Tristan groaned. “Ugh. Your ego’s disgusting.”
“My stats speak for themselves,” I called back, but I wasn’t even paying attention anymore.
Because I sawher.
Out of the corner of my eye, like a slow burn on the horizon. Bare feet in the sand. Cutoffs, tied-up white T-shirt, sunglasses perched in her hair. Skin golden from the sun, no makeup, no filter.
Jade.
Shani beside her like a bodyguard, both of them looking completely unbothered by the existence of royalty five feet away.
She dropped her towel near the dunes like shebelongedhere.
Like she didn’t give a shit about the yacht, or the crowd, or the trust fund circus playing out on the sand.
And then she did the most infuriating thing of all.
Sheignoredme.
Didn’t look. Didn’t glance. Didn’t flinch.
Meanwhile, the rest of the girls were practically dripping in desperation. I couldn’t move without one of them trying to get into frame, trying to get a story or a kiss or a quote. Bianca had been hovering since we got here, all glossy lips and fake laughter. I let it ride—background noise.
But Jade? She didn’t evenacknowledgeme.
And that did something to me.
Tristan noticed. He always does. He jogged over and slapped my shoulder. “You good?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I shrugged.
“You’re staring like you saw a ghost.”
I scoffed. “Please. She’s just new.”
“New with teeth.” He smirked. “Scholarship girl’s got attitude.”
“She’ll burn out,” I said automatically. “They always do.”
He gave me a look. “Or maybe you just finally met someone who doesn’t care you can dunk.”
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I walked back toward the cooler, letting the ball drop behind me.
Bianca pounced. “Want another drink?”
“No,” I said, even though she handed me one anyway.
She pressed in close. “You staying on the boat tonight?”
“Probably.”
She smiled, leaning up like she was trying to pose for a camera that wasn’t there. And before I could stop it—maybe because I didn’t want to—she kissed me. Fast. Light. Right there in the open.
It was calculated.
I let it happen anyway.
