Luke’s knee brushed mine under the table. The touch was brief, a check-in more than affection. I pressed my knee into his in answer.
Chase leaned back and glanced around theatrically. “I can’t tell if everyone is staring because you two are holding hands now or if the entire school is waiting for a trailer to play.”
Theo snorted. “Focus on your fries.”
“I am focusing,” Chase insisted, shoving two fries into his mouth. “I’m also narrating the vibes.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Nobody needs you to narrate anything.”
“Wrong,” Chase replied. “The world needs my commentary.”
Tori’s mouth tugged at the corner, like she was trying not to smile.
Avery noticed and nudged her. “You’re allowed to laugh at my idiot brother.”
Tori’s eyes widened slightly. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“You should.” Avery smirked.
Luke’s hand shifted on my thigh under the table, the heel of his palm warm against my jeans. It was a touch to remind me he was here. That we were a team.
Jax kept his eyes on his drink. “My dad got a call before school,” he muttered. “Board chatter. Something about investor pressure.”
Theo’s gaze shifted to Luke. “You hearing the same version?”
Luke didn’t rush the answer. He lifted his water bottle, took a measured drink, then set it down. “Drew mentioned it,” he said evenly.
That got everyone’s attention.
“Mentioned what?” Chase asked.
“A few stakeholders are pushing for restructuring language. They’re framing it as precautionary.”
Jax frowned. “Precautionary for what?”
Luke didn’t hesitate this time. “Investors get nervous when there’s uncertainty. When they get nervous, they push.”
“Push how?” Chase asked.
“They threaten to pull money. Demand changes. Start questioning leadership.”
Theo leaned back. “So it’s not legal.”
“No.”
“Not yet,” Theo amended quietly.
Luke’s gaze flicked toward him, then back to the table. “It’s internal. Drew said it’s optics and leverage. Nothing formal.”
I studied his profile. “Leverage for who?”
His eyes met mine this time. “Anyone who benefits if the board feels unstable.”
I wanted to ask a thousand questions. I didn’t ask any. Not with all these eyes.
I glanced around the table once before speaking, lingering on Luke a second longer. He should have told me what Drew said.
“Elise found me before lunch,” I said evenly. “She told me to be careful where I stand when things start shifting.”
