Chapter 75 Chapter 74
Logan POV
Something is wrong with the campus.
I notice it before anyone says it out loud.
It’s in the way the usual girls aren’t lingering outside the Ice House when we leave for class.
In the way no one whistles. No one waves. No one “accidentally” bumps into us in the quad.
In the way the air feels… empty.
By the time we’re halfway to the science building, Marco finally says what we’re all thinking.
“Okay, seriously. Did we miss a memo or something?”
Zack squints around like he’s expecting to see hidden cameras. “Where did everybody go?”
“Everybody who matters or everybody who usually tries to sleep with you?” Cole asks dryly.
“Both,” Zack says. “I’m not picky.”
We pass a group of girls near the library steps. Normally, at least one of them would smile. Or whisper. Or do that not-subtle-at-all hair flip thing.
Today?
Nothing.
They keep talking. Keep walking. Don’t even look at us.
Marco slows, watching them go. “Huh.”
“That’s… new,” Zack mutters.
We keep walking.
It doesn’t get better.
At the coffee shop, the barista who usually gives me a free extra shot barely looks at me.
At the student union, the tables that are normally half hockey-adjacent are just… not.
It’s like someone turned off a switch.
By the time we sit down in the quad, Zack finally says it.
“I think the girls on campus are going crazy.”
Marco snorts. “Maybe they’re all just acting like bitches today.”
Cole gives him a look. “Wow. Ten points for emotional intelligence.”
“What?” Marco shrugs. “It’s weird. You can’t deny it.”
Zack rubs his chin, thoughtful. “Maybe they’re all on their period.”
Marco lights up. “Ohhh. Yeah. That makes sense. Maybe they synced.”
Zack blinks. “All of them?”
Marco spreads his hands. “Hey, I’ve heard that happens.”
Zack nods slowly. “I mean, yeah, cycles can sync but… damn. The whole campus?”
Cole stares at both of them like he’s reconsidering his life choices.
I don’t laugh.
Because my gut is already tight, and I don’t like why.
I spot Harper across the quad.
She’s walking with two girls from Alpha Chi—Maya and Tori. They’re talking, focused, not laughing, not flirting with anyone.
She looks… fine.
Calm.
Purposeful.
She doesn’t look at me.
Not even a flicker.
It’s like I’m part of the scenery.
Something in my chest pulls tight.
“Earth to Captain,” Zack says, snapping his fingers in front of my face. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I lie. “Just tired.”
Cole’s eyes flick to where I was looking.
He doesn’t say anything.
Which somehow makes it worse.
At practice, it’s the same.
No one’s waiting by the glass.
No one’s watching warmups like it’s a fashion show.
Coach is in a good mood because we’re focused and sharp, but the locker room afterward feels… off.
Usually there’s noise. Energy. Plans.
Today it’s quiet.
Marco finally breaks it while pulling on his hoodie. “Okay, I’m officially concerned. I texted three girls. Not one answered.”
Zack checks his phone. “Same. I got left on read. By Emily. Emily never leaves people on read.”
“That’s because she can’t spell,” Marco says.
Cole snorts.
I don’t check my phone.
Because I already know.
Harper hasn’t texted me.
Hasn’t looked at me.
Hasn’t done anything at all.
And that shouldn’t matter.
Except it does.
We head back to the house, and sure enough, there’s no one waiting.
No music.
No girls.
No chaos.
Just… quiet.
“This is creepy,” Zack says. “Did we get canceled?”
“Maybe there’s a sorority meeting,” Marco offers. “Like a big one. With all of them.”
Cole’s mouth twitches like he’s biting back a smile.
I notice.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
He looks at me, eyes sharp. “You sure you want to have this conversation in front of them?”
Marco perks up. “Have what conversation?”
“Nothing,” I snap. “Drop it.”
They do.
But the feeling doesn’t.
Later that night, I’m in my room pretending to read and actually just staring at the same paragraph for ten minutes.
My phone is face-down on the desk.
I don’t flip it over.
Because I know there won’t be anything from her.
And that shouldn’t bother me.
I told myself I didn’t want complications.
Didn’t want expectations.
Didn’t want… whatever this is.
So why does it feel like someone turned the world down a notch?
Why does it feel like I’m the one being avoided?
There’s a knock at my door.
Zack sticks his head in. “Hey, Captain?”
“Yeah?”
“You, uh… you didn’t piss off all women, did you?”
I stare at him.
He winces. “Because if you did, I feel like we should talk about that.”
“Get out,” I mutter.
He grins and disappears.
I lean back on the bed and scrub a hand over my face.
This is stupid.
They’ll get over it.
Whatever this is, it’ll pass.
That’s how this stuff always works.
Except…
I think about Cole and Lila laughing together.
About what he said.
About boxes.
About lessons.
And for the first time, an uncomfortable thought settles in:
What if this isn’t random?
What if this is aimed?
And worse—
What if it’s aimed at me?
I flip my phone over.
Still nothing.
And I don’t know why that bothers me as much as it does.
But it does.
A lot.