She said we’re escorting them, so I take a few slow, dramatic steps forward and he moves with me before I drop his hand and turn to the others.

A few girls whistle and clap while Miranda stands there processing.

After a moment she nods. “That’s perfect. Messy, needs serious precision, and practice, but a perfect entrance. They come in hot, get knocked down a peg, but fire back with a dominant flare. Complete story to tell before a big game.”

Nico’s eyes slide to mine, and I almost detect a flash of satisfaction coming from his, but he blinks, and it’s gone.

We only have time to run through it once with everyone and it’s a shit show, but Miranda advises us to try and get together to practice this week if we can swing it.

The boys are dismissed while us girls hang back to go over our schedule for the week, and then we’re let go.

I use the time I have left to take a quick shower and dress in my normal clothes, but I’m too exhausted to mess with my hair, so I tie it back in a slick ponytail, throwing some mousse in to give the illusion of natural body.

As usual, I’m one of the last to leave, rushing out the door, only to slam into Nico on my exit.

“What...” I trail off as he uses his body to drive mine back a few steps, trapping me in the small divide that leads into the locker room.

“What are you doing?”

His eyes narrow. “I gotta ask to hide away with my girl?”

I frown and he holds a finger to his mouth, telling me to keep quiet.

Right then, a girl on my team comes out of the locker room door, squealing when she sees us.

“Sorry.” She laughs as she disappears.

Nico waits for the door to close completely then looks back to me. “I had to leave the beach. Today’s the first day I could make it back.”

From where I want to ask but don’t.

I nod instead. “I gathered when I woke up and you were, you know, gone, and when I didn’t see you in class all week. You and Trent thought you were really cute, by the way.”

That makes him mad.

“I never said I was done,” he says sharply. “You shouldn’t have been planning to go with Alex in the first fuckin’ place.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “What was I supposed to think? You took off, I assumed that meant mission accomplished.”

“Whose mission, because there’s two of us, remember?”

My shoulders fall instantly.

Well shit.

“I didn’t even—”

“Think past your boy? Yeah, I know.” He steps back, his eyes flicking over my form with a void expression. “See you in class, D.”

He leaves me standing there, but not before Miranda steps in to watch him angrily walk away.

Awesome.

She waits for an explanation, but I offer nothing more than a flat smile and walk out.

I’m officially an asshole.

I never should have entertained Alex like I did without having spoken to Nico first. This pretend relationship was a mutual agreement. It wasn’t fair for me to act how I did.

If I knew what he was after, I could work that angle more, turn it on when it needs to be, stay low key when it’s pointless and others aren’t around. I could play a better part all around.

I’m mopey all day, and it doesn’t help I’m constantly asked about Nico and me, more so than I’ve been all week now that he’s actually here.

I disappoint each person, giving a smile or laugh because I don’t really know what to say.

It was one thing at the beach where it was more or less all the same people we hang with every weekend or at lunch sometimes, but here on campus where there’re hundreds more, it’s sort of intimidating.

Nico has always been the guy people stare at when he enters a room, but he’s also pretty standoffish. He doesn’t make a scene or show off, doesn’t like or need to be heard. You really only catch him interacting when it’s his core group of friends or teammates.

I mean, when he’s on the field, you’d think he was constantly being showy, but it’s simply him giving nothing but his best. It’s a raw, natural talent he possesses, and it shows.

Other than that, he sits back and relaxes, and yet, people still gravitate toward him as if he’s the life of the party.

He’s definitely capable of being the life of the party after dark if the rumors from the girls here are true.

“Demi Davenport.”

I’m pulled from my thoughts by a familiar voice.

I lift my eyes, meeting Josie’s in the bathroom mirror.

Great.

“Hey, Josie.” I turn off the water, moving for a paper towel before facing her.

“You have fun over the weekend?” she asks as she steps up to the sink I vacated.

And here we go.

“I did. You?”

“Bunches.”

Right.

I’m not doing this.

I toss my garbage in the bin and turn to leave when she speaks again.

“I care about Nico.”

Slowly, I look over my shoulder, spotting the sincerity in her eyes. It’s the only reason I don’t walk out.

“You guys were together a long time.” I nod. “I’m sure he cares about you, too.”

She scoffs a dejected laugh, and I swear sadness clouds her expression. “You’d be wrong,” she says, pausing as her gaze scours over me before lifting to mine. “He’s brave. I never thought I’d see the day, you two together.”

“Well you have, so get over it.” I push on the door, but she halts me once again.

“You need to be careful with him.”

That irritates me and I turn around fully. “And you need to mind your own business.”

“Like I said,” she snaps. “I care about him, so I’m standing here telling you to be careful with him. He has issues, Demi.”

“He’s my boyfriend to worry about, Josie, not yours.”

“Just watch yourself with him.”

“Not that he would, but I’d never allow anyone to walk all over me. I’m not some naïve little girl.”

She nods, one side of her mouth lifting as she throws her paper towel away without looking, stepping in front of me in the same move. “Funny, you automatically assumed I was talking about him hurting you.” Her tone is terse and as bitter as I’d expect from an ex of his, but it’s the concern laced through her gaze that confuses me. “Maybe you are as naïve as you’re pretending not to be. Have a shitty day, Davenport.”

She pushes out the door, leaving me to trail after her.

Trent and Krista are in the hall as we exit, and Josie flips them off as she passes while I take a deep breath and stop beside them.

“What was that about?” Krista asks. “Did she hit you up about Nico in there?”

I look to Trent. “Why’d they break up?”

His eyes widen, and he hastily shakes his head. “No fucking way.”

“You obviously know, just tell me.”

“You’re his girl, right?” His tone is laced with something I can’t quite put my finger on. “Ask him.”

“Come on, babe,” Krista whines, gripping his arm. “Please.”

“Nope.” He pulls free, kisses her quickly then starts down the hall. “Meet you after math.”