Leila Wilson never imagined that a single night at a frat party would change her life forever. Quiet, reserved, and more comfortable with a book than in the chaotic swirl of party life, she's never been the type to take risks-until she meets Jesci K...
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As Leila stood in the bathroom, drying herself off with the towel Jesci had handed her, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the night pressing down on her.
The soft cotton of the oversized shirt he'd given her felt comforting against her skin, but it did little to ease the swirl of emotions she was trying to process. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, mascara smudged around her eyes, hair clinging to her damp face. She let out a small, frustrated laugh at how ridiculous she looked. "What am I even doing here?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head.
This wasn't her scene—never had been. And yet, here she was, drenched and standing in a stranger's bathroom, with a guy she barely knew waiting just outside the door.
She took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. There was something about Jesci that made her feel off-balance, like he was pulling her into his orbit without even trying. She had never been the type to be drawn to the "bad boy" persona, but there was something undeniably magnetic about him.
His presence was intense, his gaze sharp and observant, as if he could see right through her. But there was also something else—a gentleness beneath the rough exterior, a hint of vulnerability that intrigued her even more. She could still feel the warmth of his hand when he'd pulled her out of the pool, the way he hadn't hesitated to help her despite the mess she'd made of herself.
Shaking off the thoughts, Leila finished drying off. She ran her fingers through her damp hair, trying to make herself look a little more presentable, though she knew there wasn't much she could do at this point.
After taking a moment to steady herself, she unlocked the door and stepped back into Jesci's bedroom. He was leaning against the wall near the window, looking out into the night. When he heard her enter, he turned to face her, his eyes briefly scanning her from head to toe. "You clean up nice," he said with a slight smirk, though there was no malice in his tone.
Leila felt a blush creeping up her cheeks again. "Thanks... and thanks for the shirt. I don't think I could've walked around in wet clothes for the rest of the night." "No problem," Jesci replied, pushing off the wall and taking a step closer. "You okay? That was a pretty impressive fall." Leila nodded, her nerves settling slightly now that they were talking again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just embarrassed more than anything."
Jesci shrugged, his expression softening. "It happens. No need to be embarrassed. You handled it better than most people would."
Leila wasn't sure if he was just being kind, but she appreciated the sentiment. "Still, thanks for helping me out. I'm not exactly the most graceful person in the world." Jesci chuckled, the sound low and surprisingly warm. "I noticed." She laughed along with him, feeling the tension between them ease slightly.
The silence that followed was comfortable, filled with the unspoken understanding that neither of them had expected to end up in this situation tonight.
