I meant to give it to him later. Privately. Where no one could see me soften.
But now—now he’s sitting beside me on Genny’s couch, thigh pressed to mine, choosing me in front of everyone like it costs him nothing.
The warmth in my chest is immediate and molten.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I reach into my pocket.
The little plastic bag crackles softly.
Declan glances at the sound, brows pulling together.
I freeze for half a second—then pull out the keychain.
A tiny white goalie mask.
I swallow, my cheeks burning. “You… scored a goal Friday night,” I say, holding it out with a hand that won’t stay steady. “So. I, um. Saw this and— I got it.”
Declan doesn’t move.
His breath catches—actually catches—like I just handed him something priceless instead of a $4.99 impulse buy.
Slowly, like he’s afraid it’ll vanish, he takes it from my fingers.
“Talia,” he says quietly. Just my name. Like it means something. His thumb brushes the plastic mask with a kind of reverence that makes something deep and fragile inside me tilt. “You got this… for me?” he asks.
The room has gone dead silent. Everyone is watching.
But for once, it doesn’t scare me.
“Yes,” I whisper.
A slow, stunned smile curls his mouth. One I’ve never seen on him before. Soft. Disbelieving. Beautiful.
He clips the keychain onto the zipper of his athletic duffle. Not hiding it. Not pocketing it. Putting it somewhere everyone can see.
Then he nudges my thigh with his—gentle but intentional.
A wordless:I see you. I choose you. Thank you.
Across the room, Gio lets out a low, impressed whistle. “Look at that. Stone Wall Reid has a soft spot.”
“Shut up, Gio,” Declan says, but there’s no heat in it.
Adrian catches Declan’s eye from the kitchen island. He doesn’t say anything, just gives a short, solid chin lift. Approval.
Clara clears her throat, pulling the attention back to the center of the room. “Okay. Everyone.”
The room hushes immediately. This is happening.
Genny adjusts her glasses. “Clara and Adrian filled me in. Our target is Alistair Reid. Our goal is finding everything he’s beenhiding and using it to secure the grant, protect Coach Addison’s job, and make it impossible for him to retaliate.”
My stomach tightens.
Dad. His job. His life.
Declan’s thigh presses harder against mine.I’ve got you.
Genny nods at Maya. “You’re the weapon.”
