He keeps walking.
“Deal.”
A beat.
Then, over his shoulder,“Sweetheart.”
I actually laugh.
I hate that I do.
I hate even more that when I start walking again, the ache in my chest feels different.
Still there.
But no longer like the whole story.
And somewhere behind me, because the universe apparently enjoys theatrical timing, I hear Drew shout to one of his teammates:
“Tell everybody I’m busy. I’m negotiating.”
I keep walking without turning around.
But I’m smiling.
Just a little.
Which, under the circumstances, feels like the beginning of something dangerous.
Chapter Twelve
DREW
I saw Casey again today.
She was hanging around the athletic complex like she belonged there, waving at me from across the parking lot like we were still in high school and she hadn’t made my life hell for two years straight. I didn’t wave back. I just kept walking, but the knot in my stomach stayed with me the whole way to the weight room.
I don’t want to deal with this the loud way.
Campus police? Coaches? A big dramatic scene?That’s the last thing I need right now. I’m having the best season of my career. Scouts are actually paying attention. If I need to, I can always enter the portal with more eligibility and get the fuck out of here. But I don’t want to. Not if I don’t have to.
The last thing I need is my name attached to some crazy ex drama right when everything is finally going right.
And of course, right on cue, Tristan Vale and Stella Cortez are out here having their little fairy tale moment. Private jet to Newport. Romantic weekend. Now the whole internet is eatingit up. Sports Illustrated is sniffing around. Local sportscasters are calling it the “Stanford power couple.” Every time I open my phone, there they are — him looking at her like she hung the moon, her looking expensive and untouchable.
Meanwhile, Isa is walking around campus getting pitied.
I know how that feels. Being the one left behind while everyone else rewrites the story without you. I also know Isa made a real play for Vale. She went after him hard. And he still chose Stella in the end.
Just like I always figured he would.
Which is why the solution is sitting right in front of me.
Fake dating Isa.
It fixes multiple problems at once.
Casey will back the fuck off if she thinks I’m actually with someone. She’s crazy, but she’s not stupid enough to go full stalker on a girl who’s already in the spotlight.
