Page 59 of The Boyfriend Zone

"Must be," I agreed, enjoying the sight of him wrapped in my team colors.

We walked slowly away from the bus, neither of us quite ready for the evening to end. The campus was beautiful at night, the walkways lit by old-fashioned lamps that cast pools of golden light on the cobblestones.

"Thank you for coming this weekend," I said as we approached his apartment building. "It meant a lot, having you there."

"I wouldn't have missed it," Lucas replied, his expression sincere in the gentle lighting. "Besides, I got some great material for my article. 'The Other Side of the Bench: A Player's Perspective on Leadership Beyond the Ice.' What do you think?"

"I think you make me sound a lot more impressive than I am," I laughed. "But I like it."

We paused outside his door, that familiar moment of hesitation that comes at the end of a night, when you're not quite ready to say goodbye but know you should.

"I should give you your jacket back," Lucas said, making no move to remove it.

"Keep it for now," I suggested. "It looks good on you."

"Yeah?" He glanced down at himself, the oversized jacket hanging past his hands. "I'm pretty sure I look like a kid playing dress-up in his dad's clothes."

"Definitely not what I'm seeing," I assured him, stepping closer to adjust the collar around his neck. "More like my boyfriend wearing my jacket, which is a good look."

Lucas's smile widened at the casual use of "boyfriend," his eyes lighting up in a way that made my heart skip. "In that case, I might never give it back."

"Fine by me," I murmured, closing the remaining distance between us.

The kiss was soft at first, a gentle connection after a long day of contained affection. But as Lucas's arms slid around my neck, the jacket sleeves falling back to free his hands, it deepened into something more urgent, more heated.

I backed him gently against the wall beside his door, my good hand cupping his face as I kissed him thoroughly, trying to convey everything I couldn't yet put into words—how much he meant to me, how grateful I was for his patience, how incredibly right it felt to be with him like this.

When we finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Lucas's eyes remained closed for a moment, as if he was savoring the sensation.

"That was quite a goodnight kiss," he observed when he opened them again. "Do I want to know what that was for?"

"Just because," I said simply. "Because I wanted to, and I could, and you're you."

Lucas's expression softened at my somewhat incoherent explanation. "Well, feel free to 'just because' me anytime you want."

"I'll keep that in mind," I promised, reluctantly stepping back. "I should go. Early therapy session tomorrow, and you probably have deadlines."

"Always," Lucas sighed, though he made no move toward his door. "Will I see you tomorrow? After therapy?"

"Count on it," I assured him. "I'll text you when I'm done."

With one last lingering kiss, we finally parted ways, though I found myself looking back over my shoulder as I walked away, just to catch one more glimpse of him standing there in my jacket, watching me go.

As I made my way back to my apartment, I marveled at how different this return felt from previous road trips. Usually, I came home exhausted but wired, replaying the game in my head, analyzing my performance, dwelling on mistakes. Tonight, despite the residual ache in my shoulder, I felt content. Grounded in a way that had everything to do with the connection I was building with Lucas.

It was a new feeling, this sense of being valued for something beyond my athletic ability. By Coach, by the team, by Lucas most of all. The idea that I might be more than just Sean Mitchell, defenseman—that I could be Sean who noticed tactical details, Sean who could lead from the bench, Sean who could be honest about his feelings—was still taking shape in my mind, but it felt like something worth exploring.

My phone buzzed as I reached my building, and I pulled it out to find a message from Lucas:Made it inside safely, though your jacket is coming to bed with me. Fair warning: it may smell like my cologne by the time you get it back. Miss you already. -L

I smiled, typing back a response before heading upstairs:Jacket upgrade, if you ask me. Already looking forward to tomorrow. Sleep well. -S

I went to bed without rewatching game footage. Instead, I drifted off thinking about Lucas's smile when I'd given him my jacket, and how I couldn't wait to see him wearing it again tomorrow.

Chapter 19: Lucas

"Just relax," Ava instructed, adjusting her camera lens as Sean shifted awkwardly by the window. "Pretend I'm not even here."

"Easier said than done," Sean muttered, tugging at the sleeve of his sweater. "I feel like I'm posing for a school portrait."

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