my attention. There, smack dab in the center, is another flyer, identical to the other one.

“For crying out loud,” I mutter, my eye twitching.Is the Hockey House stalking me?

This is ridiculous. I’m not going to let a couple of stupid flyers sway me. I’ve made up my mind, and that’s that. Except, apparently, it’s not.

I cut through the fine arts building, hoping to take a shortcut to the gym, and stumble upon a group of theater students rehearsing a scene. Normally, I wouldn’t pay them any mind, but the dialogue makes me freeze.

“But where will you go?” one of the actors cries, clutching his scene partner’s arm.

“I don’t know,” the other replies. “But I can’t stay here. I have to find a new place to call home.”

I run out of the building, my breath coming out in short, sharp gasps. Everywhere I turn, the universe is screaming at me to move into the Hockey House.

But I can’t. I won’t.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t even realize where my feet are taking me until I’m in front of a familiar building.

The Hockey House.

On the roof of the porch is a “Home Sweet Home” banner.

“No,” I whisper, taking a step backward. Large hands settle on my shoulders, and I glance up to see Gerard looming over me.

“Yes.” His face is serious, but his eyes are kind.

I narrow mine at Gerard. “Were you behind those flyers? And that suspiciously on-the-nose scene fromthe acting class?”