Page 137 of Shut Up and Score
The shower cuts off,and a few minutes later, the door swings open in a puff of steam.
Micah steps out, hair damp and curling at the ends, water still beading down his neck. My black hoodie hangs loose on him, the hem brushing the tops of his thighs, and he’s rubbing a towel over his hair as he pads barefoot across the room.
My brain short-circuits for a second, caught between the cling of his curls to his forehead and the fact thatmyhoodie looks criminally good on him.
“What?” he asks, catching me staring.
“Nothing,” I say, though my grin probably gives me away. “Just wondering how early we can get breakfast before I do something irresponsible to make us miss it.”
That earns me the faintest smirk as he tosses the towel onto his desk chair. “Breakfast, huh?” He crosses the room, all casual swagger, and plants a knee on the bed beside me. “You mean in public?”
“Yeah.” I prop myself up on my elbows. “Why not?”
Micah’s eyes narrow—not suspicious, exactly, but measuring. “Colt, that’s a big step. You sure you’re ready for that? For people seeing us together and knowing what it means?”
I hold his gaze, letting him see I’m not wavering. “Micah, I wantthe whole world to know. I’m done pretending, we don’t need to hide in your dorm room every day, all day.”
He leans in, teeth catching lightly on my bottom lip before giving me a slow, deliberate kiss. “Mm. I like hiding in my dorm room with you,” he murmurs against my mouth, the words low enough to make my pulse jump. “Could think of a few more ways to make it worth our time.”
I huff a laugh, because of course he’d make it suggestive. “Later,” I promise.
Micah smirks, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. “Alright, Taylor. Let’s go shock the world.”
Micah rummages through his dresser, still smirking as he pulls on jeans and a pair of socks and shoes. I finish getting dressed before I grab my sweatshirt, tug it over my head, and meet him at the door.
When we step into the hallway, I don’t even think about it—I just reach for his hand. His fingers curl around mine without hesitation, warm and solid, and something in my chest eases like it’s been waiting for this exact moment.
We make it halfway across the quad before I catch movement in my periphery—two guys from the team, Ty and Will, heading toward the dining hall. They both clock our joined hands instantly. Ty’s brows shoot up. Will smirks.
Micah’s grip tightens slightly before loosening, ready for me to drop his hand, but I don’t. I squeeze back, steady, and give the guys a nod.
Ty grins wide. “About damn time,” he calls. Will just gives a lazy salute, no judgment, no surprise—just…pure acceptance.
We keep walking, but before we can hit the dining hall doors, a familiar voice cuts in.
“Colton.”
Jasmine. She’s standing near the steps, coffee in hand, eyes sharp as they flick to where our hands are still laced. Something flashes across her face—shock, maybe a little hurt—but she schools it fast.
“Didn’t realize you two…” she trails off, gesturing vaguely between us.
Jasmine’s voice hangs in the air, that vague gesture making Micah shift just enough so our arms brush.
“Together,” I say simply. No edge, no apology. Just the truth.
Her lips press together like she’s weighing whether to push it. Then a voice calls from behind us—low, teasing.
“Hey, slowpoke, you ready? I have the best day ever planned for us today.”
A tall guy in a hockey team hoodie jogs up the steps, grinning as he slides an arm easily around her waist. She tips her head back to look at him, her whole face softening in a way I haven’t seen in a long time.
“Colton, Micah—this is Greg,” she says, smiling as she leans into him. “My boyfriend. He’s on the hockey team.”
Micah’s eyebrows go up, just a fraction, but he doesn’t say anything. I catch the flicker of amusement in his eyes before he schools his face into something neutral.
Greg gives us a friendly nod. “Good to meet you.” Then to Jasmine, “Ready?”
She glances between us one more time, but there’s no bite to it now—just something that might even be relief. “Yeah,” she says, and lets him steer her toward the quad.
