My blood spikes. I open my mouth to fire back, but Troy beats me to it.
“You really want to talk about focus, Sanders?” he says, calm but sharp. “I am top of my fucking class and everyone needs to realize that. I didn't just press a few buttons and get named kid genius at 16 like you.”
Riley's eyes flash. “Better than coasting on charm and abs.”
Jared laughs. “Easy, boys.”
I glance sideways. Troy's eyes haven't left Jared. He's notsmirking. He's not throwing a casual jab back. He's… locked in. Jaw clenched, hands in his pockets like he doesn't trust them not to swing.
And for the first time, he looks... dangerous.
Not reckless or wild. Just…quietly volatile.
It’s unexpected.
And kinda hot.
“Anyway,” Jared says, like we're all friends now, “we've got a call with Dr. Holwell. He's reviewing some of our preliminary concepts…just friendly feedback.”
My fists clench at my sides. “It's supposed to be a blind project.”
“Of course,” Jared says, eyes gleaming. “But the academic world's small. You know how it is.”
“That's called cheating,” I say flatly. “Or are you worried you can't win on merit alone?”
Jared's smile tightens. “My dad sits on the university board, Delilah. Merit is whatever he says it is.”
Troy's voice is cold. “We'll win because our work's better.”
“Sure,” Jared says. “May the best team win.” The way he says it makes it clear who he thinks that is.
Riley's already walking away, but Jared throws one last look over his shoulder. “See you on the other side, Greer.”
I exhale once they're out of earshot.
“What a tool,” I mutter.
Troy doesn't say anything. He just stares after them, muscles visibly tight under his jacket.
“Hey,” I say softly. “You good?”
He blinks, like I shook him out of something.
“Fine,” he mutters.
“Why are you friends with him? You clearly don't like him.”
He sighs and wipes a hand down his face. When hereappears, he's got a grin plastered back on, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
“He's alright. We used to be buddies in freshman year and it's sorta stuck. But I cannot have him beat me.”
“Well, I can't have my weirdo ex beat me, and I need to win this grant,” I say with sudden determination. “So you're all in?”
Troy's expression shifts to something genuine—a flash of that real intensity I saw when Jared was goading him.
“Yeah, baby,” he says, and for once the casual endearment doesn't make me want to roll my eyes. “Let's destroy them.”
Huh, all it took was a common enemy and I actually have some faith in my project partner.
