Page 149 of Ruthless Court
He cuts off the rim.
I drop the pass to Evan.
Easy layup.
The boys cheer.
Hannah crosses her arms.
“That’s the read.”
“You’re bossy.”
“You followed me to practice. You may leave.”
“I didn’t say I disliked it.”
Her mouth shifts before she turns away.
Practice ends twenty minutes later. The boys surround me for pictures, questions, and arguments about which shoes I should wear this season.
Hannah collects cones while pretending I’m not there.
One of the guards looks between us.
“Coach Hannah, is he your boyfriend?”
“No,” she deadpans.
I sign the kid’s basketball. “She hasn’t asked me yet.”
Hannah throws a pinkie at my head.
The boys lose control.
By the time the gym empties, I’ve agreed to return without remembering when the decision happened.
A polished woman in a camel coat approaches from the bleachers.
“You’re Kane Haverhill.”
“I am.”
“I’m Melissa Chen. Tyler’s mother.”
We shake hands.
Her attention moves between Hannah and me with open curiosity.
“You two know each other?”
“Unfortunately,” Hannah says.
“We’re academic partners.”
“Temporary academic partners.”
Melissa smiles. “Thank you for helping tonight.”
