Liking someone isn’t a weakness.
It’s information.
And the information is simple.
I like Sloane.
I don’t know what she wants. I don’t know what she’ll allow herself.
But she’s coming tonight.
And that’s enough for now.
***
Later, when game night rolls around, my body falls into routine like it always does. Pre-game meal. Tape the stick. Talk through assignments. The same jokes. The same nerves.
Only this time, there’s a new thing sitting quietly under my ribs.
Not pressure.
Curiosity.
Warmups start. The crowd filters in. Music thumps through the arena. Lights sweep the stands.
Dex skates past me and tries to mouth something.
I glare.
He mimes zipping his mouth again and points upward, eyes wide.
I follow his gaze without thinking.
And there she is.
Not flashy. Just… there. Watching. Taking it all in like she’s collecting data.
She doesn’t look nervous.
She doesn’t look impressed.
She looks focused.
Like she belongs anywhere she chooses to stand.
She meets my eyes.
And suddenly, the noise fades.
This doesn’t feel like a moment.
It feels like something I want to pay closer attention to.
Chapter thirteen
Sloane
“You’re sure this is the right section?” Paige asks, craning her neck as we step out of the lobby and into the arena bowl.
