Page 8 of Try Line Hearts
“And?”
“He hits hard.”
Carmody smiled. “Good. You two will partner beautifully. Bring him up to speed.”
Byrne nodded, stomach sinking.
Partnering meant proximity.
Repetition.
Touch.
Too much.
Afternoon training didn’t save him. Kaine only shone brighter.
After sprints, the winger jogged beside him. “You call plays fast.”
“You’ll adjust.”
“You planning to help with that?”
Byrne blinked. “Help?”
“Yeah. Work together. Build rhythm.” Kaine smiled. “You and me—same page? Could be magic.”
Magic shouldn’t make Byrne breathless.
The day ended with him stretching alone until Kaine wandered over.
“Good session,” Kaine said. “Feels right, the way we run together.”
Byrne stretched harder. “Good.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“You’re impossible.”
“You’re distracting.”
Kaine’s smile faded into something quieter. “Didn’t know I was.”
Too softly.
By the time Byrne reached the dorms, exhausted and frayed, he opened the door to find a second duffel on the floor. A jacket on the chair. Size-13 runners by the bed.
His stomach plunged.
“Evening, captain.”
Kaine stood there with damp curls and a book in hand.
“Coach assigned us as roommates,” he said. “Said it’ll help chemistry.”
Chemistry.
