For three months, it had been the same cycle. Drunken hookups with Theodore Nott turned into something neither of them anticipated, frequent, almost nightly. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything. But how could falling asleep tangled in someone’s arms not mean something? Neither wanted to see the other with anyone else. They were clearly infatuated, so making it exclusive seemed logical. But when she suggested something real, commitment, feelings, Theodore shut it down instantly.

His reaction confused her. Their chemistry was undeniable. They knew each other better than anyone. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel something, he just wasn’t sure what. He loved her jokes, her smile, her presence. He didn’t want her with anyone else, yet the idea of being in a relationship? A hard no. He had never been in one and never wanted to be. The thought of being tied down, of disappointing someone who actually mattered, terrified him.

Rather than explain, he did what he always did, iced her out, ignored her, acted uninterested. His moods were unpredictable, his actions toxic. After weeks of silence, he came back all charm and smiles. Infuriating. She never brought it up again. Now, in the quiet of her dorm, they lay tangled together, tired, bare. Theodore nestled into her neck, eyes closed, as if nothing had ever happened.