LOGINWhat if Bonus Chapter 9: What If They Met at a Wedding Both Single Guests? Dante POV The wedding reception was in full swing under strings of fairy lights draped across the garden pavilion. I stood near the bar in my dark suit, nursing a whiskey, watching the happy couple dance while the music pulsed softly. I wasn’t much for weddings, but my teammate had begged me to come as a plus-one, so here I was—tall, slightly bored, and already counting down the minutes until I could slip away. That’s when I noticed him. Eli stood alone near the edge of the dance floor, silver nail polish catching the golden light, a half-empty glass of champagne in his hand. He wore a simple navy suit that fit him perfectly, hair a little messy like he’d run his fingers through it too many times. He looked lost in thought, eyes distant, the kind of quiet chaos that made me want to know what was going on in his head. I set my drink down and walked over, towering over him by a good four inches. “Not a dan
What if Bonus Chapter 8: What If Eli Was a Neighbor Who Locked Himself Out? Dante POV The knock on my door at 11:47 p.m. was hesitant but persistent. I’d just gotten out of the shower after a brutal evening practice, towel slung low on my hips, hair still dripping. When I opened the door, the guy standing in the hallway looked equal parts embarrassed and exhausted. He was holding a battered paperback in one hand and a set of keys that clearly didn’t work in the other. Messy hair, silver nail polish chipped on his fingers, wearing an oversized hoodie that had seen better days. Same height as me but slimmer, with that quiet, bookish energy that somehow made the hallway feel smaller. “Hi… I’m Eli. Your neighbor from 4B. I locked myself out like an idiot after running down to the laundry room. Super’s not answering, and my spare key is inside. Any chance I could wait here until morning? Or borrow your phone to call a locksmith?” I leaned against the doorframe, taking him in. Somethi
What if Bonus Chapter 7: What If They Matched on a Dating App First Date Gone Wild? Eli POV The dating app had been a joke at first—something my friends pushed on me after too many late nights buried in books and thesis drafts. “Just try it,” they said. So I did. Swiped through a few profiles until one stopped me cold. Tall. Six-three at least. Dark hair, sharp jaw, athletic build in a fitted shirt that showed off broad shoulders and strong arms. The bio was short: “Football player who actually reads. Looking for someone who can keep up in conversation and chaos.” His name was Dante. We matched within minutes. Messages flew back and forth—easy banter about favorite books versus favorite plays, how neither of us could stand small talk, how rain always made everything feel cinematic. Two days later we agreed on dinner at a quiet Italian place downtown. He was already waiting when I arrived, standing outside under the awning in dark jeans and a charcoal button-down, rain just starti
What if Bonus Chapter 6: What If Dante Was the Bartender at Eli’s Favorite Bar? Eli POV The bar was dimly lit and comfortably noisy, the kind of place I escaped to after long days buried in books and thesis notes. Rain pattered against the windows, turning the street outside into a blur of neon and headlights. I slid onto my usual stool at the far end of the polished wood counter, hoodie still damp from the walk over, silver nail polish chipped from absentminded tapping on my laptop keys earlier.The bartender tonight was new—or at least new to me. Tall, easily six-three, broad shoulders filling out a simple black tee, dark hair tousled like he’d run his hands through it between pours. He moved with quiet confidence behind the bar, muscles shifting under the fabric as he mixed drinks. When he turned and our eyes met, something electric clicked into place.“What can I get you?” His voice was low, smooth, carrying just enough warmth to cut through the hum of conversation.“Whiskey sou
What if Bonus Chapter 5 What If They Met at a Bookstore During a Rainstorm? Eli POV The rain came down in sheets, hammering the big windows of the independent bookstore like it wanted to drown the entire city. I’d ducked inside just as the sky opened, hair already soaked, hoodie clinging to my skin, silver nail polish chipped and glossy from the wet. My backpack was heavy with new finds—two novels I’d been hunting for weeks and a slim volume of poetry that had caught my eye. I stood near the fiction shelves, dripping quietly onto the hardwood floor, flipping through pages while the storm raged outside.The bell above the door jingled again. A tall figure stepped in, shaking rain from his dark hair. He had to be at least six-three, broad-shouldered and solid, the kind of height that made the store’s low ceiling feel closer. Black hoodie, jeans, sneakers leaving wet prints. He moved with the easy confidence of someone used to commanding space on a field.Our eyes met across the aisle.
What if Bonus Chapter 4: What If They Met in an Elevator Trap?Eli POVThe elevator in the downtown high-rise shuddered to a sudden, sickening stop between floors 14 and 15. The lights flickered once, twice, then settled into dim emergency mode, casting everything in a sickly yellow glow. I was stuck. Alone. Or so I thought—until the guy who’d stepped in right behind me cursed under his breath, voice low and frustrated.“Great,” he muttered. “Just what I needed after the day I’ve had.”I glanced over at him. Broad shoulders, dark hair still slightly damp, athletic build filling out a simple black hoodie and jeans. And he was a whole feet taller and me . He looked calm but clearly annoyed, jaw tight. “Dante,” he offered after a beat, leaning back against the wall.“Eli.”We both pulled out our phones. No signal. The emergency button only gave a tinny recorded message: “Maintenance has been notified. Please remain calm and stay inside the elevator.”Minutes dragged by like hours. The ai
Chapter 50 – Looming Storm (Dante POV) The calm lasted exactly four days. Four days of quiet rehab sessions where the physical therapist praised my range of motion like it was a personal victory. Four days of Eli quizzing me on kinesiology flashcards while we ate takeout on the bed orange chicken
Chapter 48 – Damage Control (Dante POV) The press release went out at 2 p.m. sharp. Coach kept it short three clean paragraphs on official letterhead, printed in the team’s navy-and-gold font: “Dante Cruz sustained a shoulder injury during off-season training. He is currently undergoing rehabili
Chapter 51 – Empty Dorm (Eli POV) The dorm felt like a tomb after Dante left for the team’s emergency film session. He’d kissed me goodbye quick, firm, lingering just long enough to make my knees weak and my breath catch. His good hand cupped the back of my neck, thumb brushing the short hairs th
Chapter 49 – Deepening Intimacy (Eli POV) The athletic director’s office smelled like coffee and old leather strong dark roast undercut by the faint, comforting scent of worn book spines and polished wood. We sat side by side on a low couch opposite a massive desk: Dante in his team hoodie and sli







