My Basketball Rival is my Roommate
The floorboards groaned beneath an agonizingly steady weight, moving closer and closer toward our door.
"Stay behind me," Jace whispered sharply. Without waiting for a response, he shifted his body, stepping firmly in front of me to place himself directly between the unknown threat and where I stood. In the pitch black, his fingers found mine once more, his grip tight, unwavering, and protective. My heart hammered against my ribs, each thud ringing like a war drum in my ears. The rivalry that had driven us apart for months was entirely dead, replaced by a deep, unbreakable anchor between us.