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I did my best to focus on the game instead of my pestering thoughts. The final buzzer sounded. The game wasn’t close. Empire High had slayed them. They were quickly working their way toward a winning record. But it took time to undo the damage the original team had already done.

Usually I’d hang back and congratulate Adonis. But it seemed like he was getting enough praise. Gigi had just jumped into his arms, her legs straddling his waist.

I wasn’t even sure why it stung. I didn’t even really like Adonis. Yes, he was handsome, but he was an arrogant, judgmental prick. It would be better for everyone if he focused his attention on someone else.

“See you tomorrow,” I said to Scarlett. And then I shook my head. No I wouldn’t. The football season was over. And the Giants hadn’t even made the playoffs. We were only getting together to watch other teams. We’d get together for the Super Bowl too, but there were no games tomorrow. “I meant see you guys on Monday.” It was lame how few plans I’d had recently.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come out?” Jacob asked.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I forced a smile onto my face. “Have fun, guys. Tell RJ I’m waiting for him.” I hurried down the bleachers and didn’t look back.

I climbed into my car and rubbed my hands together. It was freaking freezing today. But I wasn’t sure how long RJ was going to take to get out here. I wished I could just drive home now, but he needed a ride since my parents weren’t here.

Unlike football, there were like a million basketball games. And RJ had kind of sprung joining the team on them. My parents were at some gala tonight with Scarlett’s parents. And it didn’t seem like my mom liked basketball very much, even though she did try to be supportive. She had her nose in a book during the few games she had attended. But she was still covering for a teacher on leave and that had tumbled into needing to pick up some extra tutoring sessions recently, so she barely made any games.

I think maybe I was starting to re-hate basketball again too.

I wrapped my arms around myself, but it didn’t help. The cold air was seeping into my bones. My teeth started to chatter.

I wondered if Mr. Halifax had moved somewhere warm. He’d look good on a beach.

I sighed and closed my eyes, hoping the tears threatening to spill wouldn’t. But when I closed my eyes I didn’t picture Mr. Halifax. I pictured Adonis winking at Gigi.

It felt like a knife in my chest.

God, I liked him. I must have. Because my tears started falling down my cheeks. I liked him and I was too scared to admit it out loud. Because I was so terrified of being hurt again.

And none of it mattered anyway. I rested my forehead against the steering wheel. I’d missed my shot. Jacob and Axel were basically the kings of Empire High. But that was in the fall. It was winter now and Adonis was about to be the most popular guy in school. It wouldn’t just be the Triple Gs all over him. It would be everyone.

His green eyes would be focused on someone else. Someone not so broken.

There was a knock on my window.

I lifted my head to see his green eyes staring back at me, with his knuckles rapping on the glass.

I blinked, thinking I was imagining it at first. But Adonis was standing there. I quickly wiped the tears off my face and rolled down the window.

He stared at me. “Are you okay?”

No, I was never okay! And I was sick of people asking me that. “I’m fine.”

“Aphrodite, I don’t know if you saw...but we didn’t lose. We won. We should be out celebrating, not...this.”

Right, he had a party to get to. A party where someone was surely waiting for him. So we might as well just get to the point. “What do you want?” I said.

He smiled at my rudeness. For some reason. “You’ve got a flat.”

“What?”

He nodded toward my back wheel.

There was no way I had a flat tire. I climbed out of my car and stared at it. Seriously? What was my luck? I rubbed my hands up and down my arms.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He shook his car keys in his hand.

My eyes focused on his keys. And then my back tire. “Did you slice my back tire?”

He laughed. “With car keys? No, I would have used a knife.”