The orange glow from the pre-game bonfire lit up the dark campus, casting flickering shadows against the brick buildings.
Even from the edge of the library parking lot, I could hear the thudding bass of music and the distant roar of hundreds of students gathered on the campus green.
I pulled the collar of my cream sweater up to my chin, my boots crunching against the frozen grass as I made my way toward the massive, ancient oak tree.
Knox was already there.
He was leaning against the wooden fence surrounding the tree’s roots, his hood pulled up and his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his varsity jacket.
The shadows obscured his face, but as I drew closer, his head snapped in my direction.
He stood up, stepping out of the dark and into the faint perimeter of the bonfire’s light.
His eyes slowly dragged over me, starting from my black ankle boots, up the dark jeans, to the soft cream wool of the oversized sweater hanging off my left shoulder, before finally landing on my face.
For a fraction of a second, his signature cocky smirk completely vanished.
His eyes widened slightly, locking onto mine with a quiet surprise that made my breath catch in my throat.
The silence stretched for one beat too long.
I crossed my arms, shifting my weight. "What? Did I look too much like a librarian?"
Knox blinked, and just like that, the mask slid back on. His mouth curved into his usual lazy, mocking smirk, though his eyes remained focused on me.
"Not bad, Bookworm," he murmured. "You actually look like you belong in the same zip code as me tonight."
"And you look like you actually took a shower," I countered, lifting my chin. "Progress for both of us."
Knox let out a low chuckle, stepping closer. The scent of ice, cedar wood, and clean laundry hit me. "Ready, girlfriend?"
"Strictly business, Sheridan," I reminded him, though my heart did a tiny, traitorous flutter against my ribs. "Remember the rules. Keep your hands where they belong."
"Oh, I remember," he said, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Let’s go make a scene."
He turned, and I fell in step beside him as we walked out of the shadows and toward the roaring chaos of the campus green.
The bonfire was massive; it was a tall stack of wood burning thirty feet into the black sky and throwing orange sparks toward the stars. I felt the heat right away... it was a strong warmth that met the cold fall wind.
Hundreds of students were packed in a wide circle around the fire, holding red plastic cups, laughing, and chanting Briar sports slogans.
The moment we crossed the threshold into the bright, flickering light of the crowd, Knox went into character.
Without warning, his hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against his side. The contact was solid and electric, and the sheer heat of his body pressing against mine sent a sudden, dizzying jolt straight down my spine.
I tensed up immediately, my hands coming up to press against his chest.
"Bennett," Knox murmured, his head leaning down so his mouth was inches from my ear. His warm breath tickled my skin, sending another shiver through me. "Contract rule number two. You’re supposed to look convincing. Relax."
I swallowed hard, looking up at him.
His dark eyes were watching me, challenge written in every line of his face.
I took a slow breath, forcing my shoulders to drop. Slowly, I wrapped my arm around his waist, resting my palm on the thick fabric of his varsity jacket.
"Good girl," he whispered with a smirk. "See? I don’t bite."
"No, you just leave STDs in your wake," I snapped back quietly. "Keep your hand on my waist, Sheridan. Nothing lower."
"Don’t worry, Bookworm. I’m a professional."
"Nora! Knox!"
A loud voice cut through the noise, and I looked up to see the hockey team clustered around a stack of coolers.
Milo was waving frantically with a giant grin on his face. Beside him, Theo was leaning against a wooden bench, holding a red cup in hand, while Jake was already laughing.
"Well, look at that," Jake yelled as we walked up; his messy blonde hair was subtly glowing orange in the firelight. "It’s the puck-sniper! And she’s actually dressed like a student this time, not a stripper. You look great, Nora, though I still think the green dress was a solid choice."
"Jake," Knox warned, tightening his grip on my waist just a fraction. "Watch your mouth."
"I’m just complimenting your girl, Cap!" Jake laughed, raising his cup.
Milo stepped forward, mock-bowing to me. "Welcome to the fire, Nora. We were beginning to think Knox made you up to hide his academic shame."
"I’m very real, Milo," I said, offering a small smile. "And unfortunately for Knox, so is his macroeconomics textbook."
"She’s sharp," a deep, rumbling voice said from the side.
I looked over and blinked.
Standing next to Theo was a mountain of a guy. He had to be at least six foot five, with a chest like a refrigerator and a gentle, boyish face under a red flannel shirt.
He stepped forward, looking down at me with a warm, easy grin. "Hi. I’m Barrett. Everyone calls me Bear. You’re the one who threw the puck, right?"
I braced myself, wondering if he was going to defend his captain, but Bear’s grin only widened.
"That was the best thing I’ve ever seen on our ice," Bear said, shaking his head. "Knox has needed a puck to the face for about three years now. You’re a hero, Nora."
Knox scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Thanks, Bear. Glad to know the defense has my back."
"I like her already, Cap," Bear said, reaching into a cooler behind him. He pulled out a red cup and offered it to me. "Here, have a drink."
"Oh, no thank you," I said, shaking my head. "I don’t drink."
Bear paused, looking at me, then his eyes dropped to Knox’s arm wrapped around my waist. "You’re dating Knox and you don’t drink? That’s got to be a record."
"I’m a bad influence, but not that bad," Knox muttered.
Before I could say anything else, Bear reached back into the cooler, rummaging past the beer cans. He pulled out a cold, green aluminum can and handed it to me. "Ginger ale. I keep a stash in here because I don’t drink during the season either. Messes with my game-day weight."
I took the can, the metal cool against my palm. "Thank you, Bear."
"Anytime," the giant defenseman said, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder that nearly knocked me into Knox’s chest.
Knox caught me easily, his chest solid against my back, and helped me steady myself.
As I opened my soda, I scanned the crowd across the bonfire.
Sure enough, a few yards away, Priya was standing with a group of girls from her con-law seminar.
She was holding a red cup, but the moment she spotted me tucked against Knox’s side, her eyes went wide. She gave me a slow, disbelieving look, raising her eyebrows in a silent, ’Oh my god, you’re actually doing it’ expression.
I caught her eye and gave a microscopic shrug, my cheeks warming.
Suddenly, Milo hopped up onto the wooden bench, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP!" Milo yelled over the music, drawing cheers from the surrounding students. "The fire is hot, the beer is cold, and it’s bonfire tradition! Who’s ready for Truth or Dare?"
A massive roar went up from the crowd.
Beside me, Knox let out a low, irritated groan. "Great. Here comes the circus."
My stomach did a sudden, violent drop. I looked at the massive circle of students already forming around the log benches near the flames, and then up at Knox.
"We don’t have to play that, do we?" I whispered.
Knox looked down at me, a slow, dangerous smirk returning to his face. "We’re the main event tonight, Bookworm. If we walk away now, everyone will think we’re hiding something."
He nudged me forward, his hand still warm on my waist. "Come on. Let’s go play."