I open up my book and continue reading. Getting lost within the words that jump off the page. I lose track of time, and I'm jolted out of the fantasy world by a kiss on the cheek. I look up to see Gage.

"Hey, beautiful." He says as he leans in and kisses me. I look at him, and a slash on his face concerns me. A cut from his eyebrow down 2 inches below his right eye. I gently touch his face, and he says, "I'm okay. It's just a scratch." He smiles.

"A scratch? That's more than a scratch, babe. What happened?" I ask him, examining the wound. I look at him for an answer. "Our rivals showed up at the rink. We got into a little fight. It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal. You have a massive slash down your face. You will be scarred for life." I say with concern: this could have been bad; he could have lost an eye.

"Chicks dig scars." He laughs, and I clench my jaw. "Gage," I say in defeat.

"I'm sorry. It won't ever happen again." He assures me. Then a cocky smile crosses his face. "You called me babe," he smiles.

"Shut up and kiss me." His lips press against mine. "What do you want to do tonight?" I ask him.

"Well, I'm starving, so let's go get something to eat. And then maybe you can spend the night at my place?" He looks at me, and his eyes shine. He smiles, and I can't say no.

"Sure." I smile at him. He takes my hand and walks me to his truck. He starts the engine, and as we drive down the street, I put down my sunglasses and let the wind blow in my hair. Gage takes my hand in his as he drives, and butterflies fill my stomach.

☾

We grab subs and head back to the truck, sitting quietly as we eat. I lean my back against the door and search his face. The cut reminds me of the wolf I saw last night with the same injury. I try to shake the thought, but could Gage possibly be one? I internally laugh; he can't be. If he were, he would be considered a werewolf, and werewolves don't exist. But no matter what I do, I can't shake the thought.

"Hello, Earth to Star." Gage waves his hand in my face. I shake my head and apologise. "Is everything okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, sorry, I was just in my own little world."

"What were you thinking about?" I quickly lie and say, "The mixer is this Saturday. I'm a little bit nervous about meeting the professors and new people."

He cups my face and says, "There's no need to be nervous. You are smart and beautiful. All the girls will envy you, and all the guys will want to be with you." He smiles.

"You're just saying that because you're my boyfriend." I manage a little smile.

"Nope, I would have said it whether we were together or not because it's true."

He starts the truck, and we head back toward our place. He parks out front of my house and tells me to run in and put my bathing suit on. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." He jumps out of the truck and heads to his house as I enter mine. I head to my room and quickly pull out a swimsuit and put it on. I slip my tank top and shorts back on. I head out as Laura walks out of her room.

"And where are you going?" she teases.

"Out, don't wait up." I smile.

"Use protection!" she shouts as I close the door behind me. I can hear laughter as I step down the steps and walk toward Gage's truck. He sits there, patiently waiting for me. He smiles as I get in. "Ready?"

"Ready!" I smile and await the adventure he is about to take me on.

I buckle up and feel the excitement building up inside me. I know that with him, anything is possible, and I am ready to explore the world around me. He drives, and the wind blows through my hair as the music fills the truck. He grabs my thigh and squeezes, and I bite my lip.

☾

The late afternoon sun shines brightly as we drive. The warmth of the sun hits my face, and I bask in it. I can't help but wonder where he is taking me; we drive further and further out of town, further than he has before. I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness, but I trust him completely. As we turn onto a dirt road, I can't help but feel like this adventure will be one to remember. He parks the truck and cuts the engine. "What are we doing here?"

He steps out of the truck and motions for me to follow. I step out and look around at all the trees. He takes my hands in his and quietly says, "Listen, what do you hear?"

I block out all the noise around me and try to focus; the sound of rushing water catches my attention. He smiles once he realises that I figured it out. "A waterfall," I quietly state.

He nods and takes my hand, guiding me through the trees. The mist from the waterfall hits my face, and I feel refreshed. As we approach it, I can hear the sound getting louder and more powerful. The waterfall is a breathtaking sight to behold, with water cascading down the rocks and creating a serene atmosphere. I take a deep breath and soak in the natural beauty around me.

He puts his phone and keys down, and I just can't help myself. I push him into the water. He resurfaces, sputtering and laughing, and I join him in the water, feeling the coolness of the water wash over me. I watch as he takes his shirt off in the water and tosses it on the rocks. He swims toward me and grabs my waist. Pulling me under the water, he kisses me. I feel the adrenaline rush through my veins as I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. We stay underwater for a few more seconds before coming up for air, both of us laughing and gasping for breath.

The sun setting behind us, paints the sky with shades of orange and pink. We hold each other close, enjoying the peaceful moment before swimming back to shore. We head back to his truck, and the warm summer air starts to dry us off. He places the blanket on the bed of the truck and lays down, staring at the sky.

"Come here," he says. I move toward him and lay my head on his chest.

"Can I ask you a question and you answer without lying?"

"Sure," he says.

I take a deep breath and gather my thoughts before speaking. This question has been on my mind for a while now, and I need to know the truth. "I know about your reputation. You're the bad boy that every girl wants. So why me?" I ask, looking up at him. His expression softens, and he runs his fingers through my hair.

He lays me down and hovers over me, saying, "There's something different about you. I knew the first day I met you that I wanted to be with you. You enjoy moments like today, while those other girls, all they ever wanted was a fun time, if you know what I mean." I nod my head in understanding. "You," he smiles, "you're someone who enjoys the little things. I feel like I can be myself around you. I appreciate that about you. It's refreshing to spend time with someone who values genuine connections and meaningful experiences over superficial ones." His eyes lock on mine, and I can tell he is telling me the truth. "I don't know how to explain it, but I want you and only you. I want to enjoy every moment with you. Like I said before, I'm falling for you, and I'm falling hard."

I press my lips against his and run my hands up and down his back. I can't resist the way he makes me feel. He pulls me closer and deepens the kiss, making my heart race. Being with him feels like a dream come true, and I never want to let go.

As we break apart, he looks at me with a smile that could light up the entire room. We sit there in silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. I know that this is just the beginning of something amazing, and I can't wait to see where it takes us.