Skye’s cheeks burn as she looks away, her shy smile fading under Knox's intense gaze. Her heart is racing excitedly from his promise about her birthday. Knox’s hand still hovers near her neck, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin, sending tiny sparks through her. She can’t meet his eyes.Suddenly, a sharp, cheerful voice called out to Knox’s name. “Knox!”Skye’s head snaps up, and Knox pulls back, his hand dropping as they both turn toward the sound. It’s laurel. She’s approaching, her lips curling into a smile, as she closes the distance. Skye’s stomach twists, and she instinctively steps away from Knox, putting a careful gap between them. Her hands shove into her coat pockets.Laurel stops in front of them. She’s wearing a fitted jacket and a scarf. “Hi!” she says, her voice bubbly as she turns to Skye. “I guess you remember me. I’m Laurel, Knox’s girlfriend.” She extends a gloved hand, her smile still in place. You are… Skye.” Laurel added.Skye freezes, her breath catchin
Hunter’s voice lingers in the air, as he leans back in his chair, his arms folding across his chest. “I hope you love it here.” His words carry a weight that Skye can’t quite place, like a puzzle piece that doesn’t fit yet. Knox doesn’t say much, but Skye can tell by the way his jaw’s tight, a muscle twitching just under the skin, that he’s keeping a lot from her. Hunter’s eyes are the kind a person senses before they see them, they’re piercing, slightly amused, and seem to study her for reasons she won’t realize until it’s too late. He tilts his head, his gaze flicking over her face as if he’s cataloging every detail.“So, Skye,” Hunter says, his tone probing, “where are you staying around here?” He leans forward, elbows on the table, his posture relaxed but his attention was like a predator sizing up its prey.Skye shifts in her seat. “Uh, just the hostel near campus,” she says. She glances at Knox, hoping for some kind of signal, but he’s staring at Hunter, his cold hard and unre
The next morning, Knox’s apartment is a mess of hockey gear and half-empty coffee mugs. The morning sun slants through the blinds, casting stripes across the floor as he stands in front of his bedroom mirror, tugging at the collar of his navy button-up as he gets ready. He’s not a morning person, never has been but today, there’s a difference, a restless energy that’s got him up early, ironing his shirt with more care than usual. He smooths a hand over the jeans, smirking at his reflection in the mirror. “Damn, you look good,” he mutters, running a hand through his dark hair, mussing it just enough to look effortless.“Yo, pretty boy, who you dressing up for?” Lucas’s voice cuts through the moment, his best friend lounging in the doorway with a smile that’s all trouble. Lucas is all lean muscle and messy hair from the morning, his hoodie slung carelessly over one shoulder. “Don’t tell me it’s for those girls who can’t stop staring at you. Or…” He pauses, his grin widening. “Is it Sk
Skye watches Knox from across the booth, her fingers curled around the chipped ceramic mug as she couldn’t take her eyes off him. His jaw is tight, a muscle ticking beneath the stubble as he stares out the diner’s window, where the snow falls in heavy, swirling flakes. His dark eyes flicker with something she can’t quite place, like he’s mentally running through a dozen worst-case scenarios. His hands are still. “It’s nothing to worry about,” Knox says suddenly, his voice low and casual, like he’s trying to convince himself as much as her. His gaze flicks to her, then away, settling on the empty counter where Darlene, the waitress, is now polishing a glass with a rag.Skye’s brows knit together, her lips parting to press him further, but before she can, he’s already sliding out of the booth, his leather jacket slung over one shoulder. “We have to leave now,” he says.“Why?” Skye’s voice is sharper than she intends. She leans forward, her navy scarf slipping off one shoulder.Knox do
The next morning, Knox sits in the back booth at Joe’s Diner, the only place in Stonebridge where the walls are plastered with more hockey posters than there are people eavesdropping. Faded images of NHL legends , their faces cut in the photo posters, in mid-slapshot. The diner’s fluorescent lights shun faintly, casting a slight glow over the red vinyl seats. Knox is drumming his fingers slightly on the sticky tabletop. His leather jacket is slung over the back of the booth, and his dark hair falls messily over his forehead, still damp from the snow outside as his eyes scanned around, anticipating Skye’s arrival. He chose this spot for a reason, it’s tucked in the corner, far from the counter where people gossip about the town’s latest drama and about his every little activity. No one’s going to overhear what he’s about to say. Soon, Skye pushes through the glass door. Snow clings to her navy scarf, melting into dark patches as she unwinds it from her neck. Her cheeks are flushed
At home…Outside the compound in the corridor, Skye sat with her back pressed against the cinderblock wall, her sketchbook placed on the table in front of her. She’d been staring blankly at the same sketch for ten minutes, it’s a smudged outline of a face, half-drawn, mirroring the unease churning in her gut as unknown smiles curved out her lips. Her thoughts are occupied by Knox touches and how her body felt and how embarrassed she felt when he touched her down there. This feeling is all new to her. As a virgin who read r18 novels, she’s always wished to experience what it feels like and now she did, all she could do was smile at the thought. Even the sound of Maya's laughter coming from the inside, floated from the living room barely registered in her mind. But the smiling moment didn’t last long. Skye’s thoughts suddenly drifted back to the shadow at the art room window in Stonebridge. She told herself it was nothing, probably just a janitor, but Knox’s reactions and words, on