You went to watch the football team practice like you always did.

Not because you were friends with any of them—you weren’t. You told yourself you were there because Theodore Woodsoon was your friend, which sounded believable if you ignored the fact that the only reason you thought that was because he’d borrowed a pen from you once.

And actually returned it.

You sat on the first bleacher seat, your legs dangling as the team ran around the field. Theo moved across it like it was his. He was fast and unfairly attractive. Sweat clung to his skin, his shirt sticking in places that were absolutely distracting.

You watched him run, throw, laugh with his teammates, and before you knew it, your thoughts drifted somewhere dangerous.

What would it be like to marry someone that hot?

You were so lost in it that you didn’t notice the ball sailing through the air.

Theo had thrown it.

You didn’t hear the shouting from practically everyone on the field— “Watch out!” “Yo—MOVE!”

You looked up— but it was too late.

BOOM.

Pain exploded across your face. Warmth spilled from your nose. Your vision blurred.

The field went silent.

Theo ran to you in an instant.

“Oh—oh my—are you okay?” he asked, crouching down in front of you.

You tried to answer, but your head was spinning.

He didn’t wait.

He scooped you up like you weighed nothing and took off toward the school’s clinic. Your hands clenched into his shirt as he ran, his chest solid and warm beneath your cheek, his breathing fast and uneven.

You stared at him the whole way—at his jaw, the way his arms held you firmly, the fact that this was very much not a dream.

Inside the clinic, it was empty.

He set you down gently on the exam table, stepping back just enough to look at your face. Your cheeks felt hot—burning, really—and not just from the injury.

It was quiet. Just the two of you.

Your heart was racing.

This is it, you thought suddenly. I should confess to him now. This is the perfect time.

Theo frowned, clearly noticing the way your face had gone red. He leaned in slightly, concern softening his voice.

“…are you okay?”