Kai scans faces—quick, automatic. Not just because he’s my brother, but because he’s responsible. He checks who’s too drunk. Who’s loud. Who’s looking for trouble. Who’s looking at me like I’m a new toy to poke at. Then his hand lands on the small of my back, firm and guiding.
“Guys,” he says, voice carrying just enough to make the nearest group shut up. “This is my younger sister. Harlow.”
All eyes snap to me.
My stomach plummets six feet under the floor.
I hate being the center of attention.
“Hi,” I manage, and it comes out sounding an awful lot like a mouse.
I don’t go to the games, but I do watch them in my dorm sometimes, so I recognize faces.
Weston Cooper is the first one to grin at me like I’m not entirely made of glass.
“Harlow,” he says, like he’s tasting the name. “Okay. First of all, welcome. Second of all, Mercer has been insufferable about you.”
Kai shoots him a look.
Weston ignores it. “He’s like, don’t look at her, don’t talk to her, don’t breathe in her direction.”
“Kinda weird you’re thinking about breathing in my sister’s direction,” Kai says, deadpan.
Weston clutches his chest. “Captain Mercer, I am wounded.”
Kai’s jaw ticks. “Weston.”
“What?” Weston asks innocently. “I’m being reassuring.”
I blink at Kai. “You did that?”
Kai’s gaze flicks to mine, softer around the edges. “No. I hadn’t. Yet. But I’m glad Cooper understands there are consequences.”
“Whatever you say, man.” Weston turns back to me. “I’m Weston. If you need anything, you come to me. NotMercer, because he’ll just”—he makes a vague strangling motion—“hover. He does it to us, too, so I can’t imagine your predicament.”
Kai takes a step forward, expression flat. “Do you want to die?”
Weston beams. “See? Easily provoked.”
I surprise myself by laughing. It’s small, and it catches in my throat like my body forgot how to do it, but it’s real.
Asher Hale appears behind Weston, and the energy shifts. He’s quieter. Calmer. Like the volume dial on the room drops two clicks just because he’s here.
“Harlow,” he says with a nod. “Welcome.”
“Thanks,” I say, and I mean it.
Asher’s gaze flicks to Kai. “You good? Bennett coming?”
Kai shakes his head. “No. He stayed home.”
Asher’s eyebrows lift. “Bennett stayed home on a Friday?”
Weston whistles. “That’s either growth or the apocalypse.”
Kai’s mouth does that almost-smile again, like his face is remembering how. “He claimed he likes sleep.”
Weston cackles. “That’s hilarious, because he doesn’t do that.”
