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Xander Aether, number 15, stood nearby as well, his sharp gaze scanning the field.

His agility as a wide receiver was unmatched, always finding just the right opening to make the catch.

My boyfriend, Ashton Hayes, was next to him, stretching lazily but fully focused.

Ari and I shared a laugh when our attention was snagged by Douglas, affectionately dubbed ‘Dougie’, Turner.

The guy was a massive wall of muscle with a booming voice you could hear from miles away.

At well over six feet and built like a tank, his size alone could intimidate anyone, but it was his playful nature that made him a favorite on and off the field.

That, and the fact that he danced the ‘ Dougie ’ after every touchdown.

A few girls and guys from the university had ventured into the bleachers to watch the practice.

I couldn’t blame them. Our football team was nice to look at and beloved by the entire town.

“You’re in a better mood today,” Arianna commented softly.

I shook my head, tearing my eyes away from the field. “I was fine yesterday, Ari, I promise. I just had a lot on my mind, thinking about the game coming up and that math test you know is going to kick my ass,” I lied, not wanting to admit what was really bothering me.

She studied me with the calm, thoughtful look she always had when her brain was connecting dots.

She knew me well enough not to push, and I loved her all the more for it.

We both knew it wasn’t my coursework or cheer that had distracted me, no matter how much I wished it were.

Those were things I could manage, though I truly loathed mathematics with every fiber of my being.

Outside of that torturous subject, school was easy, and cheer was my passion.

It was the never-ending mess of thoughts I shouldn’t be having that never stopped, compounding with feelings I refused to name. I was deep in unfamiliar territory, trying to sort myself out. It wasn’t like me to be this unsteady, and I hated it, but going to my usual sound board wasn’t an option.

“All right, break’s over!” Roxxi’s voice cut through the chatter surrounding me.

“See you in a few,” I said to Ari, pushing myself up from the grass. I moved to join my team, the music kicked back on, and I fell into formation.

We dispersed into the locker room, Kellan and Noah going to the men’s.

The smell of different lotions and body wash hit me full force, a familiar, oddly comforting mix.

Roxxi tossed her bag onto the long center bench and opened her locker.

“We’re close,” she said, glancing over at me, “But we need to be flawless.”

“I know,” I replied. “That last lift felt off for some reason, and I’m really not trying to be launched into the crowd during the game.”

“We’ll figure it out,” she reassured me, then turned her attention to Brooke.

“How’s your shoulder? You weren’t favoring it as much tonight, so I guess it’s feeling better?”

“It’s fine. I think I’ve finally worked out that kink.”

“Good. You know we need you at full strength.”

I grabbed my hygiene necessities and gently nudged her. “Take a breath, Rox. I’m sure she’ll be all good by next practice.”

“Are you sure , sure? Or somewhat sure?”

“Roxxi,” I warned with a light laugh.

“Right. Fine.” She swung her gaze back to Brooke. “Sorry, girl.”

She waved her off with a smile.

Whereas some of us were well acquainted with how driven Roxxi could be, not everyone had known her as long, and sometimes it came across as wrong or pushy.

I adored her and didn’t take offense, but she had tasked me with reigning her in before she got going.

When it came to the team, at least. Outside of this locker room, she was a force I did not meddle with.

“Take it from me, Brooke, this is Roxxi being kind,” Layla joked, stepping up beside me to open her locker.

I looked around Layla so that I could speak to Brittany, swapping my current footwear for shower shoes. “Remember when she used to drag us out of bed at four in the morning so we could go and run laps?”

She shuddered dramatically. “Yes. I’ll never forget. It was like being woken by a drill instructor. I’m still recovering from the trauma.”

Roxxi laughed, not denying it for a second. “Hey, you wanted to make the team, didn’t you?”

That we had.

Cloe attempted to join us but quickly tapped out by the third day, having no reason to put herself through such grueling exercise, or what she called psychological warfare.

Arianna didn’t even bother trying, though she was always supportive.

It had been hell then, but now I was even more grateful for my best friend and her tyrannical ways.

I grinned at the memory, making my way to the showers.

The sound of rushing water and someone’s strawberry shampoo filled the air.

I stepped inside an empty marble cubicle and adjusted the spray to near scalding.

The heat was exactly what I needed to relax my muscles.

I closed my eyes, letting the steam engulf me.

My thoughts wandered, inevitably drifting back to the football field.

They should’ve been finishing their drills by now, and since it was only Monday, there was no post-practice get-together.

Ashton and I would be tracking down whatever we ate that night on our own.

He was like a bottomless pit after being on the field.

The amount of food he consumed put me to shame, and I was far from a conscious eater.

I washed up and stepped out of the shower, the cool air brushing against my damp skin as I wrapped my towel tightly around me.

Roxxi, Layla, and two of the other girls, Sydney and Zara, were laughing and talking from the other cubicles, their voices echoing softly in the tiled space.

Across the room, Brooke was pulling on a hoodie I instantly recognized by the dark fabric and Crowsfell emblem on the chest, Ryder’s last name stitched boldly across the back.

Seeing it shouldn’t have felt like a punch to the stomach.

It was just a hoodie, a single piece of clothing that I owned too.

Only mine was older. Soft from years of wear, threaded with a familiar warmth.

It was something that had always been mine, just like he had.

I swallowed, forcing my expression to stay neutral, my hands tightening around the towel wrapped around me.

It's just a hoodie , I repeated to myself. There was no reason to feel the way I did. Brooke glanced up and smiled without a hint of malice, tossing her long, honey-blonde hair effortlessly over her shoulder as she stashed a hairbrush away.

I wasn’t exaggerating when I thought her blue eyes practically sparkled beneath the fluorescent lights. She was the kind of beautiful that felt untouchable. Sun-kissed skin, full lips, and a body that women paid top dollar for. I didn’t hate her for it. How could I?

“Got any plans tonight?” I already knew her answer, yet I asked anyway. I was a glutton for punishment, apparently.

She bit her lower lip, trying and failing to suppress a sheepish grin. “Ryder’s.”

I smiled. “You two are so cute.” The words didn’t feel untrue, exactly, but they scraped against something raw inside me.

Brooke’s face lit up like sunlight reflecting off glass. “Thanks, Sanj.” Then, hesitantly, “Has he said much about us?”

Her question stopped me mid-motion, my hand freezing on my locker door. I turned to her, caught off guard. This was the first time she’d ever asked me about him— them . “He doesn’t really talk to me about his…uh, your relationship,” I answered carefully.

Her expression faltered. “He doesn’t?”

There was a hint of hurt in her tone. Shit, I should’ve lied.

No, that would’ve been worse. There were parts of Ryder’s life I purposely avoided unless he brought them to me directly, despite wanting to know every detail.

But it wasn’t like I sat around filling him in on me and Ashton’s relationship either.

That area of conversation had become a minefield lately, not just with Ryder but with the others too.

Sometimes it felt like they were still wrapping their heads around the idea of me having a boyfriend at all, let alone being in an actual relationship.

This thing with Brooke and Ryder made me understand exactly how they felt.

They’d been together almost as long as Ashton and I had, a few months now.

It was clearly more than a passing fling.

I was used to Ryder getting attention, used to girls orbiting him.

He rarely entertained it, and when he did, it was never serious.

There’d only been one other official girlfriend that I could remember, and a few bed buddies here and there.

Nothing that lasted or stuck. He wasn’t a playboy, not by a long shot, but he also didn’t do exclusivity or labels either.

Until her.

Did that mean she was different?

Did that mean she was it ?

Was Ryder falling in love with Brooke?

I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or shove the thought out of my head before it could splinter me any further.

I’d never asked these questions before. I kept how I felt to myself and hoped no one would notice.

Something that had progressively gotten harder to do.

Still, I was the architect of my own misery, so I forced it down like usual, buried it beneath the pressure in my chest, and then gave Brooke a smile, careful and practiced.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with you specifically, Brooke. We just don’t really discuss that kind of stuff,” I explained, keeping my tone light as I opened my locker and grabbed a fresh change of clothes from my cheer bag.

The last thing I wanted was for her to feel bad, or worse, ask more questions. She nodded; her expression subdued. I took the opportunity to move this uncomfortable conversation along as I slipped on my bra and shirt. “So, do you two have any plans tonight?”