Offended. Definitely offended.

“I just got home. I had track practice so I need to change.”

I focus on him. He’s wearing a Blue Falls athletic tank top and running shorts. “Right. Sorry.”

Wait, why am I apologizing? I hate him. Also, he didn’t really answer my question.

I hop off the bed, suddenly embarrassed to be lying in a bed with a guy looming over me. I fidget with my rumpled clothes and chaotic hair and we stand in strained silence until we both move at once, me in the direction of the door and him toward the dresser, the small space making it impossible to avoid brushing against each other.

His skin is still hot from the sun. He smells like masculine deodorant and fresh air.

“Sorry,” he mutters.

He’s apologized twice—and me once—during this conversation, which makes me feel somewhat better about myself, in a petty and vindictive way.

Once I’m in the hall, he shuts the door with a thud and I stand there for a second, not quite ready to leave the quiet emptiness of the hallway, still trying to wake up and gather my thoughts.

He shuffles around inside the room. The dresser opens and shuts. Is he getting undressed?

I blink away thoughts of what he might look like under the tank top. All lean torso and corded muscles.

If I were a renaissance man like da Vinci, I would sculpt him.

Stop, Reese. He’s lower than a snake fart.

But my wayward thoughts don’t have a chance of being squashed, because the door opens and Fitz steps out and now it’s gotten so much worse because he’s not wearing any shirt at all and my imaginings are nothing compared to the sight of Fitz Moreland bare chested and only in running shorts.

Broad shoulders—broader than I realized, or maybe it just looks that way since he’s so close I could lean forward and taste him—taper down to a trim waist. It’s not quite a six-pack, but near enough that I can’t stop staring and—

“What are you doing?”

“Um. Nothing.” Mortification floods through me like a tsunami.

I turn on a sharp heel and walk down the hall.

Awkwardland. It’s where I live. And I’m the president, mayor, and sole citizen.

I shake off the embarrassment. Nothing is wrong with me. I’m simply having a normal, human reaction to an attractive potential mate. Just like in the animal kingdom. And I’ve never felt more animalistic than I do at the current moment, but it’s nothing I can’t control, it’s biology.

He’s the enemy, and I’d do best to remember it.

6

Real courage . . . is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.

—Harper Lee

Fitz

There’s no challenge tonight, but a group of people are gathered somewhere in the house. Occasional laughter, clapping, and shouting can be heard even with the door shut.

At least it’s not as crowded as it was last night, which is a blessing. I have homework to do. Jude clearly doesn’t need to worry about school, but Beast has class. I’ve seen him around campus. He’s hard to miss.