Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ROSALIE
The days leading up to the Halloween party all blended in together, with midterms on my neck and the traumatizing experience with Aaron at the café.
I hated lying to him, especially when all my thoughts were around Derek.
Whenever we could we talked on the phone for long hours or hid out in the studio making out and exploring each other's body.
The rush of the secrecy was slowly fading, and more and more times I just wanted this to be real. To hold his hand, to hug him in public, and to just be with him without all these rules.
We both were on edge, not being able to grab a coffee or takeout in town, scared to exchange words on campus. Feeling like the whole world was watching us,
"Hey, pretty girl," Derek said from behind me, making me jump as I strolled down the corridor heading to my next class. Yes, it was a miracle that I started taking school seriously, but I did.
"You scared me," I let out a low laugh and wrapped my arms safely around all my books, forcing myself not to reach out to him.
Ever since that first night in the studio, I couldn't get enough of him.
He grinned, that cocky smile that made my stomach flip, and casually threw an arm around my shoulders like he'd done dozens of times before we'd crossed that line.
His leather scent wrapped around me, and I immediately relaxed into his touch.
To anyone watching, it was just Derek being Dex.
Friendly, tactile, the team's golden boy who treated everyone like family.
But I felt the difference. The way his fingers traced small circles on my shoulder. The way his body angled toward mine was protective and possessive.
"Sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "Couldn't resist. You look cute when you're stressed about exams."
"I'm not stressed," I lied, very aware of the other students moving around us. "Just focused."
"Right. That's why you've got that little wrinkle between your eyebrows." His thumb moved to smooth it out, and the touch sent electricity through me. "The one you get when you're overthinking."
I swatted his hand away, fighting a smile. "Stop. People are staring."
"Let them. I'm allowed to be friendly with my best friend's baby sister." But his eyes said something else entirely: I wish I could kiss you right now.
Mine answered: Me too.
"Walk me to class?" I asked, keeping my voice light.
"Always."
We fell into step together, and for a few minutes, it felt almost normal. Like we were just friends, like nothing had changed between us.
Except everything had changed.
"So, Halloween party tomorrow," Derek said casually. "Are you going?"
"Probably. Daisy's making me dress up as a disco dancer. She's going as Cher."
He laughed. "That's perfect for you. All sparkly and fun."
"What are you going as?"
"Haven't decided. Maybe just throw on a jersey and call it a costume."
I rolled my eyes. "That's so lazy. Last year, you were Ken. That was epic."
"Or efficient." He bumped his shoulder against mine, electricity racing through my body. "Will you save me a dance? You know, when no one's watching?"
The words were innocent enough, but the heat in his eyes made my cheeks burn. "Maybe. If you ask nicely."
"I can be very nice," he murmured, low enough that only I could hear.
We reached my classroom too soon. I stopped at the door, turning to face him. Students flowed around us, a river of bodies heading to their own destinations, and for a moment, we were just two people standing in a hallway.
"See you at practice later?" I asked. We had a Pilates session scheduled.
"Wouldn't miss it." His hand brushed mine, fingers tangling briefly before pulling away. "I've been thinking about you all day."
My breath caught. "Derek..."
"I know. Later." But his eyes held mine for a beat longer than necessary, saying all the things we couldn't say out loud.
I forced myself to turn and walk into the classroom, feeling his gaze on me until the door closed between us.
Inside, I slumped into my seat, my heart still racing. This was getting harder, not easier. Every stolen moment made me want more. Every careful distance we had to maintain in public made the longing worse.
My phone buzzed.
Derek
Already missing you.
I glanced around to make sure no one was watching my screen before typing back.
It's been 30 seconds.
Derek
30 seconds too long.
Tonight. Studio. 11 pm?
I'll be there.
I put my phone away as the professor started class, but I couldn't focus. My mind kept drifting to Derek, to tonight, to the party tomorrow where we'd have to pretend we were nothing more than friends while surrounded by everyone we knew.
The bell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. I'd barely heard a word of the lecture.
"Rosalie!" Nova's voice cut through the crowd of students filing out. "Wait up!"
I paused, letting her catch up. She was dressed in her typical dramatic fashion, a vintage dress with cowboy boots, her dark hair perfectly styled.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Just checking if you're still coming to the party tomorrow. Ivy's freaking out about decorations, and she needs to know the final headcount." Nova studied me with those sharp eyes that missed nothing. "You've been MIA lately."
"I've been studying. Midterms."
"Right. Studying." She didn't sound convinced. "With Derek?"
My heart stopped. "What?"
"You two have been spending a lot of time together. The Pilates sessions. The late-night studio time." Nova's expression was unreadable. "People are starting to talk."
"It's just recovery work," I said quickly. "And I need the studio time for my own training."
"Uh-huh." Nova linked her arm through mine as we started walking. "Look, I'm not judging. Actually, I think it's kind of cute."
"There's nothing..."
"Rosie." She stopped, pulling me to the side of the hallway. "I'm your friend. And I'm telling you this because I care: whatever's going on between you and Derek, you need to be careful. Aaron's already suspicious. And if Sebastian's noticed..."
Ice shot through my veins. "Sebastian?"
"He mentioned something to Maddox about you wearing Derek's hoodie. About the way Derek looks at you. About seeing you too look very cozy leaving the studio." Nova's voice was gentle but firm. "I'm not saying anything's happening. I'm just saying... be smart about it."
I swallowed hard. "Nothing's happening."
"Okay." Nova didn't look like she believed me, but she didn't push. "Just... be careful. That's all I'm saying."
She squeezed my arm and headed off to her next class, leaving me standing there with my stomach in knots.
Sebastian had noticed.
If Sebastian had noticed, who else had?
I pulled out my phone.
We need to talk. Sebastian's suspicious.
Derek
Fuck
Studio. Now. Skip class.
I can't just...
Derek
Please. This is important.
I looked at my schedule. Biology was next, a class I couldn't really afford to miss with midterms coming up. But the urgency in Derek's texts made the decision for me.
On my way.
The studio was empty when I arrived, but Derek showed up minutes later, slightly out of breath like he'd run the whole way.
"What did Nova say exactly?" he asked, locking the door behind him.
I repeated the conversation, watching his expression darken with each word.
"Sebastian." Derek ran his hands through his hair. "Of course it's Sebastian."
"Why of course?"
"Because he's been after my starting position since I got injured. If he thinks he has dirt on me, something that could distract me or cause team drama..." Derek shook his head. "He'll use it."
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know." He pulled me into his arms, and I melted against him, breathing in his scent. "Maybe we should just tell Aaron now. Get ahead of it."
"Before the Westpoint game?" I pulled back to look at him. "Derek, you need to focus. You need to be mentally ready for that game. If we tell Aaron now and he freaks out..."
"It might be worse if we don't tell him and someone else does." Derek cupped my face. "I don't want to hide anymore, Rosie. I'm tired of pretending you're not everything to me."
"I know. Me too." I kissed him softly. "But let's get through Halloween first. See what Sebastian actually knows. If we tell Aaron right before Westpoint and it goes badly, you won't be able to focus on the game."
Derek pressed his forehead to mine. "When did you become the logical one?"
"Someone has to be." I tried to smile, but my heart was pounding. "Tomorrow night, at the party, we have to be extra careful. No lingering looks. No touching. Nothing that could give us away."
"That's going to kill me."
"Me too." I kissed him again, deeper this time. "But after Westpoint, we tell him. No matter what. We can't keep living like this."
"After Westpoint," he agreed. "I promise."
We held each other for a long moment, both knowing that the end of our secret was coming, whether we were ready or not.
The next evening, I stood in front of my dorm room mirror, adjusting my disco ball earrings. Daisy had outdone herself with our costumes. I was dressed in a sparkly silver halter top, high-waisted flared pants, and platform shoes. My hair was in perfect waves, and I'd even added glittery eyeshadow.
"You look hot," Daisy declared, appearing beside me in her Cher costume, a long black wig, a sequined crop top, and bell-bottoms. "Derek's not going to be able to keep his hands off you."
"Daisy."
"Oh, please. Everyone knows you two have been hooking up." She grinned at my shocked expression. "What? You think you're subtle? The way you look at each other is ridiculous. Plus, all those late-night phone calls, I can hear you, you know? I’m hurt you never told me, but still happy for you."
"We're not..."