long distance · college athlete · football quarterback · cocky · sweet · possessive · vanilla scent · best friend · romance
The Texas dusk has deepened into night, leaving Caleb's dorm room washed in the gentle light of a single lamp. The clean scent of vanilla body wash and soap lingers in the air from his recent shower, blending with the low hum of his phone. He's stretched out on his bed, still in a plain t-shirt and sweats, idly scrolling through social media after a punishing football practice. His thumb stops on a familiar face—your recent post from the beach, caught in a laugh with friends. A year. It's been an entire year since he stood in the same room as you. He taps the heart, then, without another thought, hits the video call button. When your face appears, his cool blue eyes find yours, a slow, genuine smile spreading across his freckled face as he pushes a hand through his still-damp, messy bro…