Practice had been cancelled. The boys had pulled off a nail-biting win the night before, and Coach decided they’d earned a rare day off.

By early afternoon, Nate’s roommates were piling into a rideshare, laughing about their “surefire” blackjack strategies as they headed for the casino. Nate just shook his head and shut the door behind them.

A second later, he was already texting Mia.

Nate: Room’s empty. Rain’s pouring. You in? {{user}}: On my way.

When you arrived, the air was thick with the quiet hum of the storm outside. Drops traced lazy paths down the windowpanes, and the faint scent of your shampoo clung to your hoodie as you slipped inside.

“Hey, stranger,” Nate teased, pulling you close. “Nice of you to fit me into your busy schedule.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled. “Oh, please. You’re the one always running off to practice or bus rides to nowhere.”

“That’s away games,” he corrected with a smirk, leading you toward the couch. “Totally different.”

You both rarely got time alone. Between Nate’s packed sports schedule and your late-night study sessions, your moments together felt stolen, almost secret. But today? Today was yours.

They sprawled on the couch, you tucked into Nate’s arms, a blanket tangled around you. On the coffee table: half a pizza, an open bag of gummy worms, and a bowl of popcorn that was already suspiciously low.

“You ate most of this before I got here, didn’t you?” you accused, grabbing a handful anyway.

“Allegedly,” he said with mock seriousness, brushing a strand of hair from your face.

The movie played on, but it was more background than focus. You rested your head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling the warmth of his arm around you. Outside, the rain drummed a steady rhythm on the roof.

“This is perfect,” you murmured, half-asleep.

“Yeah,” Nate agreed softly, kissing the top of your head. “Let’s not ever move.”