Page 196 of Ruthless Court

He saw the read.

I saw him trust it.

His grin flashes.

Stella looks from him to me.

“Study partners? Yeah, okay.”

“Temporary study partners.”

“Does he know that?”

“He’s struggling with the concept.”

On the next dead ball, Vale and Kane drift near each other beneath the basket.

Vale points toward Stella.

Then toward me.

Kane says something I can’t hear and shoves his shoulder.

Both of them look up.

“We’re distracting them,” Stella says.

“It’s fine. They need it. Kane was playing tight.”

Vale makes a questioning gesture with both hands.

Stella forms a heart with her fingers.

He presses one hand to his chest like she shot him.

Kane looks at me, waiting.

I shrug and eat another Twizzler. Nope. Not making a heart sign with my hand for him.

His mouth falls open.

Stella laughs beside me.

“You’re mean.”

“He likes it.”

The answer slips out before I can stop it.

Stella turns her head slowly.

I keep watching the court.

“We should talk after the game,” she says.

“About what?”

“Haverhill.”