I laughed because it was what he expected, but some shit was brewing between Soren and me. He was making more and more jokes about quitting school to follow me to the draft even though he still had a year left to play.

Part of me wondered if even the holy grail of the NFL would be enough. I wanted the career, had worked my ass off for it, but as my last season at TU got closer, I’d felt like something was missing.

“Hey D, incoming.” Soren nodded his chin toward the door.

Glad for a distraction from my thoughts, I followed his gaze to the front of the room, and my breath froze in my chest. Time stopped. Everything else disappeared except for her.

Soren took one look at me and let loose an evil grin. I knew that smile meant trouble, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the long-legged beauty scowling at the full auditorium. She tucked a length of long, dark hair behind her ear, sending the cascade of silver star earrings dancing.

Class wouldn’t start for another ten minutes, but the place had filled up fast. She scanned the rows one by one until she reached us in the upper back corner. Our eyes locked, and a jolt went through me, like I’d stepped into lightning. She felt it too. I saw the flash of recognition on her face before she masked it. I didn’t know her—but I wanted to.

With sudden clarity, I realized she needed a seat, and I had one to provide. Right next to me—as long as I could get Soren to leave. I jerked my chin at our row and raised a brow. Her eyes narrowed, and she scanned the room once more before sighing.

Scowl firmly in place, she climbed the steps that would take her to my level. Our silent exchange had only taken seconds, but the world had shifted. If she hadn’t accepted the offer, I might have followed her to wherever she ended up.

As she got closer, I saw my star-spangled mystery girl had brown eyes to go with the hair, full lips, and the ugliest sweats I’d ever seen. Splotches of color in varying sizes and shades clashed against what might have been a gray base, as if she’d used her pants as a paint rag.