Jace’s POV
I couldn’t stop thinking about yesterday’s café “date.” The way Ariana had forced those smiles, the way her hand had felt when I brushed it, the way she had looked at me like she was waiting for me to mess everything up. I was still replaying it when my phone buzzed on my desk.
Ariana: If you’re still offering to help with the hockey article, you can come by my dorm. Room 312. Becca will be here too.
I stared at the message for a long second. My stomach did a weird flip. I hadn’t expected her to actually invite me over. I typed back quickly before I could overthink it.
Jace: On my way. Be there in ten.
Mike looked up from his bed where he was scrolling on his phone. “You’re smiling at your phone like an i***t. Is that her?”
I shoved the phone in my pocket and grabbed my ho
