Page 62 of The Hearts We Fumble
Zane’s hands find my hips, steadying me, but instead of stepping back, he rocks his hips into mine, a slow smirk tugging at his lips.
“You’ll be there today, right?” he asks, voice low, almost teasing.
I melt under his touch, my arms instinctively slipping around his neck. “Of course. I’m riding with Tatum and Everly. Hallyn and Ava are traveling with the dance team, so it’ll be the three of us.”
His smirk deepens. “Good. I like knowing when I look up into the crowd, that you’ll be there watching me.”
His fingers trace down my sides, settling over my ass as he pulls me tighter against him. The heat in his gaze sends a thrill through me, and then his lips are on mine—firm, possessive, lingering just long enough to leave me breathless.
“I have to go,” he whispers against my mouth, his forehead resting lightly against mine. “Thank you for breakfast. It was perfect. Best I’ve had in a long time.”
I smile, brushing my fingers through the short strands at the nape of his neck. “Good luck out there, Kinnick. Kick some ass, yeah?”
His answering grin is pure confidence. “Always. I’ll text you on the way back, but it’ll be late.”
I nod, knowing how seriously he takes his pre-game routine. The team likes to arrive early to warm up, get mentally locked-in, and drown out the noise before the stands fill.
I walk him out to his car, and we share a quick goodbye kiss. As much as I want to linger, I’m not sure who’s home in his house—probably Myla, maybe even his mom. And we’re not ready for anyone to know about this yet.
Not yet.
As I cross the backyard to my house, I check my phone. A few unread messages pop up in the group chat with Tatum and Everly, mostly coordinating plans.
Tatum doesn’t pick me up for a few more hours, but with traffic expected to be insane—the Braysen-Keaton rivalry is the game of the season—we want to leave early to beat the chaos.
By the time we arrive, the energy outside the stadium is electric. Fans tailgate in the parking lots, jerseys and school colors flood every inch of space, and the air hums with anticipation.
We find our seats forty-five minutes before kickoff, just enough time to settle in and take it all in.
As I unzip my jacket, my heart pounds a little harder, waiting for the moment when Tatum and Everly notice what I’m wearing underneath.
Because I know the second they do… all hell is going to break loose.
It doesn’t take long for them to notice—especially since both Tatum and Everly are decked out in their matching jerseys.
Everly is the first to catch on. The second I shrug out of my coat and drape it over my seat, her head snaps toward me, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“That’s a real nice jersey you have there,” she shouts over the noise, reaching out blindly to grab Tatum’s hand, yanking her attention my way.
Tatum gasps, eyes flicking between my jersey and my face like she’s solving a puzzle she’s been working on for weeks. “I knew it.” She swats my thigh, her voice full of triumph. “I knew you two were acting weird the other night at the bonfire.”
My face flames instantly, heat crawling up my neck as the memory of that night slams into me—Zane pulling me behind the garage, pressing me into the siding, his mouth between my legs while I tried not to scream.
Tatum catches the shift in my expression immediately. She levels me with a knowing stare and points a finger in my face. “See! I told you,” she shouts at Everly. “I knew something happened, and the way her cheeks just turnedfifty shades of redcompletely sold her out.”
Everly leans in, lowering her voice. “Wait… does this mean you guys are—? Like, what is going on?”
I shrug, not entirely sure how to explain whatever this is between me and Zane. I’m still figuring it out myself.
Everly tilts her head, studying me, and then grins. “Does this have anything to do with him catching you outside the Alpha Nu house?”
My mouth falls open. “How the hell do you know about that?”
“Hayes.” Everly smirks, like she’s enjoying every second of my unraveling. “Apparently, Zane told him after it happened. He was pissed. Told Hayes he couldn’t say anything to Colter, but he had to know if I had any idea why you’d be down there.”
“What did you tell him?”
She shrugs. “Nothing.”
