Tan. Broad-shouldered. Volleyball sweat glinting down his chest. Like the crown prince of chaos had been airbrushed into reality.
I turned back toward the sea, pretending not to see it.
Pretending not to care.
Shani pulled a can of lemonade from her bag and cracked it open. “You know he’s watching you, right?”
I smirked, eyes on the horizon. “Is he?”
“Girl.” She tilted her head. “That jaw could cut steel. You broke him.”
I laughed. Loud, careless, because I could.
Because I’d made it through the week without falling apart and right now? I was onmysand, inmyskin, withmyfriend. Not some legacy puppet paraded around in plaid and pearls.
“Maybe he’s just mad I didn’t beg him for attention,” I said.
Shani raised her can in a toast. “To men not getting what they want.”
I clinked my lemonade against hers and took a sip. It was warm, a little flat, but perfect.
We started joking about our AP Gov group—Tristan being the class clown, Leo being the “aloof genius with anger issues.” I was mid-laugh when I caught it again.
That heat.
Thatpresence.
My skin buzzed under it.
I looked over my shoulder casually—and there he was. Shades still on, face unreadable, but his wholeposturescreamed irritated.
Control slipping.
I tilted my head, offered the faintest, most defiant smile.
Then I turned back to Shani.
Let him stew in it.
Let him feel what it’s like to want something that won’t play the game.
Because I was done being anyone’s entertainment.
Even his.
Chapter Five
LEO
“Yo,Holt, you in for tryouts next week or you gonna coast off legacy again?”
Tristan lobbed the volleyball lazily across the net, grinning like he already knew the answer.
I caught it one-handed and gave him a look. “Tryouts? Bro, I’m the team.”
Xavier laughed from the sidelines, towel draped around his neck. “Man really said ‘tryouts’ like we don’t already have his jersey dry-cleaned and monogrammed.”
“They should just rename the gym,” I said, tossing the ball into the air and slamming it over the net. “Holt Hall. Got a ring to it.”
