Page 58 of Shut Up and Score
I shrug, biting into my bar. “Just saying, dude’s all abs and no actual emotional capacity. He'd be like dating a gym membership with a god complex.”
Ty snorts from the grass. “And yet peoplestilltry.”
“Because people love pain,” Luke says, stretching out on his elbows. “And Colton Taylor is a walking red flag with an eight-pack.”
That earns a round of laughs, but mine fades fast. I unlock my phone screen and type out a quick message. Golden still hasn't replied. Maybe I scared him off. Maybe the flirting finally pushed too far, or the fire metaphor hit too close to something he’s not ready to talk about.
I hope not.
Because this guy—who I’ve never seen, never touched, don’t evenknow—makes me feel more seen in ten-line messages than most people do in a whole damn season.
I start to lock my screen again when it buzzes. My heart stutters like the loser I am.
GoldenSpiral23: Still here. Just burned a bridge I should’ve walked off months ago.
I stare at the words longer than I should. The timing. The vibe. The fact that Jasmine just stormed off, and Colton looked as though he’d been gutted on the sidewalk.
I stand up and stretch, facing away from him.
My eyes flick back across the quad. He’s still sitting on the bench, elbows on his knees, phone in hand. It isn’t him. That’s stupid.
Luke nudges me with his foot. “You get a sext, or are you just trying to manifest one?”
I huff a quiet laugh. “Nah. Just someone who accidentally makes me feel things.”
Luke raises an eyebrow. “Oh no.Feelings?That’s your kink now?”
“Shut up,” I say, but the edge is gone.
I tap out a reply.
Me: Sounds like you’re making your own fire without me. Want me to distract you?
GoldenSpiral23: I always want that.
It should be a throwaway line. A flirty reply, same as usual.
But there’s something about it this time, something softer around the edges. As if it costs him something to admit.
I settle onto the brick wall.
Me: Yeah? What would you want me to do if I was there right now?
GoldenSpiral23: First? Distract me.
Then maybe… keep me company.
I smirk to myself, thumbs flying.
Me: Oh, I’m very good company.
People beg me to stay.
GoldenSpiral23: Bet they don’t know how to keep you.
The words punch a little lower than I’m sure he intended.
Me: Sounds like you’re the one who needs keeping.
