That shut me up for half a second. Because she wasn’t wrong.
She folded her arms tighter. “So explain. Why were you talking to them?”
I dragged a hand through my hair. “Tori is an intern at Dunn. And interns overhear things—shifts in staff, whispers about projects. I wanted to ask if she liked it—see if she noticed anything off. But she shut down. Especially when Elise showed. She’s Elise’s friend,” I admitted. “Doesn’t mean she’s loyal. She’s scared. And she’s not going to talk to me.”
Mila studied me.“So? What’s the plan then?”
“I saw an opening, tried to push, but she shut down. So I handed it off to Theo. He can get her to talk.”
Her brows rose. “Theo?”
“He’s already close with her. And she lets him in.”
Mila’s hesitation was obvious, her eyes narrowing. She knew exactly what“close”meant. Still, she weighed it, then gave a curt nod.“Fine. But Tori’s not the only thing going on. Elise?”
I smirked.“Still an outcast. Trust me. No one’s inviting her to hang out.”
Mila didn’t look convinced.“Yet she’s still walking around as though she’s untouchable.”
“People like Elise survive by twisting situations until they work in her favor. She calls it a favor while she steals your chair.”
“And you’re what—letting her get close to feed the illusion?”
I grinned.“Would that make you mad?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’d enjoy that, wouldn’t you?”
She huffed, turning away—but not quick enough to hide the flush climbing her cheeks. When she looked back, her eyes cut to mine, cool and defiant. “Don’t flatter yourself, King. You’re not worth the heartburn.”
A grin stretched my mouth wide.Funny, because I could still taste her on my tongue, that wildfire heat she swore didn’t matter.If she really didn’t care, she wouldn’t be chasing me into the courtyard to reprimand me.
Silence stretched for a beat before she spoke again, softer this time. “So what’s the plan now? Besides siccing Theo on Tori and letting Elise hang all over you.”
I exhaled. “We meet again after Friday’s game. You talk to your mom. See if she’ll slip anything. Doesn’t have to be about Dunn directly—just watch for names, patterns, new staff.”
“And you?”
“I’ll keep my eyes on Elise. Her dad’s still pulling strings. He wants something, based on what you overheard the other night. We just don’t know what yet.”
Her lips pressed tight. “You sure you’re not being played?”
“Only one person I’m worried about playing me right now,” I said. “And you’re standing two feet away.”
She shook her head, a half-laugh escaping. “If I was playing you, you would already know.”
I leaned in, close enough my breath skimmed her ear. “Yeah? I’m not so sure.”
She walked off before I could push it further, star charm catching sunlight—a dare I hadn’t earned the right to take. But I would. Eventually.
CHAPTER FIVE
MILA
Avery caught up to me before the next bell, her bag bumping against her hip as she slid into stride. “Okay. Spill.”
I kept my eyes forward, hugging the strap of my backpack a little tighter. “Spill what?”
She arched a brow. “Don’t play innocent. You marched across the quad at lunch and dragged Luke off as if you were about to execute him behind the gym. Half the courtyard saw it.”
