Page 43 of Red Zone
But then?—
Footsteps echo from the hallway outside.
Reality slams into me like a brick.
I jerk back, palms on his chest, breath ragged. “We can’t do this. Not here.”
He blinks, still catching up, hands hovering like he doesn’t want to lose contact. “Why not?”
“Because we could get caught,” I whisper harshly, glancing toward the door. “Because this is a university gym. Because Ican’t be the girl sneaking around with the star quarterback in between reps.”
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t step back. Just tilts his head slightly, looking down at me like he’s trying to read through every excuse I’m putting up like armor.
“Then let’s not sneak,” he says, voice low. “Let’s just do it.”
I stare at him.
He licks his lips, jaw tight. “One night. That’s all I’m asking.”
I suck in a breath.
“One night,” he repeats, softer now. “We get it out of our systems. You don’t owe me anything after that. We don’t have to talk. Don’t have to act like it means anything. But don’t pretend you don’t want this too.”
My heart pounds against my ribs like it’s trying to warn me.
I cross my arms over my chest, trying to ignore the way my body is still buzzing from his hands, his mouth, the way he said one night like it would be simple. Like I wouldn’t walk away from it wrecked.
My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “Okay, then. What exactly is your brilliant plan, Hayes?”
He raises a brow. “You really want me to spell it out?”
“Yes,” I snap, heat crawling up my neck. “Because you keep saying one night like that makes it clean or easy, and newsflash—it’s not.”
He leans back slightly, hands resting on his hips, eyes dragging over me like he already knows how the night would go. Like he’s imagined it.
“You and me,” he says, voice low and even. “No games. No strings. One night to stop pretending we don’t want it. Then we move on.”
I scoff, but there’s a tremble in it. “You think we can just hook up once and then what—casually avoid each other for the rest of the season?”
He shrugs. “You’ve been doing a hell of a job avoiding me already.”
My glare sharpens, but it doesn’t land. He’s still too close. Looking at me like he could peel away every defense I’ve ever built with just his mouth and a few well-placed hands.
“I’m serious, Lyla,” he says, voice dipping lower. “Whatever the hell this is? It’s been under my skin since the second you walked out of my room in my hoodie. So, either we burn it off or it keeps building until we do something even more reckless.”
I hate how much sense that makes.
And I hate that part of me wants to say yes.
Not because I trust him.
But because I don’t trust myself around him anymore.
“Fine. One night. I mean it. Once.” I look around to make sure we’re still alone, then take a step around him. “Madison is going out with Jaxon this weekend. You can come over then. I’ll text you when it’s clear.”
The smirk that takes over his face makes me want to slap it right off.
“See you then, Princess.”
