Because Jadewasn’there.
And Iwas.
He made his way over, shoulders squared. Didn’t look like he was planning to chat about the weather.
“You played hard tonight,” he said coolly.
I didn’t look up. “Didn’t play for you.”
“No,” he said. “You played forher.Whole court saw it.”
“And?”
He chuckled like I was amusing. “Just saying—public declarations and SnapStory shoutouts aside—she left with me.”
That got my eyes up.
“And I let her,” I said, voice even. “Doesn’t mean I won’ttake her back.”
His smile slipped just a little. “She’s not a prize.”
“No,” I said, standing now, toe to toe. “She’s achoice.And I know which way she’s leaning.”
“Toward a guy who actually shows up for her?”
“Toward the guy wholights her on fire,” I growled. “Don’t flatter yourself just ’cause you walked her to her car.”
“I didn’t just walk her,” he said, cocky. “I put my arm around her. And she let me.”
That’s when I smiled. Dangerous and sharp.
“Cute,” I said. “You got a shoulder squeeze. I got a whole damn history.”
Phones were out now. The room was shifting.
Tristan flanked me like a shadow, arms crossed. Xavier stood silent but present. Kannon didn’t back down—but he didn’t press, either.
Smart.
I leaned in, voice dropping to something only he could hear.
“You think you can out train me, outplay me, out-flirt me? Be my guest. But don’t forget whoshe’s alwaysgoing to think about at night.”
He stared me down, jaw locked. “I’m not scared of you, Holt.”
“You should be,” I said.
Then I turned my back on him and sat down, cool as hell, flipping a fry into my mouth.
Kannon walked off.
And for the first time all night, I finally smiled.
Game on.
I didn’t sleep.
Not really.
