Breaking the Jock

The Invitation

Victor's POV

I watched the five of them disappear through the university gates.

Oliver appeared beside me.

"You know you're staring again."

"I'm observing."

"The road is behind you."

I turned.

He was right.

I looked back at him.

"You're annoying."

He grinned.

"You like him."

"No."

"You barely know him."

"Exactly."

Zain caught up with us, hands buried in the pockets of his jacket.

"What are you two arguing about?"

"Victor's new best friend."

I gave Oliver a flat look.

"Enzo isn't my friend."

"Not yet."

"He is my project partner."

"That's how it starts."

I rolled my eyes and started walking.

Behind me, Oliver laughed.

Zain followed.

"You have to admit," Zain said, "he seems interested in you."

I stopped.

"What?"

Oliver nearly walked into me.

"He is."

"No, he's not."

"Victor."

"What?"

"He practically challenged you to follow him somewhere."

"He invited me."

"Exactly."

"People invite other people places."

Oliver stared at me.

"Not like that."

I ignored him.

Whatever Enzo's intentions were, I wasn't interested in guessing.

By six that evening, I had changed my mind at least three times.

I wasn't going.

Then I was.

Then I wasn't.

Then Oliver found me staring at the same shirt in my wardrobe for nearly five minutes.

He leaned against my bedroom door.

"You know, most people choose clothes without having an existential crisis."

"I'm not having a crisis."

"You're staring at a shirt."

"I'm thinking."

"About Enzo."

I looked at him.

"About what I'm wearing."

Oliver smiled.

"Same thing."

I threw the shirt at him.

He caught it, laughing.

"You're going."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

Zain appeared behind him.

"Are you actually going?"

I sighed.

"Apparently."

Oliver grinned.

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Enzo didn't exactly give me an itinerary."

Zain frowned.

"That sounds reassuring."

"It's fine."

Oliver folded his arms.

"What if it's dangerous?"

"It's probably dangerous."

He stared at me.

"You said that far too casually."

I shrugged.

"I can handle myself."

Zain sighed.

"You always say that."

"Because it's true."

Before either of them could respond, my phone vibrated.

A message.

**Enzo:** Outside.

I stared at the screen.

Oliver leaned over my shoulder.

"Oh."

"Don't."

He smiled.

"He's outside."

"I can read."

Zain looked amused.

"Go."

I grabbed my jacket.

"Don't wait up."

Oliver's grin widened.

"We absolutely will."

---

Enzo was waiting outside the university gates.

He wasn't alone.

Of course he wasn't.

Matteo stood beside a black car, speaking quietly on the phone.

Dante leaned against the passenger door.

Lorenzo was sitting on the hood.

And Nico was arguing with someone over the phone.

Enzo looked up when I approached.

His expression softened.

"You came."

"You sound surprised."

"I was hoping."

I stopped.

He smiled.

"Come on."

I looked at the car.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"I hate when people say that."

"I know."

Lorenzo laughed from the hood.

"He's been looking forward to this all day."

Enzo looked at him.

"Lorenzo."

"What?"

"Stop talking."

"I'm just being honest."

Nico ended his call.

"Are we leaving?"

Matteo nodded.

"Finally."

Dante opened the car door.

"Get in."

I looked at Enzo.

"Do you always travel like this?"

"Like what?"

"With four brothers."

He smiled.

"Usually."

I shook my head.

"This family is impossible."

Nico grinned.

"You'll fit right in."

I ignored him.

But Enzo smiled.

---

We drove for almost forty minutes.

The city lights gradually disappeared behind us.

I looked out the window.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"Still curious?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Lorenzo turned around from the front seat.

"He's going to love it."

Dante glanced at him.

"Don't ruin the surprise."

"I'm not."

Nico leaned between the seats.

"It's the race."

I looked at Enzo.

"You said you raced."

"I do."

"You didn't say it was tonight."

"You didn't ask."

I shook my head.

"You enjoy being difficult."

"Maybe."

The car eventually turned onto a narrow road surrounded by warehouses.

Music became louder as we approached.

Then I saw the crowd.

Cars.

Motorcycles.

People everywhere.

My eyebrows lifted.

"This is bigger than I expected."

Enzo looked at me.

"Still want to leave?"

I looked around.

"No."

His smile appeared.

"Good."

The car stopped.

The brothers climbed out.

Almost immediately, people began approaching them.

Matteo handled most of the conversations.

Dante stayed close.

Lorenzo seemed to know everyone.

Nico disappeared within seconds.

Enzo remained beside me.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You look impressed."

"I'm not."

"You're lying."

I looked at him.

"Maybe."

He laughed.

Then a motorcycle roared nearby.

The crowd turned.

Enzo's expression changed.

Focused.

Someone approached him.

"You're racing tonight?"

Enzo nodded.

"Yeah."

The man glanced at me.

"Who's this?"

Enzo didn't hesitate.

"Victor."

The man looked between us.

"Friend?"

Enzo's eyes flicked towards me.

"Something like that."

I raised an eyebrow.

He smiled.

"Come on."

---

The race started twenty minutes later.

I stood beside his brothers near the starting line.

Matteo handed Enzo his helmet.

"Be careful."

Enzo nodded.

Dante added, "Don't get stupid."

Lorenzo laughed.

"That's impossible."

Nico came running over.

"You're going to win."

Enzo smiled.

"I know."

Nico hugged him quickly.

Enzo laughed and pushed him away.

"Go."

I watched them.

There was no performance.

No pretending.

Just genuine affection.

Enzo put his helmet on.

Then he looked at me.

"Watch."

"I am."

The engines roared.

The crowd erupted.

Then they were gone.

I watched the motorcycles disappear down the road.

For several minutes, nobody spoke.

Then Nico shouted.

"Come on!"

Lorenzo laughed.

Matteo remained calm.

Dante watched the road.

I realized my hands were clenched.

I hadn't even noticed.

"Relax," Dante said.

I looked at him.

"I'm relaxed."

He smiled slightly.

"No, you're not."

Before I could answer, headlights appeared in the distance.

The crowd erupted.

Enzo crossed the finish line first.

Nico practically launched himself at him.

Lorenzo followed.

Matteo smiled.

Dante shook his head.

Enzo removed his helmet.

His hair was damp with sweat.

His eyes immediately searched the crowd.

They found me.

He walked straight towards me.

"Well?"

I folded my arms.

"You won."

"I know."

"You nearly crashed."

His smile disappeared.

"You noticed?"

"Everyone noticed."

He stepped closer.

"But you were watching."

"Obviously."

Something in his expression softened.

"Good."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted you to."

I didn't know what to say.

Before I could respond, Nico appeared between us.

"He's doing it again."

Enzo sighed.

"Nico."

"Looking at Victor."

Lorenzo laughed.

Matteo shook his head.

Dante muttered, "Leave them alone."

Nico grinned.

"I'm just saying."

Enzo looked at me.

"Ignore him."

"I've learned that's impossible."

He smiled.

"Yeah."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then someone called Enzo's name.

He turned.

Matteo was standing near the car.

"We're leaving."

Enzo nodded.

He looked back at me.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"Home."

I blinked.

"Your home?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He smiled.

"Because my brothers are hungry."

Lorenzo called from behind him.

"That's not the only reason."

Enzo turned.

"Lorenzo."

He laughed.

I shook my head.

And somehow, I followed them.

I had no idea that walking into the Moretti family home would be the moment I started seeing Enzo differently.

Not as the arrogant heartthrob everyone feared.

Not as my academic rival.

But as the man underneath all of it.

And that was far more dangerous.