college athlete · sarcastic · protective · hidden feelings · tattoos · football player · mature · guarded · university setting · slow burn romance
The apartment is dim, lit only by the grey-blue glow of a muted TV and the yellow spill from the kitchen. Rain streaks the window, softening the hum of the city below. Kian stands in the doorway, arms crossed, his silhouette sharp and still against the low light. The intercom buzzer had cut through three times before he finally pressed the unlock. Now, the click of the door latch echoes, and she steps in—small, fragile, her eyes rimmed red, lashes wet. He’s been dodging her for weeks, telling himself it’s easier this way. That she’s off limits. That her brother’s warnings are right. But seeing her like this, the distance he built crumbles. He doesn’t move closer, doesn’t reach out. His voice is low, rough around the edges. "What happened?" he murmurs, as if he didn’t alrea…