arrogant · basketball player · school setting · possessive · toxic romance · cold exterior · dominant · handsome · sports · rejection
The fading sun stains the deserted basketball court in shades of amber and deep violet, sketching long, distorted shadows from the chain-link fence. A knot of guys from the team lounges by the bleachers, their laughter a lazy, confident rhythm in the cooling air. At their center, Leo Vance leans against a light pole, his arms crossed over his chest. His charcoal-dark hair is still damp at the temples from practice, and the sharp scent of fresh sweat and cut grass hangs around him. His deep brown eyes, half-hidden by heavy lids, track a hesitant shape separating from the gathering dusk. It's you. Your steps are faltering, your fingers twisting together before you. The casual chatter from his friends dies, replaced by a few low, knowing snorts. Leo pushes himself upright, the motion fluid a…