CHAPTER EIGHT

I was halfway through the last question on my mathematics homework when a faint sound broke through the quiet.

A soft thunk, like something brushing against my window.

I froze, my pen hovering over the page. My first instinct was to tell myself it was the wind, but… I knew that sound.

My heart tripped over itself as I looked up.

And there he was.

Damian.

He was crouched just outside, his hand still resting on the frame he’d pushed open. His dark hair was damp, little drops catching the glow from my desk lamp like tiny beads of glass. He’d obviously showered not long ago, his skin had that freshly-warmed look, like he’d just stepped out of steam.

I pushed my chair back so fast it bumped the desk, and before I could say anything, he was already swinging himself inside with the kind of casual confidence that made me wonder if he’d ever used a front door in his life.

The moment his sneakers hit the floor, he straightened and gave me that quick, boyish smile.

“Hey.”

I couldn’t stop smiling back. “Hey.”

He ran a hand through his wet hair, scattering a few more droplets onto my carpet. “I got home not too long ago,” he said, still catching his breath a little. “Mom told me you were at my place earlier.”

I nodded. “I left some cookies on the table for you.”

His grin widened instantly. “I know. Thank you for that, Autumn. They were amazing. I may have eaten more than half the plate before I even changed clothes.”

I laughed softly, the warmth in his voice making something in my chest fizz. “Glad you liked them.”

Without warning, he flopped onto my bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. His damp hair pressed into the pillow, leaving faint marks on the fabric, but I didn’t care in the slightest.

He looked at the open notebooks and stacked textbooks on my desk and frowned. “Seriously? You’re still working? It’s late.”

“I just have a little more to finish,” I said, turning back toward my desk.

He made a dramatic groan, flinging one arm over his eyes. “Forget the homework for one night. Watch a movie with me.”

I hesitated, tapping my pen against the page. “Damian…”

“Come on,” he cut in, lowering his arm to fix me with that infuriatingly persuasive look. “Just one movie. I promise I’ll even let you pick.”

I tried to focus on the neat lines of my notes, but the truth was, refusing Damian had never been my strong suit. And with him sitting there, hair still damp from the shower, that faintly clean, crisp scent reaching me from across the room… it was a lost cause.

I sighed, already caving. “Fine. But I’m making popcorn.”

He smirked in victory. “Deal.”

I pushed away from the desk and padded downstairs, the house unusually quiet without my mom around. In the kitchen, I popped a bag into the microwave and grabbed two cans of Coke from the fridge. By the time the popcorn was ready and I’d dumped it into a big bowl, the anticipation of going back upstairs was enough to make me move faster.

When I opened my bedroom door again, I actually stopped in the doorway for a second.

Damian had transformed my bed into something out of a cozy sleepover scene. The pillows were stacked against the headboard, blankets draped messily but invitingly, and my laptop sat open at the foot of the bed. He looked up when I stepped in, that easy smile pulling at his lips.

I handed him the popcorn and Coke. “Here.”

“Thanks,” he said, taking them from me before patting the space beside him. “Now come here.”

I climbed onto the bed, settling beside him as he balanced the laptop between us. He scrolled through my folders, ignoring the rom-coms completely and pausing on a few titles before nodding in approval. “This one,” he said finally, clicking on a movie about some over-the-top adventure through jungles and lost cities.

“An adventure movie?” I teased.

“They’re fun,” he replied simply, as if that explained everything.

I shifted closer, telling myself it was just so I could see the screen better. The truth was, I could smell his shampoo now, something clean and sharp, like pine mixed with citrus, and I didn’t want to be anywhere else.

Apparently, I didn’t need to be subtle, because halfway through a chase scene, he casually slid an arm around me and pulled me in until my head was resting on his shoulder. He leaned back against the pillows like it was the most natural thing in the world, and my body just… went along with it.

I kept my eyes on the screen, but it was useless. Twenty minutes in, I couldn’t have told anyone what the plot was. All I knew was that his shoulder was solid under my cheek, his chest rose and fell evenly against my side, and his thumb traced lazy little circles against my arm whenever he reached for more popcorn.

At one point, I risked a glance up at him. He was focused on the movie, his expression shifting with every twist in the story. His jawline caught the soft glow from the screen, and I felt my stomach flip for the hundredth time that day.

Then, without looking away from the screen, he said, “So, in two weeks, we’ve got the big football competition. You’re coming, right?”

The question startled me enough to pull me out of my daze. “Of course I’m coming.”

He smirked slightly, finally glancing down at me. “Good. I need you there. Cheering me on. Preferably louder than anyone else.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be there. And I’ll bring your favorite pastries. You know, for motivation.”

That earned me a grin so warm I had to look away before it completely melted me. “Now that’s the kind of dedication I like.”

We settled back into the movie after that, but my mind kept replaying the way he’d said I need you there. The words sat in my chest like something I wanted to keep.

By the time the credits rolled, the popcorn was long gone and my Coke had gone flat, but I didn’t care. Damian didn’t move right away, and neither did I. We just sat there, the blanket pooled over our legs, the glow from the laptop fading into darkness.

Eventually, he shifted, glancing toward the window. “I should probably head out before it gets too late.”

A tiny part of me wanted to ask him to stay, but I swallowed it down. “Yeah. Thanks for coming by.”

He gave me one last smile,soft, unguarded,and then, just like he’d come, he slipped out through the window, disappearing into the night.

I stayed sitting on the bed for a long time afterward, my head still faintly warm where it had rested against his shoulder, my heart doing those little traitorous flips all over again until I slept off in my position.