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Chapter One
Trevor Drake’s sneakers pounded the pavement with a rhythm that matched the racing of his heart. Beside him, Chris Logan, the golden boy of the Harcourt football team, kept pace effortlessly, their stride cutting through the chill autumn air.
They were late, a fact that Trevor was painfully aware of as they navigated the campus’s winding paths. “I believe the defense needs to tighten up,” he argued, his voice firm with conviction. “If we can’t hold the line, it doesn’t matter how many touchdowns you throw.”
Chris, matching Trevor’s stride, shook his head, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth. “It’s the offense that’s going to win us the game. If we can keep the pressure on, they won’t stand a chance.” Their friendly but spirited debate about the next game’s strategy mirrored many of their late-night discussions.
Rounding the corner of the bleachers in their hurry, Chris, still gesturing emphatically to make his point, barreled into Jenny, who had stepped unexpectedly into his path. Her papers flew everywhere, the sudden chaos cutting their conversation short.
“Damn, Jenny!” Trevor’s exclamation broke through the commotion. Jenny Morgan, her auburn curls contrasting sharply against the grey stone of the university buildings, always managed to snag his breath. She was the one person who could unravel him without trying, her presence a constant echo of what-ifs and what might-have-been.
Chris, quick to offer a steadying hand, seemed momentarily taken aback by Jenny’s irritated huff, her focus solely on gathering the scattered remnants of her work. Trevor, however, couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, the familiar tug of unresolved feelings gnawing at him. “Jenny, I… we didn’t expect you here.”
Jenny’s gaze, sharp and quick, met his. “Clearly,” she retorted with a playful roll of her eyes, a spark of their old, flirtatious banter lighting up her tone. “Always the last to leave the field, huh, Trevor? Some things never change.”
Trevor grinned, leaning in with a conspiratorial whisper. “Well, if I remember correctly, you never complained about my dedication to the game back in high school. Or was it the uniform?”
She chuckled, shaking her head, the tension between them dissolving into familiar territory. “The uniform might’ve had something to do with it. But let’s not dredge up ancient history, shall we?” Her glance shifted shyly to where Chris stood, still holding her arm. She cleared her throat and said, “And who is your handsome friend?” she asked, smiling as her glance moved over Chris’s broad shoulders.
It was in these moments, these exchanges laden with shared memories and unspoken wishes, that Trevor found himself longing for more. “Chris, meet Jenny.” Then he motioned toward his friend. “Jenny, Chris Logan, our quarterback, just made a comeback after his injury.”
“That must’ve hurt. Football injuries can be brutal.” Her interest had slipped slightly to reveal genuine concern.
Chris offered a charming smile. “Yeah, but it takes more than that to keep me off the field. Plus, I had good people helping me out.” He glanced at Trevor.
The exchange between Jenny and Chris was light, tinged with a flirtatious undertone that Trevor couldn’t ignore. As they conversed, he felt sidelined, his role as Jenny’s confidant overshadowed by the budding connection she and Chris seemed to share. A jealous twinge surged through him, a silent testament to the feelings he harbored, feelings that stretched beyond the bounds of friendship, reaching into the realm of what could be if only he dared to breach the divide.
He wanted to intervene, to reclaim some part of Jenny’s attention, but the words died in his throat as he watched her laugh, a sound he’d once thought would be his to cherish. The realization caused a sharp pang, a clarity that cut deeper than he cared to admit.
“Jenny, shouldn’t we be heading out for the book reading tonight…” Trevor ventured, steering the conversation back to safer waters, to remind her of their plans, plans that didn’t involve Chris or their past relationship.
But Jenny’s focus had already drifted, as if caught up in the potential of new beginnings as Chris smiled down at her. Trevor wished his friend would just leave. “Chris, weren’t you heading to dinner or something?”
Without warning, Jenny’s turned to Trevor causing his heart to beat a little faster. With a raise of her brow, she asked, “Aren’t you going to ask your friend to join us? Then perhaps he could go with us to dinner after.” Her voice held a note of challenge.
Trevor felt his chest drop. The last thing he wanted was to bring Chris into their moment, to share Jenny’s attention with another. Refusing without exposing his deeper feelings wasn’t an option. He reluctantly nodded and covered his inner conflict with a casual voice. “I don’t think it’s Chris’s thing.
He’s not really all that into literature.”
Chris gave Jenny a wink. “I don’t know. I do enjoy a good book from time to time.”
Sensing defeat, Trevor said, “Very well. By all means, Chris, why don’t you join us? Seems you’ve already made quite an impression,” he said through gritted teeth.
Chris accepted with a quick, broad grin, expressing his thanks to Jenny. Trevor managed a forced smile. Inside, though, with Chris stepping closer, becoming part of their dynamic, Trevor felt more like the outsider, merely observing the narrative of his own life unfold.
