I stood on the pathway leading to the clubhouse, shifting my weight from foot to foot while Gemma and Ashley ducked inside to refill their water bottles. The late-afternoon breeze pushed strands of hair across my face, but I barely noticed. My chest still buzzed with the leftover energy of practice, that sharp, restless kind of adrenaline that made it impossible to be still.

Then I saw him—shoulders set, stride focused, weaving through the crowd with his phone in one hand, eyes darting between the path and the field. He looked confident at first glance, but there was something else underneath it too. Like he was searching for something he wasn’t sure he wanted to find.

When I lifted my hand and called out, he looked up fast. Surprise struck first, then recognition softened everything that came after. The kind of reaction that tugged at something low in my stomach.

We traded small talk—nothing monumental, just enough to make my pulse trip over itself—before I turned to lead him toward the field. The sun hit his hair at the exact wrong moment, catching the messy curls just right, and when he met my eyes… he held the look a second too long. Long enough to make my chest flutter embarrassingly hard.

I broke eye contact before I could embarrass myself further.

“Good luck breaking the ceilings!” I teased as I jogged back.

“FREYA! MOVE!”

Gemma’s voice sliced through the moment with the grace of a guillotine. “Extra laps if you’re late!”

Ashley curved the ball toward me immediately. I caught it under my left foot, passed to Gemma, but my mind wasn’t matching my feet. It was still caught on that stupid split-second look.

“Who’s the new guy?” Ashley asked, nudging the ball back my way.

I shrugged, forcing nonchalance. “He said he’s back. Picking up where he left off.”

Gemma flicked a look over her shoulder at him, eyebrows lifting in open approval. “Most of the guys played here before I joined. I’d definitely remember him.”

“Well, Freya saw him first,” Ashley declared dramatically, raising her hands. “Eldermoor rules. She gets dibs.”

Gemma lobbed the ball straight at Ashley in retaliation. “Relax, Ash. City boys aren’t my type.”

“That’s true,” Ashley said, then shot me a look thick with implication. “But Freya has experience with city boys.”

I rolled my eyes hard enough to strain something. “I have enough going on with Nathaniel. I don’t need extra drama.”

Coach Reynolds’ whistle cut the conversation clean off. Instantly we fell into formation. The rhythm took over—balls bouncing between feet, the thud of impact, the sting in my calves as my muscles worked overtime.

By the time interval laps started, my heart felt like it was trying to punch its way out of my ribs. Sweat stung my eyes. The turf radiated heat through my shoes. We sprinted until my lungs burned, stopped for push-ups, jumped through jacks, then sprinted again.

At the final whistle, I doubled over with my hands on my knees, breathing like the air had turned to gravel.

Gemma strolled up beside me, still practically vibrating with energy. “That was amazing. My heart is actually trying to escape my body.”

She wasn’t wrong.

We grabbed our water bottles, rehydrated in the thin shade, then made our way toward the locker rooms. The cool air inside drifted over my skin, calming my pulse.

The shower was heaven. Hot water melted all the tension from my shoulders, and the orange-and-cinnamon scent of my soap filled the steamy space. It reminded me of fall—cozy sweaters, warm mugs, a season where everything felt alive and changing. My favorite.

Ashley peeked into my shower stall. “That smells incredible. Share?”

“Take it,” I said, passing the bottle out. Within seconds the whole locker room smelled like a seasonal candle aisle.

After drying my hair and packing my things, I slipped out early—like always. My mornings start before dawn, and lingering usually meant getting dragged into gossip I didn’t have the emotional capacity for.

Near the edge of the field, Nathaniel leaned casually against the wall, dressed in his usual dark hoodie over a simple shirt, shorts, and worn sneakers. The faint scent of his cologne mingled with the earthy smell of the grass, grounding me in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

Our eyes met briefly, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

His expression was unreadable—calm, with something simmering beneath. When our eyes met, there was a flicker of something unspoken.

“Can I walk you to your bike?” he asked softly, hesitation in his voice.

I nodded, and we fell into an easy silence as we stepped outside.

The evening air was cool, the sky painted with the soft colors of dusk. Around us, other team members finished up. Some watched us with quiet curiosity. Their knowing glances added a layer of tension I couldn’t ignore.

As we walked side by side, I wrapped my arm around myself. Nerves mingled with anticipation. His hand reached for mine, his fingers curling around to calm the flutter in my chest. We moved together—barely touching, but with a closeness we hadn't felt in weeks. Our words stayed unspoken, but the physical closeness spoke volumes.

When we reached the gate near the row of bikes, he squeezed my hand. With his other hand, he placed it firmly on my lower back and gently pulled me closer. His hair brushed my cheek as he lowered his face. His mouth hovered close to my neck. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent—a comforting familiarity I always craved when near him.

His voice trembled as he whispered, “I’m so fucking sorry.”

I nestled my head against his chest. I searched for the truth behind his words. His accelerated heartbeat spoke volumes—everything he was feeling without a single word.

My eyes searched for his, and when they met, my pulse accelerated. I let out a gasp of air. Nathaniel’s lips caught it, pressing to mine without hesitation. It had been so long since I tasted him. My tongue had a mind of its own, forcing a way in between his lips. He parted willingly, letting our tongues intertwine. Our eyes never broke contact.

The sound of approaching footsteps grew closer. Nathaniel pressed a series of fast kisses to my lips before pulling back. It brought us both back to reality.