Chapter 7

Maya

The second Bree and I stepped out of the football house, the cold night air hit my overheated face like a reality check.

Behind us, the chaos of the party was dying fast—people spilling out onto the lawn, groaning dramatically like their lives were ending because Coach Daniels had ruined their fun.

I, however, was just trying to breathe like a normal person.

Which was difficult when my lips still felt… aware.

Bree waited until we were halfway across the yard before she burst out laughing.

Not a cute giggle.

A full-on, hands-on-her-stomach laugh.

“Oh my God,” she wheezed. “Maya.”

I shot her a look. “Don’t.”

“I’m sorry—” she gasped, “I’m sorry, but you were this close—”

“Bree.”

She held her hands up like she couldn’t help herself.

“I have never seen Rogue Ryder look that confused in my entire life.”

I scoffed, hugging my arms tighter around myself as we reached our porch.

“He was not confused.”

“He was spiritually humbled,” Bree corrected.

I fumbled with the doorknob, desperate to get inside and away from the sound of my own heartbeat.

Bree followed me in, still laughing.

The second the door shut behind us, she leaned against it like she’d just watched the greatest show of her life.

“I think,” she said slowly, wiping under her eyes, “you may have given Cole Ryder the bluest balls in college football history.”

I froze.

Then I turned, horrified.

“Bree!”

“What?” she said innocently. “It’s true!”

I pressed my hands to my burning cheeks.

“That is not something you say out loud!”

“It’s accurate,” she insisted. “He was ready. He was leaning. His hand was—”

“Stop!” I yelped, pointing at her like she was a threat to society. “Just… stop talking.”

Bree only grinned wider.

“Oh, he is going to be insufferable tomorrow.”

“Good,” I snapped, dropping my purse onto the table. “He deserves it.”

Bree blinked. “He deserves it?”

“Yes!” I said, spinning toward her. “He is so cocky. He thinks he can just walk into my house, steal my pizza, call me sweetheart, and then—”

“And then almost kiss you?” Bree supplied brightly.

My mouth opened.

Then closed.

Because… unfortunately.

Yes.

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.

“He always gets what he wants.”

Bree’s grin softened into something smug.

“And this time?”

I hesitated.

Bree leaned in.

“This time he didn’t.”

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the way my stomach flipped at the thought.

“Well,” I muttered, “maybe it’s good for him.”

Bree gasped like I’d said something profound.

“It’s great for him. Character development.”

“I’m not his character development.”

Bree shrugged. “You might be his downfall.”

I rolled my eyes, heading toward the living room.

“I just wanted to eat pizza and write my essay.”

Bree followed, practically bouncing.

“And instead you almost made out with the campus Rogue in a hallway.”

“I did not make out with anyone.”

“Yet,” Bree sang.

I grabbed a pillow off the couch and threw it at her.

She dodged easily, laughing.

“Oh, Maya,” she said, voice dripping with amusement. “You are in so much trouble.”

I sank onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.

My lips still tingled.

My heart still hadn’t calmed down.

And the worst part?

Cole Ryder’s face wouldn’t leave my mind.

His voice.

His eyes.

The way he looked at me like I wasn’t just the girl next door.

Like I was something he couldn’t quite win.

Bree plopped down beside me, nudging my shoulder.

“So,” she said, far too casually, “do you think he’s going to come knocking tomorrow?”

I scoffed.

“He better not.”

Bree’s smile turned wicked.

“Maya…”

“You don’t sound like you mean that.”

I opened my mouth to argue.

But the truth sat heavy in my chest.

Because cocky or not…

Rogue Ryder had never looked at anyone the way he looked at me tonight.

And I had a feeling…

This was only the beginning.