Returning to campus after the break felt like waking from a dream.
Athena pulled her coat tighter as they stepped out of the cab and onto the familiar pavement of the university dorms. The air was colder here, sharper, less forgiving. It felt like reality had been waiting for them at the gates.
Mason grabbed both suitcases and nudged her gently with his shoulder. "Back to the grind."
Athena gave him a small smile, though a knot already curled in her stomach. "Yep. Back to classes, essays, group projects…"
"And football." Mason's voice was quieter now.
She noticed the way he looked at her after saying that—cautious, like he was already bracing for her reaction.
Athena didn't flinch. "I can handle it, Mason. I'm not expecting you to quit. I just need to know we won't go back to how it was before."
"We won't," he promised. "I won't let us."
And for the first few weeks, he didn't.
Mason started setting boundaries—leaving practice earlier, texting her during breaks, even cutting back on social events. They carved out weekly date nights, even if they were just takeout and Netflix in bed. He showed up. Really showed up.
Athena felt herself exhale for the first time in months.
But life wasn't done testing them.
By mid-February, Mason's schedule exploded—new recruits, night games, training camps. He was gone more often than not, and when he was home, he was exhausted. He'd collapse into bed without much more than a "hey."
Athena tried to stay patient. Her own workload was intense—group presentations, her part-time tutoring job, and now a possible internship for the summer that could send her across the country.
One night, after her tutoring shift, she came home to find Mason already asleep on the couch, playbook open on his chest.
Her heart ached. This wasn't what she wanted—living together but feeling miles apart.
So she did something she hadn't done in a while.
She called Eli.
They hadn't spoken much since fall, but he still picked up on the first ring.
"Hey stranger," he said with a warm smile in his voice.
Athena felt herself relax. "Hey. You free to talk?"
"Always."
They talked for over an hour—about life, stress, missing home. He didn't judge, didn't push. He just listened. Like a real friend.
She never mentioned Mason.
But Mason saw the call log the next day.
He didn't say anything at first, just stared at her phone screen for a long time.
When she came out of the shower, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her phone loosely.
"You called Eli," he said quietly.
Athena froze. "Yeah… just to talk."
Mason looked up, and for the first time in weeks, she saw something raw in his eyes. "Why him?"
She sighed, wrapping the towel tighter around her. "Because you've been gone, Mason. Even when you're here, you're not. I've been drowning, and I just needed someone to throw me a line."
His jaw clenched. "And you didn't think I could be that person?"
"I wanted you to be!" she snapped, the words cracking in the air between them. "But every time I try to talk, you're either asleep or on the field or too tired to listen!"
The silence that followed was sharp.
Then Mason stood, shaking his head. "I'm trying, Athena. But maybe it's not enough for you. Maybe I'm not enough."
That hurt. It felt like a slap.
Athena's eyes filled with tears. "Don't say that. Don't twist this like I'm the villain."
"I'm not twisting anything," he said, voice cold. "But if you'd rather run to Eli every time we hit a rough patch, then maybe you've already made your choice."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Mason…"
But he turned away.
She left that night. Not because she wanted to, but because she needed space—real space to think, to breathe, to feel again.
She didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
But for the first time in a long time, she wasn't sure if love alone would be enough.