The next day, I couldn't concentrate in class. My notebook sat closed on my desk, but my mind kept replaying yesterday's practice—the brush of hands, his teasing smirk, the way his dark eyes seemed to linger on me just a little too long.
By lunch, I decided to brave the cafeteria. I had to know if yesterday's sparks meant anything… or if I was just imagining them.
I spotted Aiden across the room, laughing with Miguel and a few teammates. My stomach flipped. He looked over, and our eyes met. That smirk—the one that always made my heart skip—appeared again.
I walked over, nervously clutching my tray. "Hey," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Hey," he replied, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "I was wondering if you'd show up today."
I raised an eyebrow. "You were?"
He shrugged, leaning closer. "Yeah. It's… nice to see someone who actually cares about the game… and apparently me too."
My cheeks heated. "I… I just want to do a good job for the paper."
"Sure," he said, smirking. "But I think it's more than that."
I froze. His gaze softened, and for a brief moment, the cafeteria noise faded. I wanted to say something… anything… but the words stuck in my throat.
Then Marco appeared, leaning against the table, arms crossed, smirking. "Well, well. Looks like someone's getting a lot of attention from our star player."
Aiden's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't respond. He glanced at me, eyes darkening just a little, as if daring Marco to say more.
I bit my lip, unsure what to do, and Marco sauntered away with that smug look.
Aiden leaned closer again. "Ignore him. Just… know that I noticed you. And not just because you're writing about me."
My heart did a flip-flop. I could feel the warmth creeping up my neck. "I… I noticed you too," I whispered, barely audible.
He smirked again, leaning back, but there was something in his eyes that was serious. "Good. Keep noticing. You might learn something about me you didn't expect."
I nodded, heart racing, thoughts spiraling. High school, sports, rivalries—it was all complicated. But one thing was suddenly crystal clear: Aiden Cruz mattered more than any article, any practice, any game.
And judging by the way he looked at me before walking away, I had a feeling… he felt the same.