“What’s your name, sweetheart?” he asks. I can feel the arrogance coming off of him in thick waves.

For some reason, I immediately think of my first interaction with Jace, and how taken aback I was by his arrogance. Standing a few feet away from this stranger, I suddenly realize the pull I felt toward Jace was not simply the thrill of challenging his cocky attitude. My body doesn’t react to this guy’s confident tone the same way it always responds to Jace’s, even when I’m genuinely annoyed with him. I’m simply indifferent to this guy’s abrasive charm.

“I’m not interested,” I tell him bluntly, not missing the way his eyes are running over the tight clothes I’m wearing. One chuckles at my rude rebuff. “Let’s go, guys,” I tell Claudia and Katie before I start walking again.

“Blondie!” the guy calls more loudly. Everyone in the immediate vicinity glances our way.

I turn back around, my temper flaring. Claudia and Katie look between us, wide-eyed.

“What?” I retort. “I told you I’m not interested.”

“Are you sure you’re not just playing hard to get?” The guy persists. “Just tell me what your name is.” My skin crawls in response to his leer. A large part of me wants to hurry away. But pride keeps me in place, meeting his entitled expression and not wavering.

“What the fuck are you doing, Stevens?” Jace is suddenly standing next to me, his face furious.

Anderson, Owens, and the black guy who talked to me in the cafeteria all hover a few feet behind him. I glance past them to see we’ve captured the attention of the entire gym, including the rest of the football team still standing in the same corner as before.

Stevens’ face hardens at the malice in Jace’s voice. His two buddies straighten behind him, but don’t move any closer. Normally, I would be annoyed by someone intervening on my behalf, but I feel nothing besides overwhelming relief in Jace’s protective presence.

“Just being friendly,” Stevens replies. “Nothing you need to be concerned with, Dawson. Just keep throwing those touchdowns.” His voice is mocking, but I detect a hint of nervousness in his expression.

“I’m plenty concerned,” Jace replies. His voice is like steel. I can feel the anger radiating off him. “I better not see or hear about you harassing anyone else, or you’ll have me to answer to.”

“Harassing?” Stevens scoffs. “Please. I don’t need to harass anyone. I’ve got a line of girls just hoping I’ll look twice at them. You know how that is.” He gives Jace a grin, clearly hoping to diffuse the stifling tension with some playboy camaraderie.

“Keep telling yourself that. In the meantime, stay away from mine.” A jolt of surprise hits me when I register Jace’s words, but I quickly school my features to remain neutral.

Stevens’ eyes shoot to mine. He doesn’t hide his own surprise. “That’s what this is really about? You’re marking your territory, Dawson?” Stevens smirks. “I didn’t think you were a one-woman kind of guy.”