‘Well, I couldn’t miss a game,’ he continues. ‘That’d include road games. Which means I’ll be travelling with you, which means more eyes will be on us, and we’ll have to keep up the appearance wherever we go, whenever we’re together.’

Road games. I hold back a sarcastic laugh. I’d forgotten my favourite part about the season. The travel games, my usual escape from the tiny-town chokehold that was Eagle Rock and Prosperity, would now be an experience I’d have to share with Colt.

Not to mention the variable I had yet to contend with: how seriously Colt would take this whole thing. What if when we went to Albuquerque for the rivalry game, he strolled out on the town after a little too much to drink, and he woke up on the floor of some random Alby-U dorm room? I only entertain the idea because I’d done it once before and lived to regret every second of it. Anything is possible once we factor in road games and I don’t particularly want to think about that.

‘Honestly, though,’ Colt says way too quickly, once he notices the vacant expression on my face, ‘I’m only committed to doing what you’re comfortable with. You’re writing the playbook, at the end of the day, not me.’

His cheeks are going slightly red. He messes with the silver chain around his neck, glancing at me all anxiously, his eyes darting like caught prey. He’s definitely flustered. It would be more amusing if our fake relationship and my real career weren’t at stake.

‘I appreciate that,’ I finally reply. It’s not a lie. ‘Colt, I’m going to be real with you. I don’t know where to start here. I saw the full crowd, and how happy the girls were because of it. Jordan and I are graduating, and we need to figure out what kind of role lacrosse will have in our lives after that, and this publicity, this attention, it helps. It attracts scouts. It attracts options. You know that.’

He nods, fiddling with his fork. He meets my gaze through ridiculously long eyelashes. ‘Yeah. I know. I get it, May. Trust me, I do. Breaking into the pros is a big decision.’