Page 10

Carson

The hallway leading to Eve's dorm was eerily quiet, save for the hum of fluorescent lights overhead. I had to duck under a low-hanging "Go Panthers!" banner left up from some campus event weeks ago. My cleats dangled from one hand, smacking lightly against my leg as I walked, and the faint squeak of my game jersey reminded me just how out of place I probably looked.

When I reached the door, I hesitated for a second before knocking. I'd made the decision to come here on impulse, still high on the adrenaline of the win and the memory of catching Eve in the stands.

The door opened suddenly, breaking me out of my thoughts. A ginger hair girl I recognised as Katie stood there, her face lighting up with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

"Carson Blake," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "What in the name of bad decisions are you doing here?"

I smirked, shifting my cleats to my other hand. "Nice to see you too, Katie. Is Eve home?"

Katie didn't move, her sharp blue eyes scanning me from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on the mud streaked across my jersey and the sweat still drying on my hair.

"You look like you just crawled out of the game." She crossed her arms, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Let me guess—you're here to confess your undying love?"

"Katie!" Eve's voice rang out from somewhere inside the room, sharp and mortified.

Katie's grin widened. "What? Just trying to help the guy out."

I rolled my eyes. "Can I come in, or are you going to make me stand here all night?"

She stepped aside with an exaggerated sweep of her arm. "Be my guest. Just don't expect a warm welcome."

The dorm was smaller than I'd expected, cozy but cluttered in a way that felt lived-in. String lights crisscrossed the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the space. Photos and posters lined the walls, and a faint scent of lavender and vanilla lingered in the air. It was distinctly Eve—comfortable and a little chaotic.

Eve stood by the tiny kitchenette, her back to me as she fiddled with a cup of instant noodles. When she turned and saw me, her brown eyes narrowed.

"Carson," she said flatly. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting," I said, setting my cleats down by the door.

She gave me a look that was equal parts confusion and exasperation. "You're still in your jersey. Did you even go home?"

"Nope."

Katie snickered from her spot on the lower bunk, clearly enjoying the exchange. "He's dedicated, Eve. You've gotta give him that."

Eve ignored her, crossing her arms. "And you thought showing up here, unannounced, was a good idea because...?"

"Because I wanted to see you."

The words hung in the air for a moment, and for the first time since I'd arrived, Eve looked genuinely caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed, but she quickly masked it with an eye roll.

"Well, now you've seen me. Happy?"

"Not yet," I said, leaning casually against the counter. "Can I borrow your shower?"

That threw her off completely. Her mouth opened, then closed again as she processed the request.

"My... shower?"

"Yeah. I smell like the field, and you're the one who didn't let me go home first."

"I didn't—" She cut herself off, pinching the bridge of her nose like she was trying to will patience into existence. "Fine. The bathroom is the door next to the coat rack. Towels are in the closet. Don't touch my stuff."

Katie let out a laugh from what I presumed was her bed. "This is officially the best thing that's happened all week."

Ten minutes later, I was back in the dorm, feeling like a new person. My hair was still damp, and instead of my dirty jersey, I was wearing a pair of old sweatpants and a faded T-shirt Eve had handed me.

"These are my brother's," she'd muttered, avoiding my gaze as she shoved them at me.

The sweatpants were a little snug but I wasn't about to complain.

Katie sat up straight on the bunk as I walked in, letting out an exaggerated whistle. "Wow, look at you, Mr. Clean. You almost look like a normal person."

"Don't get used to it," I said, tossing the damp towel onto the back of a chair.

Eve glanced at me from the kitchenette, her brown eyes scanning me briefly before she went back to stirring the noodles. "You look ridiculous."

"Thanks," I said, grabbing a seat at the small table.

Katie grinned. "You're just mad because you think he looks hot and you don't want to admit it."

"Katie," Eve hissed, her face turning bright red.

"What?" Katie said, holding up her hands innocently. "I'm just saying what we're all thinking."

Eve shot her a glare but didn't respond. She handed me a steaming cup of noodles, muttering something under her breath as she set it in front of me.

At first, the conversation was light and snarky. Eve fired off sharp comebacks every time I opened my mouth, and Katie egged us on with gleeful commentary from the sidelines. But as the night wore on, something shifted.

Katie eventually stood, stretching dramatically. "Alright, lovebirds, I'm out. Don't kill each other while I'm gone."

Eve looked panicked. "You're leaving?"

Katie smirked. "Yep. Someone's gotta give you two some alone time." She grabbed her keys and winked at me on her way out. "Good luck, Captain."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

Eve sighed, running a hand through her hair. "She's impossible."

"She's not wrong, though," I said, smirking.

Eve rolled her eyes but didn't respond. She fiddled with the edge of her hoodie, her earlier sharpness replaced by something quieter, softer.

"I don't get you," she said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean?"

She looked up at me, her brown eyes guarded but searching. "Why are you here, Carson? Why do you... keep trying?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Because I want to be here. With you."

Her laugh was short and humorless, her gaze dropping again. "You shouldn't. You don't know what you're getting into."

"Maybe I don't," I admitted. "But I know I like you, Eve. And I think you like me too, even if you're too stubborn to admit it."

Her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, she looked like she was going to argue. But then she sighed, her shoulders slumping.

"It's not that simple," she said, her voice barely audible.

"Why not?"

"Because..." She hesitated, her fingers curling into fists on the table. "My life is a mess, look around you Carson. This is where I live, I didn't grow up with tutors teaching me proper etiquette, I don't know the differences between fucking spoons. I don't think I'm good for you Carson."

"First of all, I am not some lord who lives in a castle. Sure, my family has money but it's not like that matters one bit." I said furrowing my eyebrows while Eve looked at me like I was the stupidest person on the planet.

"I saw you leave the game," I said, breaking the silence. "Why'd you go?"

Eve's gaze dropped to the table, her fingers tracing an invisible pattern on the surface. "I didn't think you'd notice."

"I noticed," I said, leaning forward slightly. "I always notice."

She looked up at me again, and this time, there was something vulnerable in her expression, something she didn't seem to know how to hide.

"You're something else, Blake." She muttered.

"Are you into that?" I said, winking at her.

"Oh fuck off." She laughed throwing a napkin at me, her smile in full light.

My phone buzzed on the table, cutting me away from my trance. I hesitated to pick it up, worried that it might put Eve's walls back up. After five seconds of staring at each other she shoved my phone into my chest, patting my shoulder as she brushed past with the discarded cup noodles.

"Pick it up, captain."

I strained my head to look at her, a smile touching her lips as she washed our bowls in the sink.

Kade: Bro. Emergency. TK lit the fucking oven on fire.

I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. Fuck these idiots.

"Everything alright?" Eve asked, standing a few feet away.

"Yeah, it's Kade. The fuckers lit the oven on fire."

Her expression softened, amusement playing on her face, but there was a flicker of disappointment she tried—and failed—to hide. "You should go."

I hesitated. Part of me didn't want to leave, not when it felt like we were finally starting to get somewhere.

"Yeah," I said reluctantly, standing and slipping my phone into my pocket. "I should. But..." I paused, glancing at her. "I'm here if you need me Eve, even if it's just for more pot noodles-I'll be here."

She smiled faintly, a small, almost shy curve of her lips that made my chest ache. "You say that now, but you might regret it once you've had your fill of pot noodles and chaos."

I laughed, grabbing my cleats from the corner. "I think I can handle it."

Eve walked me to the door, her arms crossed like she was trying to keep some distance between us again. But as I turned to leave, she surprised me by speaking up.

"Carson."

I looked back, my hand on the doorframe.

"Be careful," she said softly, her brown eyes meeting mine for just a moment before darting away.

I smiled, feeling something unspoken settle between us. "Always."

As I walked down the hall, my phone buzzed again, another text from Kade.

Kade: Dude. Where do we keep the fucking fire extinguisher??

I picked up my face, mentally swearing at myself for picking these idiots to be my roommates. A small smile played on my lips as I drove back because all though my house might be on fire when I get back, the distance between me and Eve felt a little smaller.