All Chapters of The Rogue Next Door: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

ColeI’m in love with her.The realization hits me while watching Maya highlight lines in her philosophy textbook with a look of absolute concentration on her face.And honestly?That’s a ridiculous moment for a life-altering emotional crisis.But here we are.She’s sitting cross-legged beside me on my bed wearing one of those oversized sweaters she likes, glasses sliding slightly down her nose while she quietly mutters something under her breath about existentialism.And I’m completely gone for her.Gone.Not lust.Not obsession.Not the thrill of chasing someone difficult.This is worse.Because somewhere between late-night coffee runs and panic spirals about scholarships—Maya Bennet became important to me.Like terrifyingly important.“Mhm.”I blink.“What?”Maya doesn’t look up from her textbook.“You’ve been staring at me for like five straight minutes.”Damn.“You’re cute when you study.”That earns me a flat look over the top of her glasses.“No one has ever said that sentence

LoganI knew before I even saw her.That’s the worst part.Somehow I just knew.I’m walking down the hallway toward the kitchen early Friday morning when I hear quiet movement near the front door.Soft footsteps.A whispered laugh.Maya.And instantly my chest tightens.Because I know exactly where she’s coming from.I round the corner just as the front door opens.And there she is.Wearing yesterday’s clothes.Hair messy.Cheeks pink.Looking sleepy in the kind of way that says she didn’t sleep in her own bed.Cole stands behind her on the porch.His hand low on her waist.And the look they exchange before she steps inside?Yeah.I already lost.Maya notices me first.Her entire body freezes.“Logan.”That guilty tone nearly kills me.Because she thinks she’s doing something wrong.She isn’t.That somehow makes this hurt worse.Cole’s eyes meet mine over her shoulder.And for a second neither of us say anything.The rivalry between us has changed lately.Before?Competition.Now?Now

ColeI should not have said that.That’s the first thing my brain tells me after watching Maya completely stop functioning across the library table.“I’m really trying not to fall harder for you.”Yeah.Probably not a casual thing to say.Especially not to a girl who already looks emotionally overwhelmed every time I look at her too long.Maya just stares at me.Wide-eyed.Pink-cheeked.Absolutely frozen.And honestly?The reaction nearly kills me.Because there’s something terrifyingly vulnerable about Maya when she doesn’t know how to hide what she’s feeling.I lean back slightly in my chair trying to give her space to breathe.“Maya—”“You can’t say things like that in libraries.”I blink once.“What?”She gestures vaguely around us.“I almost had an emotional breakdown near educational materials.”A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.God.I’m obsessed with this girl.“You’re cute when you panic.”“You’re the reason I panic.”Fair.Very fair.Maya immediately drops her face int

ColeI’m absolutely fucked.That’s the only thought in my head the second I see Maya standing in the middle of Sigma Two looking nervous and beautiful enough to completely destroy my remaining self-control.Jesus Christ.Her hair is curled softly around her shoulders.The black top hugs her perfectly.And those jeans?I’m going to commit crimes over those jeans.Jake says something beside me but I genuinely don’t hear him.Because Maya’s looking at me now too.Wide-eyed.Pink-cheeked.Like she suddenly realizes I’m staring.Which—yeah.I absolutely am.I start walking toward her before my brain even catches up.The crowded room parts automatically because apparently I’ve lost the ability to function normally around this girl.Maya swallows visibly as I stop in front of her.For a second neither of us say anything.Then finally I manage:“Baby.”Her cheeks immediately turn bright red.Fuck.That’s cute.“You can’t look at me like that in public,” she whispers.I blink once.“Like what

ColeI have never seen Maya drunk before.Okay technically—She’s not drunk drunk.Just tipsy enough that:* her cheeks are pink* she laughs easier* and she’s currently threatening Jake with karaoke violence.Which honestly?Is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.Jake hands her the microphone dramatically.“Ladies and gentlemen, scholarship girl herself!”“I hate you,” Maya tells him while laughing.“Sing, Bennet!”The room starts chanting immediately.“MAYA! MAYA! MAYA!”Maya looks horrified.I’m having the time of my life.She turns toward me desperately.“Cole.”Oh no.That tone is dangerous.Because apparently one pleading look from Maya now activates every protective instinct in my body.“You’ll be fine, baby.”“That’s easy for you to say! You’re not about to publicly embarrass yourself!”Jake gasps dramatically.“She underestimates your singing, Ryder.”Markus snorts into his drink.“No no. Let her keep believing in him.”The room laughs.I narrow my eyes.“You’re all