I climbed in.
“This again?" I asked, voice cracking. "I’m really not in the mood for country club bullshit."
But we drove past the Club and straight out of town. I didn’t care at this point. There was nothing for me at my aunt’s house tonight but binging Netflix with the cats.
He took a turn off the main road, climbing higher and higher until we reached a windswept bluff above the cliffs. The whole town was below, just rooftops and ocean.
The breeze whipped my hair. Seagulls coasted the thermals. For the first time in weeks, I breathed.
Leo didn’t smirk. He just watched me.
I stepped out. Sat on a rock. Let the wind rip the tension from my chest. A few tears slipped. I didn’t hide them.
Then I pulled out my phone.
And I left a voicemail.
"Hi Coach Roman… this is Jade. I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. But I think I need to step away. It’s not the right time. Thank you for letting me try."
I hung up.
Tristan grabbed my arm. "Don’t let them win."
"Why not?" I snapped. "Youarethem. You all are. You’ve won since birth. Why keep fighting it?"
Leo spun me around. Tugged me closer.
"You’re not quitting. Don’t deny me the pleasure of watching you destroy them on the field."
"It’s too late," I said. "I left the voicemail."
He smirked. Pulled out his phone.
"Coach Roman never got that voicemail. Not on her school line. I had it erased."
I stared.
He winked.
"Told you,Gitanilla.I’ve got connections."
And I hated how much I didn’t hate that.
I stared at him, heart hammering like a snare drum.
“Youwhat?”
Leo just shrugged, casual like he hadn’t just reached into my life and rearranged the pieces. “Coach Roman never got your voicemail.”
My stomach sank. “You erased it?”
“I had it erased.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, wind ruffling his shirt as the seagulls screamed overhead. “Technically.”
“Why?” I snapped. “Why do you even care? Is this just another one of your power trips?”
His jaw tensed.
Tristan looked like he was doing everything in his power not to jump in again, but thankfully, for once, he stayed silent.
