Page 159 of Ruthless Court

“That is most of the problem.”

“He wants you.”

“That may be the biggest problem.”

Lila looks between us. “I’m missing something.”

I pull off my wet coat and toss it over the chair. My fingers shake when I reach for my glasses, so I leave them alone.

Noor knows.

She understands what this new life has cost me. The transfer away from the athlete quad. The hours I spend building something that doesn’t belong to my father. The youth team I keep separate from Stanford because I need basketball contained inside one small, manageable box.

Kane could smash through every wall I built.

Noor folds her arms.

“You crossed the country to get away from athletes.”

“I know.”

“You moved dorms to get away from them.”

“I know.”

“You gave him a fake name.”

“I panicked.”

“You made him chase you through old campus.”

“He was annoying.”

“You hated him.”

“I still do.”

Lila lifts one eyebrow. “Do you usually kiss people you hate?”

“I didn’t start it.”

“Did you stop it?”

I open my mouth.

Nothing useful comes out.

Lila’s face lights up again.

“You kissed him back.”

“For a few seconds.”

“How many?”

“I didn’t time it.”

“Long enough to know you liked it.”