My head snapped up from the dress I was currently sketching towards my nightstand where my phone was ringing. Resting my sketchbook flat on the bed beside me I stretched out my hand toward my phone.

Grasping the phone I flipped it over peering at the screen. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face at seeing Brooks's name flashing across the screen.

I know I said that I can't get too attached to Brooks I have to keep my distance but somehow he wormed his way under my skin.

It's Thursday, five days since Brooks showed up at my house that night. Since then we've grown closer we text each other every day and Tuesday night Mia and I met up with him and Nate at Millie's diner.

We haven't hung out by ourselves since Sunday because we've both been busy. But we've made plans to hang out again when he returns from the away game he's leaving for tomorrow.

Swiping I accepted the call, a shirtless Brooks appeared on the screen when the call connected he was sprawled out on his bed with his head resting on his arm. I had to stop myself from gawking at his tall, lean muscular body that was on full display.

"Hey you," he greeted grinning at me. "What are you up to?" he asked.

"Hey," I replied making myself comfortable on my bed. "Well, I was sketching a dress design before you rudely interrupted," I said in a teasing voice scooting my body further up the bed until I was leaning against the headboard.

"Oh, let me see, I've never seen any of the design sketches."

I shook my head. "No, it's not finished yet, I show you it when I'm done."

"Fine," he rolled his eyes playfully before shifting on the bed and winced when he tried to sit up.

I shot him a sympathetic look. "Rough practice?" I didn't understand how hard football players worked until Brooks and I became friends. He has to juggle practice, workouts, games, and classes I've developed a newfound respect for how hard he works.

"Yeah, practice was pretty brutal today," finally getting conformable. "You know what will make me feel better?" he asked his eyes locked on me through the screen.

"What?" I asked.

"If you came over and gave me a message," he answered a smirk curling at the corner of his lips.

I snorted. "In your dreams Heyward."

"Babe, in my dreams you're giving me a lot more than a massage." he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

I laughed. "You're really annoying you know that?"

"Gen, can I talk to you for a second," a voice interrupted. My head snapped in the direction of the doorway where Mia was standing. From the look on her face, I knew something was wrong.

I glanced back at my phone. "Hey, Brooks I have to go," I told him.

He frowned. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, but Mia needs me for something."

"Okay, I'll text you tomorrow," we exchanged goodbyes before hanging up.

Mia came lying down next to me staring up at the ceiling. We laid on my bed in silence for a few minutes I didn't push her to talk, I knew she'll speak when she was ready.

"My dad texted me," she finally said breaking the silence her eyes still locked on the ceiling.

Shit that was never a good thing. Mia's relationship with her father has always been rocky but ever since her parents divorced three years ago their relationship went from bad to worst.

"What did he say?" I asked cautiously.

She sighed. "He wants me to come to the baby's gender reveal party next month."

"Are you going?" I asked and she finally looked away from the ceiling her eyes locking with mine. I could see the pain in her dark brown eyes.

"I don't know Gen, I know the baby is innocent in all of this but I don't know if I can," she scoffed. "It's not like Selena is the first woman my dad cheated on my mom with but she was the one he left mom for. Left us for, and I feel like I'll be betraying my mom in some way if I go. You know how badly my mom wanted another baby and he was against it and now he's expected a baby with another woman."

"Well, if you decide to go you know I'll go with you," I told her grasping her hand with mine and linking our fingers together squeezing her hand. She shot me a small smile squeezing back my hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning I was walking through campus heading to my morning class. Hainsworth University was built in the eighteenth century it's one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges in the country.

The campus was stunning. It boasted ancient, stately buildings all connected by brick pathways lined with sprawling trees.

One of my favorite parts of the campus was the quad. It was covered in the lush green lawn that was adorned with picnic tables and wrought iron benches. The large sprawling oak, maple, and elm trees surrounding the quad were perfect for shade but also created beautiful fall foliage.

Mia and I loved to come and sit here and take in the scenery while we drank the coffees we purchased from the campus coffee shop that was within walking distance of the quad.

"Gen," I heard someone shout behind me. Coming to a halt I spun around my eyes landing on Eliza who was speed walking in my direction.

"Hey, girl," she smiled stopping in front of me.

"Hey," I returned her smile.

"I'm glad I saw you, I was just about to text you I already texted Mia but she hadn't replied yet," she said fixing her bag strap that was falling from her shoulder before continuing. "My roommate Luna and I are having a small girl's night at our apartment tonight and I'll like for you to come."

My first instinct was to decline and make some kind of excuse as to why I couldn't go like I usually do when people invite me to places.

Seeing my hesitation, Eliza spoke. "Come on Gen, It'll only be a few of us since it's so last minute. It'll be fun we'll watch movies, and drink."

It did sound like it would be fun. It's been a long time since had a girl's night. The only friend I had was Mia and now Brooks.

"Sure I'll come," I found myself blurting out.

Eliza squealed hugging me. "Yay, it starts at 8 I'll text you our address," she said releasing me from her hold.

Saying our goodbyes she walked off in the opposite direction and I continued my walk to class.

After class, I was on my way to the quad to meet Mia for lunch. To stay she was shocked that I agreed to go to Eliza's later without her having to force me to go was an understatement. Hell, I shocked myself.

Fishing my phone out of my bag I checked the time quickly before I placed it back in my bag.

My head was down and I wasn't paying attention otherwise I would have seen the person walking toward me before I collided with a hard body.

"Woah, careful," said a deep voice as a pair of strong hands gripped my shoulder steading me.

"Shit I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention," I peeked up and the first thing I noticed was that this dude was really tall he looked like around six-eight, six-nine around that ballpark.

The second thing I noticed was gorgeous he was, with bright hazel eyes, caramel-colored skin, and a head of thick curly hair that fell a little on his face.

"Are you okay?" The gorgeous stranger asked releasing me from his grip as he peered down at me.

"I should be asking you that, I'm the one who ran into you."

His eyes leave mine to slowly rake over my body before bringing his eyes back to mine I could see the spark of interest in them.

He smiled flashing his straight white teeth. "I'll live, you're too small to do any real damage."

I snorted. "You're the first person to ever call me small."

"Well at six-eight most people are small compared to me."

I could see how that's true at five-ten I'm not small by any means but I feel it standing in front of this guy.

"Well, since I didn't run you over or anything and you seem to be in one piece I should get going," I told him stepping away from him and preparing to walk away.

"I'm Liam by the way and you are?" he questioned looking at me expectantly.

"Gen," I answered him before twisting around and walking away and the entire time I felt his gaze on me as I walked away.

~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, guys," Eliza smiled brightly at us when she opened the door. "Come in," she stepped and waved us into the apartment. We stepped through the door and followed Eliza into the open concept kitchen and living room.

"This is Luna, my roommate," she pointed at the curvy brunette standing behind the kitchen counter pouring out drinks. "And this Sarah and Brianna," she pointed in the direction of the two girls sitting on the cream couch.

"Guy's this is Mia and Gen," Eliza introduced us.

"Oh, girl I love your top," Brianna smiled at me her eyes roaming over my top as Mia and I took a seat opposite her. It was a burgundy V-neck bodysuit with thick straps and a triangle cut-out with a twisted knot under my boobs I paired it with high-waisted black skinny jeans and strappy sandals.

"Thanks," I responded right before Luna came over and offered us a drink.

"Oh my God," Mia exclaimed as we both took a sip of the pink cocktail Luna handed us.

"Girl, this tastes amazing," I told her after I took my sip. Mia hummed in agreement as she drank more.

"Thanks, when I home this summer I worked at my older brother's bar and I experimented making a bunch of drinks, pink passion happens to be one of my few successful stories," Luna told Mia flipping her long wavy black hair over one of her light golden brown shoulders taking a seat on the other side of me.

"We're going to order pizza since neither of us really cook," Eliza said looking around at all of us. "So what kind do you guys want?" she asked as she grabbed her phone off the coffee table and looked up at everyone expectantly.

Everyone told Eliza what kind of pizza they wanted. When Sarah said she wanted Hawaiian I couldn't help scrunching up my nose I can't stand pineapples on pizza.

Seeing my expression Luna laughed as she leaned closer to me. "I know right? I hate pineapple on pizza."

"So Luna how come I've never seen you with Eliza at any parties?" Mia asked her.

"Oh that's because she doesn't want to run into Lucas," Eliza said teasingly receiving a glare from Luna in return.

Brianna whose head was stuck looking down at her phone since the conversion started finally perked up. "Lucas Who? Are you talking about Lucas Cruz?" she looked at Eliza and Luna expectantly. When Eliza nodded her eyes fell on Luna.

"Girl, he's fine as fuck why are you hiding from him? What's the story there?"

Luna leaned back sighing. "Long story short we were childhood best friends and when we grew up he turned out to be an asshole the less time I spend around him the better," she explained with a shrug, and although she was trying to act like it was nothing from the tension radiating off her I knew it was anything but.

It seems like Brianna noticed as well because she changed the subject. "You know who else is sexy as fuck Mr. Quarterback himself Brooks Heyward," my body stiffened at the sound of his name causing Mia to shoot me a knowing look.

"Yeah, but I heard he's an asshole." Sarah who's been mostly quiet since we got here chimed in.

"I know but that wouldn't stop me from fucking him if I had the chance," Brianna smirked shamelessly and I couldn't help the spark of jealousy that flared inside me.

But that's ridiculous I don't get jealous Even with Eli I never got jealous when girls blatantly threw themselves at him right in front of me back in high school and I loved him. And Brooks and I are just friends I keep reminding myself of that more and more lately.

Eliza giggled. "Girl you might never get the chance because Royce told me that Brooks doesn't sleep with redheads," Eliza cut in.

Huh? Redheads? I wonder why.

"Why the hell not?" Brianna exclaimed as if she read my mind while she ran her fingers through her fiery red hair.

Eliza shrugged. "I don't know."

The ping of a text on my phone pulled me away from the conversation. I glanced down at the text.

Speak of the devil.

I tuned out the conversation as I read Brooks's text.

The sound of laughter brought attention to the conversation.

"I'm glad we finally decided to do this," Eliza admitted.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Now you're glad I've been telling you for us to have a girl's night for a while now but you're always attached to your boyfriend,"

"Shut up," Eliza laughed picking up a throw pillow and throwing it at Luna.

"Can you blame her? If I had a boyfriend and he looked like Royce you couldn't pry me off his dick either," Brianna said causing Eliza's entire face to turn red while everyone including me laughed.

I'm glad I came tonight I'm actually having a good time.