The Hardest Fall

“So…” What the hell was I supposed to say? “You’re here to pick something up for Mark?” That could be a possibility.

He lost the small smile on his lips.

“No.”

That was what I was afraid of. “You’re not just dropping by, by any chance?”

“I think I’m your new roommate,” he announced, getting to the point.

And just like that, I started feeling sick again. I had been holding on to the hope that whatever he was doing there was temporary, but roommate didn’t sound temporary.

“Coach didn’t mention I was coming?” he asked, pulling me out of my little freak-out.

I tried my best to act like everything was okay. This wasn’t my apartment, after all. It was Mark who was paying the rent, not me. “Nope. I’m guessing he didn’t mention I was here, either.”

“No.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, drawing my attention to it. It was still short, pretty much the same length it had been the last time I’d seen him, so at least that hadn’t changed. I kind of liked him with short hair. Walking around the couch, he chose to sit right across from me and dumped his phone on the expensive marble coffee table. I winced at the sound. “He said he wasn’t aware that you’d be here, but it wouldn’t be a problem since you’re barely in the apartment. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna be around much either, with football season starting and everything else going on. I won’t bother you.”

I sighed and rubbed my temple. “Sorry to crush your dreams, but I’m always here.”

He smiled, not a big, easy one that did things to my heart, just a promise of one. “You’re not crushing my dreams.”

Not knowing what to say—or more like not knowing how to say it—I fussed with the pillow in my lap instead of meeting his eyes. There was something unnerving about the way he kept meeting my gaze. “Did he tell you who I am?” He wouldn’t, of course he wouldn’t. I knew that, but still…

“He said you’re a family friend’s daughter.” There was a pause, so I looked up. “Are you not?”

I wanted to laugh. “Yeah, I am. Family friend. So, what’s your deal?”

A little hardness seeped into his eyes, and he leaned back. “My living situation changed in these last few days, and apparently I need a place to stay. Coach insisted that this would be okay. If you’re gonna be uncomfortable with me being around…if this is not okay, Zoe…”

With the speed I looked up I almost gave myself whiplash. His eyes were intent on me. He remembers my name? Sure, he would remember who I was—how could he forget that-weird-freshman-who-made-a-fool-of-herself—but he remembered my name? It had been a year since the last time I hadn’t quite managed to hide away from him, and a year was a long time to remember a stranger’s name.

“You remember my name?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

The smile came out again and his features visibly softened, now sincere, playful, and inviting. I forgot what I’d even asked. “Like I said back then, I had a feeling I’d get to see you again. I thought we’d get another shot. I didn’t think it’d take a year to get that shot…but here we are.”

There was that word again.

I gave up on the pillow, pulled my legs up and under me, and averted my eyes. Where was my phone when I needed it to hide behind? Instead, I sat up straighter and lightly grabbed the armrest with one hand. “What do you mean by another shot?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Actually, I’m pretty sure I don’t.”

“The kiss.” He tilted his head, and one of his eyebrows did this arching thing that made him look really attractive. “The last time we saw each other, we said maybe we’d make it happen next time. Ring any bells?”

That bell rang, all right. Turned out, I did know what he was talking about after all.

“See, the way I remember it, it was you who said that, and I’m pretty sure I was trying to get out of there as quickly as possible.”

“Why is that?” he asked without missing a beat.

I let go of my death grip on the armrest and rubbed my hands on my thighs. Did we have to talk about this again?

“Why is what?”

“Why do you always try to get away from me as quickly as possible?”

“Could it be because I don’t know you?”

“You told me you were going to kiss me the first time we met.”

I kept my eyes on the general area of his face. “First, we never actually met”—I did quick air quotes—“that first time. I didn’t give you my name, you didn’t give me yours. So, we didn’t actually meet, and I told you then that my friends…actually, not really friends, my roommate and her friends dared me to kiss you. I told you that, and just so you know, they already knew you were dating someone, apparently for quite some time, so they dared me to kiss you in front of everyone so I would make a fool out of myself and face your wrath. They thought it would be fun, thought I should loosen up a little. They didn’t like your girlfriend and wanted to see the look on her face.”