Page 99 of Campus Heat

“Oh, my God.” She stopped to catch her breath. “I completely forgot about that.”

“He still denies that it ever happened. He even tried to swear us all to secrecy.”

“He literally looked like the vomit emoji.”

“Malik was forced to open a window.”

She shook her head and laughed. I just looked at her for a moment, and once again my heart swelled with something I couldn’t quite explain. She had a habit of doing such things to me, and it was maddening, especially since I couldn’t explain it, but I think I might’ve figured out what’s happening here. And I was hoping I would get to prove it tonight.

“You guys really are a disaster,” she said with a laugh, but then her entire mood shifted. “There’s only one game left now.”

“Yeah, and we don’t have a single win to our name.”

We reached the park in the center of town, where a large fountain glowed with soft blue light. Its water was spilling down in steady sheets, making it seem ethereal. It was where I hoped we would end up because it’s the perfect place for my confession.

Elizabeth leaned against the stone railing and said, “Can I ask you something?”

I nodded nervously, not knowing where this was going to lead.

“Are you still thinking about transferring?”

“I thought I was, but so much has happened and changed that I’m not too sure anymore.”

She looked at me carefully, like a dragon would if they were trying to guard a treasure, and I instantly knew that my answer wasn’t good enough.

“The team’s changing,” I added. “You should see the practice lately. Stuff that took ten tries before is now being nailed by the second attempt. Malik has turned into a drill sergeant, and Coach is starting to figure it out too.”

She studied me for a good long while. “You’re talking about things that will happen next season.”

I shrugged sheepishly. “I guess I’m starting to think about hanging around for a while.”

“What changed?” she asked as the fountain lights reflected in her eyes.

“I think this place might actually turn into something.” I turned to face her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “And then there’s you.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and she grabbed onto my arms like her life depended on it. For the first time, it seemed like I was her life raft as well, and I really liked that.

“Ethan,” she breathed.

I pulled her closer and kissed her deeply, pouring everything I felt for her into it. It was a majestic kiss, with the lights from the fountain caressing us while the rush of the water surrounded us, creating a tranquil blanket that sealed us off from the rest of the world. Her hands slipped into my hair, but I kept mine in place. I wanted her, I really did, but tonight was so much more important. So I pulled away from her and rested my forehead against hers.

My voice was quiet but certain when I said, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

She gasped, but it was quickly replaced by a little smile. “Wow, I never expected to hear those words leaving your mouth, but now that you mention it… I feel the same way. I’m falling in love with you too.”

36

Elizabeth

I stepped back from the bulletin board and tilted my head so I could take in the full scale of the poster I had just taped to the wall. The paper was bright and bold, with the words GO HIGHLANDERS printed across the top in deep blue and gold. And with the Havenport colors glowing under the fluorescent lights, it looked like it was coming to life.

Beneath the words was a photo of the team from earlier in the season. It showed them standing shoulder to shoulder on the field with helmets tucked under their arms and determination written across their faces. It wasn’t the best photo they had ever taken, but it was real.

With a hopeful sigh, I pressed the corner of the poster flat and smoothed the tape against the wall before stepping away completely. The entire hallway had been transformed. When the season started, the walls had been bare. They seemed to have been plain and forgotten.

And the atmosphere on campus had been a million times worse. The students had turned the losing streak into a running joke. Memes had circulated through group chats, and someone had taped a fake scoreboard up outside the cafeteria that read: Havenport—0, Everyone else—Infinity.

People used to laugh when the guys walked past them, but now it was different. Now the walls were covered in blue and gold. Posters stretched all along the hallway. Some were neatly printed by the student council, while others were obviously homemade. Those were the hand-painted signs with crooked lettering, and they hung beside the professionally made posters with pride. Kind of like the guys. And each of them had a different slogan.