Practice was brutal that afternoon. Coach Ramirez had them running drills that made my notebook feel heavier than ever, and I had to jog to keep up with notes while dodging bouncing basketballs.
I was scribbling down every play, every shout from Aiden, every teammate's reaction… and trying not to stare at him every time he moved. Spoiler: failing miserably.
"Focus, Lia," I muttered to myself, but just as I did, a stray ball came flying straight toward me.
"Watch out!"
I barely had time to duck, but instead, I tripped over my own feet and stumbled forward, landing flat on the floor. My notebook slid across the court again.
Aiden was instantly there. "Are you okay?" he asked, crouching beside me. His hands hovered over mine as he picked up the notebook, brushing against my fingers.
"I'm fine," I stammered, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest.
"You're lucky this isn't a real game," he said, smirking. "You'd be on the floor a lot more."
I laughed nervously. "Maybe I like the challenge."
He raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly closer. "Is that so?" His gaze held mine for a moment longer than necessary, and my heart skipped.
Then Marco appeared, leaning casually against the bleachers, smirk in place. "You're getting a lot of attention today, huh?"
I froze, glancing at him. "It's… not like that."
Aiden noticed the exchange and gave Marco a subtle glare before focusing back on me. "Ignore him. You're doing fine."
My cheeks heated, but I smiled, grateful. It was the first time I felt like I actually belonged here, even if my balance didn't.
The rest of practice passed in a blur—fast passes, shouting drills, and Aiden occasionally glancing my way. By the end, I was exhausted, my notebook crammed with observations, and my heart still racing from more than just exercise.
As the team gathered their things, Aiden approached me again. "Hey… if you want, I can show you some extra drills after school tomorrow. For 'research purposes,' of course."
I laughed. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it."
He smirked that infuriating, heart-flipping smirk. "Good. Don't embarrass yourself too much this time."
I rolled my eyes, but inside, I was already counting down the hours until tomorrow.
Because surviving high school might be hard. Surviving high school with Aiden Cruz? That was going to be a full-court challenge—and I had a feeling I was already falling in love with it.