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“A date could be easy. Could be good for you.”

“I could never just ask some guy out, much less Trevor. He’s a hockey player.”

“And?” She shrugged. “Adam’s a baseball player.” As if I needed to be reminded of how good Adam looked out on third base with his hat pulled low and body ready for anything. Not to mention the way he filled out a uniform. “So… I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem?” I laughed sardonically and shook my head. “They will both probably go off and go pro to live lives mere mortals only daydream of while I’m going to be just a lawyer.”

“Just a lawyer? Is that even possible?!” she argued, frustration clear in her voice.

“You know what I mean.” I sighed. “Trevor, like Adam, is way out of my league.”

“Out of your— Have you lost your mind?”

“Rox—“

“First off, this is real life. There is no such thing as leagues. This isn’t a sport.”

“Rox—“

“Talk to him!” she urged in a way she hadn’t in the past year.

“Trevor?” I asked even though we both knew that’s not who she meant. Roxie gave me a look, and I felt like disappearing into the couch.

“You know that’s not who I mean,” she said softly. Her eyes were locked on mine, and I swallowed hard.

“Adam.” Just whispering his name made my heart skip a beat as butterflies started to flap their wings low in my belly. I missed Adam more than I had words for. I glanced at the TV waiting for something to come on about the Sidewinders game coming up. It was pathetic, but even through this year, there wasn’t a game I’d missed.

I just didn’t sit in the usual spots I used to.

“So?” Her brows rose, and I repeated her word.

“So…” But it drifted to nothing.

Maybe talking to Adam isn’t the worst idea in the world? Almost an entire year had gone by since our stupid fight. I knew from Rox he still asked about me, so it wasn’t like he completely forgot about my existence. I’d been a little dramatic when I said that. I hardly remembered what the fight was about, and I was pretty sure it didn’t matter.

Liar. You got jealous and lost your shit, a little voice that liked to keep me accountable whispered.

“Maybe,” I mumbled and shrugged, handing her the remote.

“Maybe,” she repeated. I nodded as I stood.

“Maybe,” I confirmed. At the end of the day, Adam Marquez wasn’t just my best friend; he was my whole world. I was pretty sure he was my soulmate. Too bad I probably wasn’t his.

TWO

ADAM

Mine. Mine. Mine.

The words wouldn’t stop repeating in my head as I stared at the building where my cousin and my girl lived.

My body was tired from how early it was. Before sunrise, darkness still covered the sky, but it was clear enough the light of a new day was coming. I should have been home. If my coach or even my roommate knew I wasn’t in my bed back at the ultra-lush athletic building on campus, they would have my head.

Not that Coach or my roommate and fellow teammate were bad dudes.

No. They would have an issue with the fact that instead of sleeping and resting for as long as I could, I got up, went for a run, and was now waiting across the street just for the chance to sneak into my girl’s apartment while she slept.

I wiped my face and blew air to warm my hands.