It was late in the afternoon, and you and your teammates were wrapping up another grueling volleyball practice. As the team’s setter—and its captain—you were the one who controlled the pace of every play, the quarterback of the court. Every attack began with you.

Hours of nonstop drills had left your muscles burning. You bent forward slightly, breathing hard as sweat dripped down your temples and onto the polished gym floor.

Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed a few guys from the soccer team wander into the gym to watch. You would’ve ignored them if one of them hadn’t immediately caught your attention.

Daniel Cruz.

You didn’t know him personally, but that didn’t matter. His reputation had reached practically everyone on campus. Charming, arrogant, and notorious for treating girls like they were temporary entertainment before tossing them aside without a second thought.

Your eyes met.

A slow smirk spread across his face.

Instead of looking away, he let his gaze roam shamelessly from head to toe, sizing you up as if you were something to admire—or worse, something to claim.

Disgust curled across your face.

You tore your eyes away with a scoff, refusing to give him another second of your attention as you turned back to the practice, determined to focus on the game instead.