Fresh tears pricked at my eyes, but I was done crying. My fears had taken over, and I’d let them run amok. I was a freaking psych major—I should be able to identify when my issues were driving the struggle bus. I hadn’t given Derrick a chance to explain, and he was right. I’d promised to come to him when I had problems.

A fragile hope began to take root. No matter how the situation resolved, he deserved a chance. These doubts were my attempt to put distance between us before he did, but I wasn’t an unwanted kid anymore. I could handle rejection, and even scarier, I could handle an adult relationship where I trusted him not to break me.

I pushed the blanket away and sat up straight. “Okay. I concede to your superior wisdom. I’ll talk to him.”

Eva smirked and patted my knee. “Told you it was brilliant advice. Now, I have a favor to ask.”

Foreboding turned the newfound determination to acid in my stomach. “What?”

She bounded up and disappeared into her room for a moment. When she came back, Eva handed me a familiar red jersey. “Come to the football game.”

I was speechless as I stared down at it. Derrick’s last name and number were emblazoned on the back, and for a split second, jealousy blinded me. Why did Eva have Derrick’s jersey?

My throat ached with the effort to keep my voice calm. “I didn’t realize you two were this close.”

“It’s not like that. It’s a lot more insane.” She straightened the edge of her cheer skirt. “He had this whole plan to convince you to come to the game wearing his jersey. I was supposed to get you there to make sure you didn’t back out. He wanted everyone to know how important you were to him.”

I held up the jersey. “I literally just decided to try to deal with my shit and give him a chance.”

“What better way to show him how you feel?”

“I thought I’d just call him,” I muttered.

Eva shook her head so hard her curled ponytail smacked her in the face. “Nope. No. You need a grand gesture to apologize for sticking your head up your ass.”

“Hey, we still don’t know what Derrick decided. There’s a very real chance his head is also up his ass.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you love him?”

Could I love someone after such a short time? I pressed my lips together as a resounding yes echoed in my head. Every night, every meal, classes, studying—I wanted to spend that time with him, and I missed him when we weren’t together. I rubbed at the ache in my chest. Derrick made me happy, and I’d torn us apart.

I deflated a little. “Maybe… yes.”