I closed the distance. “At school, we move together. No gaps for Elise to crawl into. No room for Logan to run his mouth. Anyone looking for a show leaves disappointed.”
Chase rubbed at the split across his knuckles. “And Avery?”
“Front and center,” I answered. “With you both. Not kept quiet. Not a rumor. A fact.”
Jax’s mouth lifted in a crooked grin. “Public, huh?”
“Yeah.” I held Jax’s stare. “You go public with Aves. Not with fireworks. With presence. Walk with her. Eat with her. Stand with her. Shut down Elise’s meddling.”
Jax’s nod came slow, deliberate. “I was going to do that anyway.”
“Good.” I flicked a glance at Chase. “You don’t have to like it today. You do have to back your people.”
He blew out a breath that fogged in the chill. “I’m not going to hold his hand.”
“No one asked you to.” I let a corner of my mouth tilt. “We’re not building a wedding website—we’re closing ranks.”
There was a huff from him that might one day be a laugh.
We stood there a second longer. Wind in our faces. Waves crashing below. Holding steady—for now.
I checked my phone—no messages. Mila would be steadying Avery, making sure she walked in with her chin up. School was an hour out, the fallout closer, and the game sat on the calendar as if nothing had changed.
“We meet in the lot,” I said. “You two get there first. I’ll pull Theo. We walk in, we don’t flinch, and we don’t feed anything with attention.”
Chase rolled his shoulders. “Logan runs his mouth?—”
“Coach has him on a leash,” I cut in. “And if not, I do.”
I stepped back, boots thumping the boards, the ocean breathing under us as both a promise and a warning. “We good?”
Chase gave me a look that wasn’t entirely friendly. “We’re not fine.”
“I didn’t ask for fine.” My gaze held his. “I asked if you’re going to keep your fists in your pockets until we give the school a story they can’t twist. Elise doesn’t need any more power.”
His jaw worked. Then he gave a short nod.
Jax tipped his chin, a silentgo. He wanted the last two minutes without me to close the circle. Fair.
I left them with the gulls screaming overhead. The walk back down the pier dragged, but my chest eased all the same.
By the time I hit the lot, engines rumbled, and exhaust hung low in the cold. I leaned on my SUV, waiting for my head to settle. My phone buzzed with a message from Theo.
Theo:Tori’s in.
Me:Great. We close ranks at school.
Theo:*thumbs up emoji
Good. He understood.
Another buzz.
Mila:Avery’s ready. We’re heading to school.
Me:We’re set. Chase and Jax are walking in with us. Jax goes public.
Mila:Good. I’ll keep her between us through the doors. Let the school choke on Elise’s bullshit.
