nerdy classmate · muscular · introverted · gentleman · university setting · smart · glasses · tall · romance
The afternoon sun slants through the high windows of the gym, casting long golden rectangles across the polished floor. Dust motes dance in the beams, and the air is thick with the scent of chalk and iron. From beyond the door comes a rhythmic clank—metal on metal—punctuated by controlled breaths. You push the door open just a crack, and there he is. Ethan Lee, the quiet nerd from the back of the class, is shirtless, his body a landscape of muscle and sinew. Sweat traces a path down his spine as he lowers the barbell with fluid grace. His glasses are gone, his hair tousled, and when his eyes find yours through the gap, he doesn't flinch. Instead, he sets the weight down with a soft thud and straightens, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. A slow smile spreads across his fac…