The treadmill hummed beneath Liam’s feet, a steady rhythm that matched the beat pounding through his earbuds.
Sweat dripped down his temples, soaking into the collar of his training shirt, but he didn’t slow down.
He didn’t want to stop.
He didn’t acknowledge anything beyond the wall in front of him and the music drowning out the world.
His legs burned.
Good.
He wanted them to burn.
Across the gym, the rest of the team was scattered, some on the weight benches, others gathered around the water cooler, their voices a low murmur.
Marco’s eyes found Justin’s across the room.
He jerked his head toward the treadmill, raising an eyebrow.
Justin’s response was a subtle nod.
They moved closer together, positioning themselves near the dumbbell rack, their weights held loosely in their hands.
But their attention was fixed on Liam’s figure across the room, who hadn’t acknowledged a single person since he’d walked in.
“He’s been off since last night,” Justin murmured, keeping his voice low enough that it wouldn’t carry.
He lifted a dumbbell, curling it with practiced ease, but his eyes never left Liam.
“Like, really off.”
Marco grunted in agreement, matching Justin’s rhythm.
“I noticed. He got back really late last night. And when I woke up this morning at six, he was ready to leave. He didn’t even wait for me.”
“So? That’s not weird. Sometimes, he gets back home late. And he’s always up early.”
“It’s not that.” Marco lowered the weight, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
“He didn’t say anything. Not a word. Just grabbed his stuff and left.”
Justin’s brow furrowed.
He set down the dumbbell, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I tried talking to him earlier. Asked him if everything was okay.”
“What did he say?” Marco asked.
“Nothing.” Justin’s voice was flat.
‘Nothing, buddy.’ He mimicked Liam’s voice.
“That’s all I got.”
Marco was quiet for a moment.
“Two words?”
Justin nodded once.
“Two words.”
“That’s not like him.”
“No, it’s not.” Justin’s eyes narrowed, studying Liam’s form on the treadmill.
The guy was running like he was being chased, like the demons were right on his heels and he had to outrun them.
“Even when he’s trying to hide his feelings, he still manages to say a few words. Maybe crack a joke. Something. Anything.”
Marco mimicked Liam’s voice, dropping his tone into something flat and hollow.
“But nothing, buddy.” He shook his head.
“That’s not hiding. That’s like shutting down.”
Justin’s jaw tightened.
“Exactly.”
They stood in silence for a moment, watching Liam’s reflection in the mirror on the far wall.
His face was unreadable, his eyes fixed straight ahead and his body moving on autopilot.
“Think it’s his dad?” Marco asked quietly.
Justin’s expression darkened.
“That asshole.” He spat.
“Probably. It usually is.”
Marco glanced at him, concern flickering across his features.
“If it is, we need to be there for him. He shouldn’t have to deal with that alone.”
Justin nodded firmly.
“Agreed.”
Liam had finally stopped running, his legs carrying him into a slow walk as the treadmill gradually decelerated.
He stepped off, dropped to the floor, and immediately began push-ups.
Up and down.
Up and down.
No pause.
No rest.
Marco and Justin exchanged another glance before dropping down on either side of him, matching his rhythm.
Liam didn’t look at them.
He didn’t acknowledge their presence.
A beat of silence passed, broken only by the sound of their breathing and the soft thud of palms hitting the mat.
Marco cleared his throat.
“Hey, man. Look, if anything is going on with you—anything at all—we’re here for you.”
No response.
Liam’s arms kept moving, his muscles straining with each repetition.
“Liam.” Justin’s voice was firmer now.
“I know you can hear me.”
Liam finally stopped.
He pushed up onto his knees, reaching up to pull one earbud from his ear.
His chest was heaving, his face slick with sweat and his eyes distant.
“What?” The word came out flat, sounding uninterested.
Marco and Justin glanced at each other.
“Just checking in,” Justin said carefully.
“You seem…”
“Yeah.” The earbud went back in.
Marco opened his mouth to say something else, but before the words could form, he was interrupted.
“LIAM DOUGLAS!”
The voice thundered through the gym, and every single person in the room froze.
Liam’s head snapped up.
There, standing in the doorway like an invading army, were seven figures.
All basketball players.
All huge.
All wearing matching expressions of barely contained fury.
The Ballers.
That’s the name they’ve earned on campus.
Brandon was at the front, his chest heaving and his fists clenched at his sides.
His eyes were locked onto Liam like a hawk spotting prey.
“Holy shit,” Justin breathed.
Marco was already on his feet, positioning himself slightly in front of Liam.
Justin followed suit, their bodies tensed and ready.
Brandon stormed into the room, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.
The other basketball players fanned out behind him, forming a wall of muscle and anger.
Liam rose slowly.
He didn’t look intimidated.
He didn’t look scared.
He looked almost amused.
Brandon stopped inches away from him, close enough that they were nearly chest to chest.
“Why the hell were you with my girl last night?”
Marco’s head whipped toward Liam, his eyes widening.
Justin was frozen beside him, his mouth slightly open.
He tilted his head, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
“What else would a grown-ass woman and a man be doing together?” His voice was casual.
Dismissive.
Brandon didn’t say anything.
“I’ll answer for myself.” He reached out to tap Brandon’s shoulder.
“Hooking up.”
Brandon’s face contorted with rage.
His hands shot out, shoving Liam hard in the chest.
Liam stumbled back a step, and then his expression shifted.
The amusement vanished, replaced by something cold and hard.
He caught Brandon’s arms, his grip, and shoved him backward.
“What? You mad? You shouldn’t be.” Liam chuckled.
“Your girl had a great time with me,” He said, his voice low and sharp.
“You should have heard her. She didn’t stop screaming my name. Saying your cock never made her feel so good.”
A ripple of shocked laughter ran through the room.
Liam’s teammates hooted and cheered, their voices loud and mocking.
Brandon lunged forward, his fist swinging wildly toward Liam’s face.
It landed hard on Liam’s lips.
“Fuck man! What the hell?!” Liam lunged forward to punch him back.
“Liam! No!” Marco shouted, diving forward to grab Liam’s arm.
Liam shoved him aside as he grabbed Brandon.
Justin was right behind him, trying to pull them apart.
But it was too late.
The fight exploded into chaos.
Football against Basketball teams.
They tried to separate Liam and Brandon, but it escalated among the teams.
Some stayed back to watch, record as punches flew through the air, and bodies collided.
Liam and Brandon were at each other’s throats, throwing and dodging, their movements fueled by rage and adrenaline.
Liam caught Brandon in a tight hold, his arm locked around his neck, his voice low and vicious in his ear.
“You should have been careful,” he growled.
“When you and your dogs showed up to spill shit about me. You should have thought twice before you opened your mouth.”
Brandon struggled against him, his face red.
“So that’s it?” His voice was strangled.
“You slept with my girl because of some shit I said about you?”
Liam didn’t answer.
He just tightened his grip.
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!”
The voice cut through the chaos.
Everyone froze.
Every single person in the room stopped moving.
Coach Luke Connor stood in the doorway, his face twisted with fury.
His eyes swept the room, taking in the overturned equipment and the two fighters locked in a death grip.
“Everyone—” The coach’s voice was shaking with barely controlled rage.
“Everyone, stand down. Now.”
Liam released Brandon and stepped back.
His chest was heaving.
Brandon stumbled away, his face twisted with hatred.
Coach Connor stormed into the room, his gaze fixed on the two of them.
“My office,” he said, his voice a low growl.
“Both of you. Now.”