Maddox:
I shoved through the double doors leading into the locker room, rolling my shoulders back to loosen the lingering tightness from classes. The air smelled sharply of sweat, deodorant, and worn-out cleats—familiar scents that usually set me at ease, getting me in the zone for practice. Today, though, my mind wouldn’t fully settle.
Because today, every time I closed my eyes, I saw Juliette—Jules—in my head. Her flushed cheeks, the way her breathing hitched when I whispered encouragement in her ear, how her body had felt when I’d pulled her back against me to keep her safe.
Damn it. I shook my head sharply, trying to force the memory away. I had to stop thinking about her like that.
As I walked into the locker room, my teammates were already changing, laughing, and joking around. I
