Chapter 6
804 Words
The campus quad was buzzing with students, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the walkways. Ivy McCall tightened her hoodie around her shoulders and adjusted the strap of her backpack. She had intended to just pick up her notes from the library and head back to the apartment—simple, uneventful. But the sight of Asher Reid leaning against the fountain, laughing with his friends, made her pause.
He wasn’t looking at her. Not yet. But he always seemed to know when she was watching.
She forced herself to look away, telling herself it was just a coincidence.
⸻
Asher’s friend, Liam, nudged him. “You been staring at someone?”
Asher followed Liam’s gaze—then noticed Ivy.
“Uh… she’s just passing by,” he said, but his heart gave an uncooperative lurch.
“Uh-huh,” Liam teased, smirking. “You totally like her.”
“Shut up,” Asher muttered, though he didn’t move.
Ivy, oblivious to the small drama unfolding behind her, made her way to the library steps. She tried to ignore the way her stomach clenched, the way her chest fluttered every time Asher’s gaze found hers.
⸻
That evening, they met at the apartment to finalize the project presentation. Ivy spread her notes across the table, trying to focus. Asher, as usual, sat sprawled across the couch, tuning his guitar absentmindedly.
“Do you think we’re overcomplicating this slide?” Ivy asked, frowning at her laptop.
“I think we’re perfecting it,” Asher said, leaning closer. His knee brushed hers. She jerked slightly. “Oops.”
“Careful,” she muttered, trying to pull back.
“I like close,” he said with that lazy grin. “Not too close, just… noticeable.”
Her face warmed. “Noticeable is… a lot.”
He tilted his head, playful and teasing, but his eyes softened. “I’ll keep it in check. For you.”
She felt her heart skip. For a second, she forgot she was supposed to hate him.
⸻
Later, as they packed up for the night, a knock on the door startled them.
It was Tyler—the same guy from the library earlier.
“Hey, Ivy! I was just in the neighborhood—thought I’d drop by,” he said, smiling broadly.
Ivy’s heart sank. She wasn’t sure why, but seeing him there now, standing in her doorway, made her chest tighten.
Asher stiffened behind her. His playful grin was gone.
“You can’t just… drop by unannounced,” Ivy said quickly.
Tyler glanced at Asher. “Uh… hi, I’m Tyler.”
Asher extended his hand with a calm, almost casual smile. “Asher. Nice to meet you.”
Tyler’s handshake lingered a moment too long, and Asher’s jaw tightened ever so slightly.
Ivy felt it too. The possessive tension was almost physical. She didn’t know why it bothered her—but it did.
“Thanks for stopping by, Tyler, but I’ve got to work on the project,” she said, subtly guiding him out.
As the door closed, Asher let out a quiet sigh.
“You okay?” Ivy asked.
“Yeah,” he said, voice low. “Just… didn’t expect him here. Didn’t like it.”
Her stomach did that flutter again—the same one she felt whenever he smiled at her, or teased her, or even sat too close.
“I guess… I didn’t like it either,” she admitted softly.
They stood there, a little too close. Ivy could feel the heat from his body; his eyes were fixed on hers in a way that made her breath catch.
“Step-siblings,” she whispered, half-teasing, half-serious.
“As far as everyone knows,” he replied, his voice softer now. “But maybe… not really.”
The words hung in the air, charged, and Ivy felt a shiver of both fear and anticipation.
⸻
The next day, their library session was unusually quiet. Words were scarce, each glance heavy with unspoken things.
When Ivy leaned over to point something out on the laptop, their hands brushed—again. She pulled back instinctively, but he didn’t move away.
“Stop pulling back,” he murmured, voice low. “You don’t have to pretend.”
“I’m not pretending,” she said, though her voice wavered.
“Yes, you are,” he said, leaning just a fraction closer. “We’re partners. In more ways than one, apparently.”
Ivy’s stomach twisted. “This… this can’t happen.”
“Why not?” he asked softly, eyes locking with hers. “Doesn’t feel like it’s wrong. Feels like it’s… right.”
Her heart pounded. She wanted to say something smart, something rational—but she couldn’t.
And for the first time, Ivy wondered if maybe—just maybe—she was falling.
- Writer
