Page 127 of Bad Prince

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“You know I love you, right?” I say into his chest.

“Yeah.”

“But I’m not in love with you.”

“I know.”

“And maybe we could get there someday,” I whisper. “If timing was different.”

He nods against my hair.

“Timing’s a bitch.”

A soft, humorless laugh escapes me.

We pull apart slowly.

It feels like a breakup. Except there was never a relationship. Just potential. And history with someone else standing in the space between us.

He taps my shoulder lightly.

“Go get your glory, Cortez.”

I swallow.

“Go win your Final Four, Callahan.”

He grins faintly.

Then jogs down the bleachers.

Doesn’t look back.

I stay a second longer.

Watching the sun finally break over the stadium.

I chose me. So why does it feel like I just lost something?Because somewhere across campus—there’s a boy I told to walk away which he did while Kane is left a ‘maybe one day.’ And I’m not sure which one hurts more.

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