Three dots appear, vanish, return.
WREN
Goodnight, Kieran
KIERAN
Night,Rules
I set my phone down, but her name keeps flashing in my head.
The house is quiet now—Mason’s game muted, Dax’s door shut, Riley’s music a dull pulse through the wall. I should sleep. Morning skate at seven. Stretch after. Keep the routine. Sign the Defenders contract. Stay sharp.
I turn onto my side, arm draped over my eyes. Underneath Isabelle’s lingering chemical perfume, I can still smell Wren—citrus, soap, paper. Clean. Real.
Isabelle’s world is edges and spectacle. Wren’s is quiet, unpolished, steady.
Everything I don’t deserve.
My phone buzzes again.
LIAM
Cabin’s booked. You in?
Don’t flake, rookie
I stare at the screen, thumb hovering.
KIERAN
I’m in
A few seconds later:
LIAM
Bring your girl. Let’s see if she can handle the circus
I don’t think. I just type.
KIERAN
She can handle it
I send it before I can talk myself out of it.
Then my screen lights up with one more notification.
ISABELLE
Clock’s ticking, mon petit prince. Don’t disappoint me. xo
I shut off the phone and press the heels of my hands against my eyes.
Liam wants to meet her. Isabelle wants me to destroy her. And I’m the idiot in the middle who just promised to help Wren fall for someone else.
Friday, she’ll be here to tutor me. I’ll pretend I’m helping her get Theo to keep her close to me. Pretend the bet doesn’t exist and Isabelle isn’t watching, waiting for me to finish what I started.
