Elijah, being the solid guy he is, said yes.
And Sam? She wasecstatic.Willing participant doesn't even cover it.
And now? Elijah's been paying the price ever since.
"Do what?" I grin.
"Youknow." He jabs a finger at me. "You know I can't stand being around your sister. She terrifies me. She's like... a little devil in Converse. Every time she looks at me, I feel like she's plotting my murder and wedding vows at the same time."
I bust out laughing. "Come on, bro. You're the big, bad captain of the Warriors. You bark orders, crush guys on the ice, play like you're possessed. You make entire defense lines crumble. Andthisis what rattles you? My five-foot-nothing little sister?"
He glares. "Don't act like you don't know her, Zach. Sam is chaos in human form. She's relentless. I can already see it—she's gonna camp out at every practice, stalk every game, ruin my focus, and yeah—cockblock me every chance she gets."
I smirk. "Damn, you sound traumatized."
"Because Iam," Elijah snaps. "The girl's been declaring me her husband since she was ten. TEN. Who does that?"
The twins, walking just ahead of us, are snickering. Liam throws a look over his shoulder. "Low-key, kinda iconic."
"Yeah," Luke chimes in. "She called dibs early. Respect."
Elijah shoots them a death glare. "Shut up."
I clap him on the shoulder, still laughing. "Relax, Cap. You'll survive. Besides, I already feel bad for the girls she's gonna terrorize when they try flocking around you. It's gonna be like a horror movie—Sam lurking in the bleachers, waiting to pounce."
Elijah actually looks like he might puke. "Jesus. Don't say that out loud. I'll have nightmares."
"She's gotta come here anyway," I say with a shrug. "She's been planning this forever. Said there was no point going anywhere else since 'the love of her life'—" I throw the quotes in with my fingers, just to piss him off— "is right here."
He groans louder, dragging a hand down his face. "Kill me now. Why couldn't she just pick, I don't know... UCLA? Somethingfar."
I snort. "Because it's Sam. And because she's been hyped for this for two years. She was supposed to start last year, remember? But..."
Elijah cuts me off, brows pulling tight. "Yeah, what's up with that? Why did she suddenly take a gap year?" He shakes his head, then adds quickly, "Not that I was complaining, man. YouknewI celebrated it. Hell, I wish she'd taken another year off. Then she could start next fall... when I'mnot here anymore."
"Wow. You're really planning your entire college career around dodging my sister?"
"Damn right I am."
"Believe me, she wanted to start last year," I tell him, smirking. "But... she was way too busy living her best life on thatEuro trip with Mom. First real vacation Mom's taken since Dad passed, and Sam wasn't about to cut it short."
I clap Elijah's shoulder again. "Honestly? I think she figured you needed that one extra year to breathe. You know—let you enjoy the single life, feel all free and untouchable. 'Cause once she gets here?" I grin wider. "Game over, bro."
"Dude, stop. I'm actually gonna be sick," Elijah mutters.
Liam, who's scrolling on his phone, suddenly pipes up. "What I don't get is what exactly you don't like about Zach's sister. She's fine."
Luke leans over his twin's shoulder, eyes locked on Sam's Instagram.
"Hot, actually. Damn. Look at this pic—beach shot. Red bikini. Classic."
"Don't talk about my sister like that, dumbass."
Elijah jerks his head toward them, "Hot? Are you guys blind? You need your eyes checked. Immediately. Like, today."
"Hey!" I snap, half-offended, half-laughing.
"Sorry," Elijah deadpans, though his grin betrays him.
