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RJ smiled. “He’s like the older sibling I never had.”

“Excuse you?” I said.

RJ shrugged. “What? I’ve always wanted an older brother.”

I glared at him.

He slapped my shoulder. “Come on. Just admit that you like the guy.”

“I don’t.”

“Oh, because you love him?”

“RJ,” I hissed as Adonis and Liam ran up to join us. “Shut it.”

“It’s definitely true,” he said instead.

“Mhm,” Scarlett agreed.

“Scar!”

“Soph.”

“We made the team,” Liam said. He was out of breath but he had a huge smile on his face.

I couldn’t help but smile for him. And luckily my other friends had stopped talking.

“I mean...obviously,” Adonis said with a laugh as he locked eyes with me. “Did you like what you saw, Aphrodite? I know you’re a huge fan of basketball.”

“She loved it,” my little brother said.

If he was closer, I would have kicked him.

Adonis smiled like I’d said the words instead of RJ. “You coming to the party tonight?”

It was weird that he was inviting me. When he was the new kid.

I shook my head.

“What? Why not?” He sat down on the bleacher in front of me like he had all the time in the world to wait for my response.

And I was starting to realize that maybe he did.

Not that he had all the time, exactly. But that he was willing to wait for me.

I stared at him. I didn’t want to be hung up on Mr. Halifax. I really didn’t. Especially because I knew he wasn’t hung up on me. And I was so tired of smiling through the hurt.

But the only thing I was really thinking about right now was him. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing tonight, wherever he was. It was Friday. He probably had plans.

Or maybe he was still unpacking, settling into his new life without me.

“Where’d you go there, Aphrodite?” Adonis asked. His green eyes searched mine.

And I felt weirdly exposed. Like he’d been reading my pestering thoughts. I cleared my throat. “Sorry,” I said. “I can’t come to the party, I have plans with my dad.” I forced myself not to cringe. That sounded so lame. But it was true. We’d already picked out a movie. I’d kind of gotten used to staying home on Friday nights and hanging out with him.

Adonis yawned into his arm. “I’m actually beat. I could use a night in.” He stared at me.

Why did he keep trying to invite himself to my house?