Chapter 2

Lena’s POV

“Okay, deep breath,” Sophie said as we stepped out of the dorm building into the cool night air. “You look hot as hell, you’re with us, and we’re not giving those two any more of our energy. Got it?”

I tugged at the hem of my black top and forced a small smile. “Got it. But if I bail in twenty minutes, you’re not allowed to judge me.”

Mia, my loudmouthed, protective friend who always had something to say, linked her arm through mine. Blossom, our fearless friend with a short temper, walked beside us.

“Girl, if you bail, we’re dragging your ass right back,” Mia said. “Blossom already said she’s ready to throw hands if Tyler even breathes near you.”

Blossom grinned and cracked her knuckles. “I mean it too. I’ve been waiting for an excuse.”

I laughed, and even though it sounded a little forced, it felt better than sitting around crying.

We started walking toward the senior houses, where the party was already loud enough to hear from the street. Bass thumped from somewhere ahead, mixed with shouting and laughter. The whole block smelled like cheap beer and someone's burnt pizza.

By the time we pushed through the front door, the place was packed. Bodies everywhere. Solo cups in almost every hand. Someone had already knocked over a lamp in the living room, and nobody seemed to give a shit.

Sophie stayed close as we moved through the crowd, but I still caught the looks. The little head tilts. The whispers.

“That’s her.”

“Did you hear what happened with Tyler and Marie?”

My stomach twisted. I hadn’t told anyone outside of Sophie. So how the hell did the entire campus already know?

“Ignore them,” Sophie muttered near my ear. “They’re bored and dramatic. You’re here for one normal night. That’s it.”

I nodded and tried to focus on the music instead of the eyes watching me.

We grabbed drinks from a cooler in the kitchen and found a spot near the wall where the four of us could breathe. Mia was already talking shit about some guy from her poli sci class. Blossom kept scanning the room like she was looking for someone to fight. Sophie stayed beside me, her shoulder brushing mine every few seconds like a quiet check-in.

Then the energy near the front door shifted.

Roman Vale walked in.

I knew who he was the second I saw him. Tall, dark hair that looked like he’d just run a hand through it, black hoodie half-zipped over a white T-shirt. He moved like the room belonged to him without even trying.

A couple of his teammates followed, but Roman wasn’t laughing or showing off for anyone. He headed straight for the kitchen counter, grabbed a bottle of water instead of beer, and leaned against it with his arms crossed.

People automatically gave him space. Nobody crowded him. Nobody tried to get his attention. He just watched the party like he was already bored.

Tyler had talked about Roman for years.

The rival captain who had stolen the championship from them during their junior year. The guy who later called Tyler out in front of half the arena for dirty hits and then walked away like it was nothing. Tyler hated him with the kind of intensity that could make an entire team meeting uncomfortable.

I’d seen Roman at games and around campus, but we’d never spoken. He always seemed like he existed on a completely different level from everyone else.

Tonight, he looked even more untouchable. I realized I was still staring when the front door opened again.

Tyler walked in with Marie’s hand in his.

They were both laughing about something, their heads close together like they hadn’t ripped my life apart twelve hours earlier.

Tyler’s eyes scanned the room. They landed on me for half a second. Then he looked away like I was furniture.

Marie didn’t even glance in my direction.

Heat rushed into my face. My fingers tightened around the plastic cup until it cracked slightly.

Sophie noticed immediately. “Hey. Look at me.”

I forced my eyes away from them. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine, and that’s okay. But we’re not standing here watching that bullshit.”

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the living room, where a loud group had formed a circle on the floor.

“Truth or Dsre is starting. You’re playing.”

“Sophie…”

“No arguments. You need something to focus on that isn’t them.”

Mia and Blossom followed without question. We dropped into the circle just as a senior named Jace spun an empty bottle in the middle. It landed on a girl who chose dare and had to text her ex something embarrassing.

People howled.

The next spin landed on a guy who had to take a shot of some neon green drink. The energy was messy and loud, and honestly, it was exactly the kind of distraction I needed.

I took a long sip of my drink and tried to let the noise drown out everything else. Tyler’s laugh still floated from somewhere near the kitchen. Marie’s voice mixed with it.

I stared at the bottle spinning in the center of the circle and told myself I could survive one game. Jace looked around the group with a grin.

“Alright, new blood. Lena, right? You’re up next when it lands on you.”

Sophie squeezed my knee. “You got this.”

I nodded, even though my pulse was still racing. I didn’t look toward the kitchen again. I didn’t check whether Roman was still watching the room with that same unreadable expression. I just sat there in the circle, watching the bottle spin and trying like hell to stop thinking about the two people who had already taken enough from me for one day.

I had no idea the game was about to put Roman Vale right in front of me.