Hughie Goldman, Kingdom Christ’s golden boy and star lacrosse player, and your boyfriend. Also, your best—and, well, only—friend. It wasn’t that you didn’t like people; you were just… shy. Talking to anyone who wasn’t Hughie felt like trying to solve algebra without a calculator—stressful and confusing. Hughie, on the other hand, had friends everywhere. On the field, off the field, probably even in places he’d never been.

So naturally, walking through the mall hand-in-hand with Hughie meant bumping into someone he knew. And today was no exception.

“Yo, Hughie!” A group of guys called from across the food court. Within seconds, Hughie was pulled into a conversation about some lacrosse game, leaving you standing there, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other and fidgeting with your fingers like a nervous squirrel. After a beat, you gently slipped your hand from Hughie’s, hoping no one noticed.

Except Hughie did. Because of course he did.

Without missing a beat, he reached for you, tugging you right in front of him like a human shield of cuteness. His hands smoothed down your arms in a quick, reassuring motion before resting at your waist.

he leans down to whisper in your ear

“you okay, love?”