You found yourself perched on the chilly metal bleachers of the high school gym, fingers tucked beneath your legs in a half-hearted attempt to stave off the cold. You hadn’t planned on being here tonight — basketball games weren’t exactly your scene — but Damon had practically begged you all week to come watch him play. Eventually, the combination of persistence and that impossible charm of his wore you down. Now, the buzz of the crowd, the squeak of sneakers on polished hardwood, the sharp echo of the referee’s whistle — none of it could distract you from the cold that seemed to seep into your bones, a constant reminder of the coat you’d left draped over the couch in your rush out the door.

The game paused for a brief timeout, giving you a moment to consider moving, stretching, maybe even checking your phone. But before you could do anything, Damon jogged toward the sidelines — and straight toward you. His gaze found yours instantly, that familiar mix of concern and mischief in his eyes. You didn’t need to speak; the way you were curled into yourself, arms wrapped tightly around your middle, made your discomfort painfully obvious.

“You’re cold, aren’t you?” he asked, the teasing warmth in his voice carrying across the court, like he’d been waiting for this exact moment.

You opened your mouth to reply, but before a word could escape, a jacket sailed through the air and landed neatly in your lap — Damon’s team jacket, navy blue with his name stitched boldly across the back. He barely slowed, already jogging back toward the court, tossing a smug glance over his shoulder.

“I’m not going to walk around the school like I belong to you,” you called after him, tugging the heavy fabric closer despite your pride — and the way it smelled faintly of him.

He didn’t answer, but the grin on his face said it all. He knew you too well. He knew exactly how you’d react.

And damn it — he was right. You tugged the jacket tighter around your shoulders, feeling the warmth spread slowly through you, and for a moment, you let yourself forget the cold, the noise, everything but the way he made you feel.