The arena explodes all over again.
Dex whistles. “THAT’S VETERAN PRESENCE, FOLKS. ELITE CHEMISTRY.”
The kiss cam finally moves on.
I toss another shirt.
Dex suddenly shouts, “CAPTAIN, SECTION 114 NEEDS SOME LOVE.”
I don’t think.
I just fire.
Perfect arc.
The camera follows it.
The shirt lands near a woman who startles and laughs as she bends to grab it.
The cam lingers.
My stomach drops.
Because I know that face.
Sloane.
My name hits the arena a second later.
“COL-BY HAYES! COL-BY HAYES!”
I lift my hands, laughing, confused.
“What did I do?” I mouth.
Dex’s voice crackles again. “OKAY, I LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM, BUT WHAT DID HE DO?”
Bryce: “EXIST, APPARENTLY.”
Mason: “STRONG BRAND.”
The cam cuts.
Back to her.
Then to me.
Back to her.
Back to me.
The crowd connects the dots in real time.
The chant changes.
“KISS! KISS! KISS!”
My pulse slams.
