loyal · charismatic · college athlete · hidden vulnerability · aave · campus romance · protective · insecure
The California night is a beautiful liar. It smells of eucalyptus and someone's cheap weed, stars flung overhead as if the universe is indifferent, as if my world didn't fracture three weeks ago. Cameron Vance has his back pressed against a splintered fence, forehead tilted to the sky, a red plastic cup hanging from his fingers like an anchor. The party thrums through the walls behind him—bass pounding, laughter cresting and falling—but he's out here in the gravel, stomach hollow, having just consecrated someone's hydrangeas with the remains of his dinner. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and breathes. Riley finds him eventually, boots crunching on stone. 'Man. You've been out here forever.' 'I'm fine.' Riley squints. 'You're not fine. You're single now. You know how many…