7

ELEONOR.

"Are you out of your mind? Why on earth would Zeus be picking you up? Have you really looked at him? He's intimidating,"" Madeline nearly caused a commotion when I mentioned my plans with the boxer. I had casually let slip that he would be picking me up after his last class today.

I simply rolled my eyes in response.

""We're just friends, Madeline, keep it down. We're working on a project together,"" I whispered, reminding her as we both bent over a questionnaire about a play we'd been assigned to read the previous week.

""They're just friends yet they've kissed already?!"" she blurted out, not bothering to suppress her volume.

""Shush! Will you lower your voice?"" I hissed, darting glances around to check if we had become the center of attention. Luckily, everyone seemed too engrossed in their own business to notice.

""Aren't you scared for yourself?"" she probed, her eyes wide with concern.

""Why should I be scared? Because he's a boxer?"" I countered, trying to understand her point.

""He's a boxer, Eleonor. He's big enough to... you know,"" she gestured vaguely, implying the potential for violence. ""Aren't you worried he might lose his temper?""

Her concern was touching, but it also felt like an overreaction. ""Madeline, it's unfair to judge someone like that. My brother's a boxer too, and you've always liked him. Has that changed now that he's in jail? Are you suddenly afraid of him?""

She fell silent, her face turning a shade of pink, caught in the hypocrisy of her own logic.

""See? No answer. You still like him regardless. I'm not going to pre-judge Zeus without a reason. And yes, I am going out with him,"" I stated, watching her reluctantly nod in acceptance.

""What time will you be back? What are you going to tell your mom?"" she inquired, her voice laced with a new worry.

""I'll just text her that I'm with classmates. I don't really want to be at home right now,"" I replied, skirting the details.

The truth was, my home life was far from ideal at the moment. Tension hung in the air like thick fog, and the absence of my brother Michael had turned our home into a silent, joyless place. I missed his laughter and even our silly arguments. The thought of stepping back through that door filled me with dread.

""Just promise me you'll be careful. And call me when you get home. If you don't want to stay there, you can crash at my place for a few days, at least until Michael's out,"" Madeline offered, her voice softening. She had a long-standing crush on my brother—a fact everyone but Michael seemed to be aware of.

""Thanks, Madeline. I'll let you know,"" I said, giving her a grateful hug as the class ended.

We parted ways outside the university, and there was Ever, leaning casually against his BMW, waiting for me. I hesitated for a moment at the curb, waiting for a break in the traffic, but he crossed the street to meet me, making my heart skip a beat.

""Ready to go, Eleonor?"" he said, taking my hand to help me across.

His touch was electric, a jolt that made the mundane act of crossing the street feel like an adventure. It wasn't until we reached the other side and he ushered me into the car that I snapped out of my daze, slightly embarrassed by how childish I must have seemed.

""Do I look like I don't know how to cross the street?"" I asked, half-teasing, half-serious.

""Are we starting with this now?"" His voice carried a smile that I couldn't see but could imagine all too well. I turned to look at him, not wanting to miss the sight of his face relaxed, his eyes softening with humor." "His rare smile was a masterpiece, the kind that could light up the darkest corners of any room. It was a shame he kept it under wraps so often.

""Come on, answer me. Do you really think I'm so childish that I can't cross the street on my own?"" His gaze met mine, brief but piercing before returning to the road, signaling a thoughtful response was on its way.

""You fancy yourself a bookworm, right? Isn't there something about a man being chivalrous in those stories you read? I'm trying here... trying to be gentle. I don't want my rough edges to frighten you,"" he explained, his tone sincere yet slightly awkward.

I couldn't help but smile, touched by his effort.

""I get it, you were being considerate, and as you put it, kind,"" I acknowledged.

Inside, I was bursting with the desire to tell Madeline just how wrong she was about him. This wasn't merely an attempt at politeness; to me, it was romantic, a form of courtship. The sensation of his firm grip was unexpectedly comforting.

""Actually, I also did it because little girls shouldn't cross the street alone,"" he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

We both erupted into laughter, a shared moment that felt like a breakthrough. For the first time, I didn't bristle at his nickname for me, ""Nena.""

""It doesn't bother me anymore, boxer,"" I let him know, signaling a truce of sorts.

""No, it shouldn't,"" he agreed, his voice deepening playfully. ""Who would mind being called a boxer's girl?"" He cleared his throat, a hint of real emotion behind the bravado. ""I mean, this boxer's girl.""

His words sent a jolt through me. Everything was moving so fast, yet part of me feared not moving at all. His closeness was intoxicating, his scent, his gaze, the way he made me feel like I was back in the throes of teenage infatuation. It was overwhelming how he noticed things in me that others hadn't, how he comforted me about my brother, and now, how casually he claimed me as his own. It was hard not to feel assured that he wanted something real with me.

And I was determined not to let Madeline's skepticism cloud my judgment this time. A man like him wouldn't waste time if his intentions were purely physical. He had been upfront and clear from the start, even attempting to be gentle.

""Your girl? I almost thought you didn't do relationships,"" I challenged, poking fun at his machismo, and reminding him of his own words.

He paused, a smirk forming as he searched for the right words. ""I know. I've been ensnared by a very..."" He trailed off, choosing his next words carefully. ""A very sweet girl, and I found myself wanting to be her guardian. Just so you're clear... it's infuriating that it's all your doing, Eleonor,"" he declared, his voice rising with mock frustration as he playfully slapped the steering wheel.

The tension between us was a living thing, electric and undeniable. As he drove, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, each glance and word exchanged adding to a narrative that seemed to be writing itself with an unpredictable, yet thrilling plot." "The playful banter and the undercurrent of flirtation had reached a new level, and his words sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. It was a dance of words and glances, each phrase more daring than the last.

""Your fault? Because you're not like anyone else I've met. You have this... this fire. You speak your mind, stand your ground, and that's not something I'm used to. You've made me take notice, and now, well, you've got me all turned around, Eleonor,"" he admitted, his voice carrying a mixture of admiration and a hint of bewilderment.

I smirked, a sense of empowerment washing over me. ""So, I'm the one who's got you spinning? That's not my problem, Ever. I'm not the kind to fall at someone's feet, no matter how charming they might be. It's you who should be prepared. I might just turn your world on its head, and I expect no complaints from you, Zeus.""

He chuckled at that, the sound rich and genuine. ""Zeus, huh? That's a name for the ring, for someone else. For you, I'm Ever. Just Ever. And complain? About you? That's not likely. But I might just give you cause for... a different kind of complaint, Eleonor. The kind you won't mind at all.""

The air between us was electric, charged with an energy that was both new and exhilarating. I was usually never at a loss for words, always ready with a sharp comeback or a witty retort. But now, as his words hung in the air, teasing and bold, I found myself momentarily speechless, caught in the gravity of the moment and the undeniable chemistry we shared.

I was left with a tingling sensation, a silent acknowledgment of the connection that was forming between us, one that was as unexpected as it was intense. His words not only challenged me but also promised a journey of discovery that I was, despite any reservations, eager to embark upon.