“You know… you’ve been watching them for almost three minutes,” Ethan said with an amused grin as he folded his arms across his chest and looked at Carter.
Carter immediately looked away from the courtyard before answering a little too quickly.
“I wasn’t watching them. I was looking at the fountain.”
Ethan slowly looked around the courtyard before pointing over his shoulder.
“The fountain is behind you, genius,” Ethan replied while trying not to laugh.
Carter blinked once before turning around just enough to realize Ethan was right.
The fountain was indeed several feet behind him.
“I knew that,” Carter muttered while clearing his throat.
“I was just… checking my surroundings.”
“Sure you were.”
“I was.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You can lie to yourself all you want, but don’t insult my intelligence,” Ethan said with a chuckle.
“You’ve barely blinked since Ryan walked over to Maya.”
Carter scoffed.
“So what? They’re talking.”
“They’ve been talking for almost five minutes.”
“And?”
“And you haven’t taken your eyes off them.”
Carter rolled his eyes dramatically.
“I don’t care who Maya talks to.”
Ethan smirked.
“Then let’s leave.”
Carter stood still.
Ethan waited.
Five seconds passed.
Ten seconds.
Carter remained exactly where he was.
Ethan suddenly burst into laughter.
“I hate you,” Carter muttered.
“No, you don’t.”
“You’re annoying.”
“I’m observant.”
Carter sighed before looking toward Maya again.
“I just don’t trust him.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t trust Ryan?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan laughed again.
“I think I know exactly why.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“If you say so.”
Maya’s POV
Ryan rested one hand inside the pocket of his varsity jacket while smiling politely.
“I volunteer at St. Andrew’s Children’s Hospital every other Saturday,” Ryan explained while looking at Maya.
“Mostly in the pediatric ward.”
Maya’s expression immediately softened.
“The pediatric ward?”
Ryan looked pleasantly surprised.
“You know it?”
“I volunteer there three evenings every week,” Maya replied with a small smile.
“I’ve been helping there since my first semester.”
Ryan blinked.
She nodded.
“I usually help the nurses after my classes and cheer practice,” Maya answered.
“Sometimes I stay until eleven if they’re short-staffed.”
Ryan let out a quiet laugh.
“Well… that actually makes this conversation much easier.”
Maya tilted her head slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“The hospital is hosting a charity fundraiser next month,” Ryan explained while leaning casually against a nearby bench.
“We’re trying to raise enough money to replace some of the older equipment in the children’s wing.”
He paused before continuing.
“They’re looking for students to help organize the event, and one of the nurses mentioned that you’re one of the most reliable volunteers they have.”
Maya looked genuinely surprised.
“They said that?”
Ryan nodded.
“They spoke very highly of you.”
A faint blush crept across Maya’s cheeks.
“I was wondering if you’d like to help organize the fundraiser with us,” Ryan asked sincerely.
“I think you’d be a huge help.”
Maya considered the offer carefully.
It would mean even more work.
Her schedule was already packed with classes, tutoring, cheerleading, studying, and volunteer shifts.
Still…
Helping children had never felt like work.
“I’d love to help,” Maya answered honestly.
“As long as the meetings don’t interfere with my classes.”
Ryan smiled.
“I figured you’d say that.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Can I get your number?” Ryan asked politely.
“I’ll send you the schedule once everything is finalized.”
Maya smiled before taking the phone from him.
She quickly entered her contact information before handing it back.
“There you go.”
“Thank you.”
Ryan slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“I’m really glad I came over.”
Before Maya could answer, she suddenly felt a warm arm settle comfortably across her shoulders.
Her entire body stiffened.
Every muscle froze as a familiar scent reached her.
She slowly turned her head.
Carter.
He stood beside her wearing his hockey jacket, smiling as though nothing about this situation was unusual.
“Hey, babe,” Carter said smoothly while looking down at her.
“You ready to go?”
Maya’s eyes widened.
Her brain completely stopped working.
Ryan looked from Carter to Maya before blinking in confusion.
“…Wait,” Ryan said with an awkward laugh.
“You two are actually together?”
His eyebrows rose even higher.
“I honestly thought everyone was joking back at the café.”
“What?” Maya asked automatically while staring at Carter in disbelief.
Carter answered before she could recover.
“Yeah,” he replied confidently while giving Maya’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Ryan’s smile faded for the briefest moment before returning.
“Oh.”
He nodded politely.
“Well… congratulations.”
Maya finally found her voice.
“Ryan, that’s not—”
“I’ll see you at the fundraiser,” Ryan interrupted gently, assuming she was simply embarrassed.
Carter smiled.
“We’ll see you there.”
Ryan gave Maya one last friendly smile before turning and disappearing into the crowd of students crossing the courtyard.
For several long seconds…
Neither Maya nor Carter moved.
Then Maya slowly stepped forward.
Carter’s arm slipped from her shoulders.
She turned so quickly that Carter barely had time to react before both of her hands landed firmly against his chest.
With one strong shove, she pushed him backward.
“What,” Maya asked calmly while folding her arms across her chest, “was that?”
Carter blinked innocently.
“What?”
“You know exactly what.”
“I was helping.”
Maya stared at him in complete disbelief.
“You call pretending to be my boyfriend helping?”
“I do.”
“You embarrassed both of us.”
“I saved you.”
Maya frowned.
“Saved me from what?”
Carter pointed in the direction Ryan had walked.
“Him.”
Maya looked even more confused.
“What about him?”
“He likes you.”
“So?”
“So…” Carter rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Guys don’t ask girls for their number unless they’re interested.”
Maya let out a slow breath.
“He volunteers at the same hospital I do.”
“I know.”
“He invited me to help organize a charity fundraiser for sick children.” Said Maya
“I know.”
“He needed my number to send me the details.”
“I know.”
Maya spread both hands in frustration.
“So why would I assume anything else?”
Carter opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because…
She wasn’t wrong.
Everything Ryan had said was reasonable.
Everything Maya believed made perfect sense.
Then why had Carter walked over?
Why had he wrapped his arm around her?
Why had he called her “babe” without even thinking?
He honestly didn’t know.
All he knew was one thing: watching Ryan smile at Maya bothered him more than he wanted to admit.