“Wow. I’m sorry.”

Jace shrugs. “We’ll get to annihilate them next week instead.”

“So do you still have practice all break?”

“Nope, Coach is giving us a few days off. Said we earned it after the crazy schedule this past week, but that if any of us get sick at home and can’t play next week, he’ll kill us himself. He’s sentimental like that.”

I laugh. “So, are you staying on campus?”

“Nope, I’m headed home. Just got off the phone with my mom. Pretty sure she’ll have cooked a week’s worth of food by the time I get there. I was at football camp most of the summer, so it’s been a while since I was home.”

I smile, smothering the rush of disappointment. “I’m glad.”

“When are you leaving?”

“I’m not.”

Jace looks at me with confusion. “Your family is staying here?”

“Uh, no. Philip and my stepfather left last night to visit extended family in Texas, but I decided to stay here.”

Jace studies my face, and I shift under his scrutiny.

“Make sure to send me that board game photo. Pics or I won’t believe you even know how to play Monopoly, much less win,” I tease. “Happy Thanksgiving, Jace.”

I turn and start to jog back toward Kennedy Hall.

“Vivienne!” Jace shouts from behind me. I look back over my shoulder to see him still standing in the same spot.

“Be ready in thirty minutes,” he tells me, then walks away.

I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. I simply stand there, frozen. Excitement fills me, followed closely by indecision. With the end of my time here creeping closer and closer, I truly have been looking forward to enjoying the extra time on campus. After seeing the hordes of students eagerly departing for home, I’m more melancholy than exhilarated at the thought of remaining on the mostly empty campus.

Then I think of Jace. Do I want to be with him for the entirety of break?

The answer comes to me without hesitation, so I turn and begin running back to Kennedy Hall to pack.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock on my door.

“Coming!” I call, zipping up my second overstuffed suitcase and flinging open the door to reveal Jace leaning against the metal doorframe. He’s now wearing a pair of jeans and a dark green hoodie.

“Ready?” he asks with a broad grin.

“How did you even get in here?” I wonder. Kennedy Hall takes its status as an all-girls dorm very seriously.

“Turns out Cheryl at the front desk is a football fan,” Jace replies, strolling into my room as though he owns the place. The small room feels even tinier in his domineering presence.

“Of course she is.” I roll my eyes.

Jace looks around. “Nice room.” He glances at the large pile of rejected clothes strewn across my bed.

I ignore his comment. “Jace, are you sure about this?” I ask tentatively. “I wanted to stay here. It’s not like I didn’t have anywhere to go, and I don’t want you to feel obligated to—”