Nate Davidson

Slowly, I turned around, squinting through the dim parking lot lights. Standing near a parked black SUV was a guy with sharp, quiet features and messy dark hair.

Nate Davidson.

One of Aaron’s inner-circle gang. But unlike Reed or the other loud jocks, Nate always seemed different. He was the quietest of the five guys,Aaron, Reed, Hayes, and himself. He rarely spoke up in class, kept to himself mostly, and wasn't nearly as loud or obnoxious as the others.

Wait. Was Nate just now arriving at the party when it was already completely over? Or had he been hiding out upstairs the whole time?

I sized him up quickly, pulling the oversized hoodie tighter around my shoulders.

"Uhh... well..." I stammered, trying to find my voice. "Yeah, they... they surely are his."

Nate raised an eyebrow, stepping closer under the amber glow of the parking lot light. He didn't look drunk at all. In fact, his eyes were sharp, calm, and entirely sober.

"Care to explain why you're walking out of Aaron's penthouse wearing his favorite jacket and singlet at three in the morning?" Nate asked, crossing his arms over his chest with a faint, amused smile playing on his lips.

I felt my cheeks burn hot. I couldn't tell him the truth,that I had just slapped Aaron across the face after a wrestling match in the bedroom.

"He... um, he lent me his clothes because mine got... you know... stained," I lied quickly, gesturing vaguely to my front. "I'm kind of on my woman thing, if you catch my drift. Total emergency."

Nate’s expression instantly switched from mild amusement to complete, respectful understanding. He lowered his arms, nodding slowly.

"Ah. Say no more. Got it," Nate said smoothly, not pressing me any further or making fun of me the way Reed or Aaron would have.

Instead, a quiet, easy smile touched his face.

"You know, Jessica," Nate said softly, stepping a little closer. "I'd actually like to be friends with you. If I didn't know anything else about you, at least I'm damn sure of one thing: you're a massive fan of Burna Boy."

My eyes went wide in surprise. "How on earth do you know that?"

Nate chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "My cousin is an absolute freak for his music. She won't stop talking about him, and I saw your playlist playing in Isabella's car last week when you guys parked near the library. Plus, you wear his merch. It wasn't hard to put two and two together."

I let out a breath of genuine surprise. I didn't need any more introduction after that. Without thinking twice, I pulled my phone out.

"Here," I said, holding my screen out. "Give me your phone."

Nate blinked, pulling his own phone out of his pocket and handing it over. I quickly tapped my number into his contacts, saved my name as Jessica, and handed it right back.

"There," I said, offering a small, real smile. "Add me on W******p later."

"Will do, Ice Queen," Nate replied, saving my contact with a grin.

It blew my mind a little bit. Nate Davidson was Aaron's best friend,right behind Roonie, Reed, and Hayes. Aaron was the undisputed head of their little squad, and while all of them were undeniably handsome, Aaron was always voted the hottest and most dangerous. Nate, on the other hand, had never spoken a single word to me before tonight. He was the most reserved guy in the entire group.

Sure, it was wild that he knew my favorite artist out of nowhere, but right at that moment, it felt kind of nice to know that someone besides Isabella actually paid attention to the things I loved.

I turned back around, lifting my phone to finally press the button to order my rideshare home.

Before my thumb could hit the screen, Nate stepped up beside me.

"Put the phone away, Jessica," Nate said gently, pointing toward his black SUV parked right by the curb. "You're not taking a random cab at this hour looking like that. Let me take you home."

I hesitated, looking up at him through the dim light. "Nate, you don't have to—"

"I want to," Nate insisted smoothly, unlocking the doors with a beep. "Come on. Let's get you home before the sun comes up."

For the first time all day, I didn't feel like I was walking into a trap. I let out a long, shaky breath, dropped my phone back into my pocket, and walked over to the passenger side of Nate's car.

Maybe tonight wouldn't end in complete disaster after all.