Page 39 of Guarded Love

Ari: You're both impossible.

She’s not wrong and I don't have a good response to that. I set my phone down and turn back to my laptop. The article stares back at me, still unfinished. Blaise's quote about defense winning championships sits in my notes, waiting to be incorporated into the document. I type his name, finally, and begin to place his perspective into the piece.

My phone buzzes again, but I ignore it. I need to finish this article before the orientation meeting about Puerto Rico. I type furiously, the words finally flowing. Brotherhood. Legacy. The unglamorous work behind the scenes. I pull it all together, crafting a narrative about what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself. By the time I've finished the conclusion, my coffee is cold and an hour has passed.

I read it over once, then again. It's good. Better than good, actually. It captures something I wasn’t expecting about this team, something I’m proud to showcase in this piece: authenticity. I save the document and email it to my editor. Done. One less thing to worry about.

I glance at the time in the corner of my screen and realize I have about forty-five minutes before I need to head out for the orientation. Just enough time to unwind a bit.

After a good stretch, I close the article tab and open StreamTub. It’s been my go-to for background noise when I need to decompress, and entertainment for years. The homepage loads with familiar thumbnails and auto-play clips, but it’s the “Live Now: Co-Streams” section that makes my stomach jolt.

KingPin94 x CozyCraft4Eva — LIVE

Leo’s username is bolded next to Cozy’s, the thumbnail showing both their cams lit up in split-screen: him grinning like a smug idiot, her adjusting her headset while their avatars build some kind of pastel farmhouse in a blocky survival sim.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

But I click anyway.

"—and I'm telling you, Coz, this is gonna be the biggest build we've done together," Leo's voice fills my speakers, that familiar mix of confidence and excitement that used to make my stomach flip.

Once again, it’s making me feel sick.

The smart thing to do was press the exit button and get on with the rest of my evening. However, I find myself watching for longer than I should.

"You always say that," Cozy laughs as her avatar placing down rainbow-colored blocks while Leo's character follows behind her. "Remember the underwater castle that crashed your server?"

"That was different," he protests. "I had, like, fifty mods running."

Cozy, whose real name is Lilly, and I chatted on occasion when I dated Leo, but I didn’t realize they were still in touch. The thought bounces around my head as I watch as the chat scrolls by, filled with emotes and inside jokes I used to be part of. Leo leans closer to his camera, reading something, and then his face splits into that signature grin.

"Shoutout to CtrlAltDeceit69 for the tier three sub! Welcome to the Kingdom, my dude."

I should close the tab. Right now. And with a heavy sigh, I finally have enough willpower to commit to it.

I check the time again. Thirty minutes until orientation. I need to get moving, need to focus on something other than Leo and his content.

Puerto Rico. Focus on Puerto Rico and this orientation.

I grab my coat and bag, double-checking that I have my notebook and pens. The orientation packet mentioned bringing something to take notes with, and while I could use my laptop, I don't trust myself not to get distracted given how much my brain is racing even more than normal.

I quickly decide to drive across campus, considering how chilly it is out tonight. It also means I’m fifteen minutes early. If I would have realized that before I left my dorm, I would have stopped to get something quick. But at least I won’t be drawing attention to myself because I’m rushing in at the last minute.

Given how no one is around right now, it’s easy for me to find the room number from the email. I pause outside the threshold for a split second before walking through it.

Professor Wallace has her back to me as I walk into the room and pick an empty desk to sit at. I figure choosing a seat near the middle, not too close to the front but not hiding in the back either, is perfect. As I get settled, I glance up when I see someone else walk in out of the corner of my eye.

My heart stops.

Blaise Dalton walks in, his expression neutral until his eyes land on me. For a split second, I see surprise flash across his face and I’m convinced his mouth is about to drop open. However, he quickly catches himself and forces his expression to be neutral once more.

No. No way. This can't be happening.

But it is happening. Blaise gives a small wave to Professor Wallace. And then, because the universe apparently hates me, he's walking down my row.

"Is this seat taken?" he asks, gesturing to the empty chair beside me.

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