Page 252 of Ruthless Court

“Film?”

I start walking.

He follows.

“You’re too competitive to refuse.”

“That line worked once.”

“It’ll work again.”

“Arrogant.”

“Interested.”

I look over.

His expression has softened.

Still confident.

Less performative.

The debate left something open between us that neither can pretend not to see.

“You’re impossible,” I say.

Kane opens the door and gestures for me to pass.

“Yet you keep showing up.”

I walk into the hallway.

He falls into step beside me.

Neither of us moves away.

We make it six feet into the hallway before someone shoves a phone toward my face.

“Hannah, was that debate planned?”

Another student walks backward in front of us, recording.

“Are you and Haverhill dating?”

“No.”

Kane answers at the same time.

“Working on it.”

I whip toward him.

“We are not.”

“See?” he tells the camera. “Working.”

Laughter breaks around us.