The stadium roared with the sound of stomping feet, cheerleaders shaking pompoms, and the buzz of excitement. Friday nights in Ridgewood High belonged to one person—Ethan Cole, the school's golden boy, the quarterback who never missed a pass.
But tonight, all eyes weren't on him.
Lila Hart adjusted her helmet, nerves twisting in her stomach. This was her debut on the varsity team—the first girl ever to make it. She wasn't here to prove a point. She was here because football was her heart.
"Don't screw up, princess," one of the senior players sneered as they jogged past.
Lila's soft brown eyes turned cold. "Worry about yourself," she snapped, brushing him off.
From across the field, Ethan caught it. The sharpness in her voice. The fire in her stance. The girl who didn't bend.
When she sprinted down the field, catching a long pass with impossible grace, Ethan felt it—the pull. His jaw tightened, heart pounding for a reason that had nothing to do with the game.
By the end of the night, Ridgewood High had won, but Ethan didn't care about the score. His gaze never left her—not once.
Later, in the locker hallway, he leaned against the wall, waiting. When Lila walked by, helmet in hand, sweat still glistening on her forehead, Ethan pushed off the wall and blocked her path.
"You're mine," he said simply, his voice low, possessive.
Lila blinked up at him, her lips parting in disbelief. "Excuse me?"
Ethan's smirk was dark, unshakable. "You heard me. Lila Hart—I don't share. Get used to me being around."
Her heart skipped, not out of fear, but something else. Annoyance. Challenge. Maybe even excitement.
And so, it began.