Page 28 of Gamebreaker

"I do." Cam's voice was quiet. "It's the best part, honestly."

We stood there for a second, something unspoken hanging between us.

"Thanks for helping," Cam said. "I know Mia guilted you into it."

"She weaponized underprivileged youth against me. It was very effective."

"She's strategic."

"She's terrifying."

Cam smiled again. Small, but real. "See you around, Instagram."

"See you around, Captain Miserable."

I grabbed my bag, headed for the parking lot. Mia caught up with me halfway there.

"So," she said, way too casually. "You and Cam seemed less hostile."

"We were being professional. For the children."

"You were flirting."

"That was banter. Not flirting. Banter."

"Harper. You were blushing when she touched you."

"I was overheated."

"It's October and sixty-five degrees."

"I run hot. It's a medical condition. Very serious."

"You're in denial."

"I'm in self-preservation mode." I unlocked my car. "Mia. Even if I was attracted to her, which I'm not saying I am, she's closeted. That's a hard line for me."

"I know." Mia's voice softened. "I'm just saying you looked happy today."

"I was not happy. I was voluntold and making the best of it."

"Sure."

I drove home, took the world's longest shower, and absolutely did not think about Cam's hands on my waist or the way she'd smiled at those kids or the heat that had raced through me at her touch.

I was lying to myself.

But at least I was doing it in private.

6

This Changes Nothing

Cam

Practice was a disaster.

I'd been running professional drills for twelve years. Could execute them in my sleep, muscle memory so deeply ingrained that my body moved through the patterns without conscious thought. Pick and roll, defensive rotations, transition offense—all of it automatic, reflexive, the language my body spoke more fluently than any words.