Page 1 of Guarding the Star

Chapter 1

Iris

“You're late, Vance!” Hades yells from the center circle. “And it's the first day of preseason. That's got to be some kind of record, even for you.”

I want to say something. At least cobble together a halfway decent excuse. But I can barely think. My head is about to crack open, and the Florida heat feels purpose-built to punish anyone who made bad choices last night. One hell of a streak.

As I start warming up, my stomach begs me not to make any sudden moves. I smell like a nightclub and the perfume of someone whose name I can't remember.

On the first sprint, the heat clamps down. By the half-hour mark, my shirt is soaked through, and there's a headache boring tunnels through my skull like some tiny bug with a rusty drill bit and no intention of stopping.

In the scrimmage, I nutmeg Jade Herrera, and the ball rolls into the back of the net.

“Weren't you hungover?” she snaps.

I just shrug while Coach mutters that the only sleep I got last night was in the cab ride home from the club.

“IIIIWIS!!!”

Wesley's little voice slices clean across the field. Probably reaches the parking lot.

The kid comes tearing down the sideline, way too fast for his size, arms spread wide like he's about to take off. Someone put him in a team jersey that hangs past his knees and sneakers that light up every time his feet hit the ground. He grins at me, full blast, and I swear there's nothing better on this whole planet.

Tessa jogs behind him, already defeated, loaded down with the diaper bag, two water bottles, and a stuffed octopus.

I crouch just in time for Wes to slam into me at full speed.

“Hey, boss,” I say, lifting him into the air while he laughs so hard his whole body shakes. “How are you getting this big? Let me see. Taller. Stronger. And the hair…”

I close my eyes. I press my nose to the top of his head and breathe him in.

I can't help it. I never can.

“Still magic,” I murmur. “Pure magic.”

“Iwis, you smell weiwd,” the kid says, wrinkling his nose.

"Weiwd?"

“Weird. He means weird,” Zoe translates, catching up to me. “He's been expanding his vocabulary for a couple weeks. This morning he told me breakfast was yucky.”

“I mean, he's right. This kid's got taste. That's a good sign.” I lower my voice. “Listen, boss. This year we're winning the league again. You know what winning the league is?”

“Yeah.”

“He has no idea,” Zoe says.

“He says yes to everything lately,” Tessa adds, dropping the bag next to the bench. “Last night I asked if he wanted broccoli, and he said yes. Then he spit it onto my shirt.”

“Broccoli is a scam, Wes. Don't let them fool you,” I whisper like I'm handing him classified intel.

Wesley grabs my ponytail and pulls. It's our thing. He pulls, I let him, and when he gets tired of it, he buries his nose in my hair like he's paying me back.

“Vance!” Hades yells. “When you're done playing with the kid, shower and get to my office. You've got thirty minutes.”

***

In the locker room, while the rest of the team showers, I scroll through my Instagram notifications.