Page 145 of Ruthless Court

And I stop smiling.

Because she’s good.

Really good.

Not someone who watches basketball and knows a few plays.

She sees everything.

Bad foot placement.

Late rotations.

A kid cheating toward his dominant hand before the drive even starts.

She corrects them without stopping the whole gym every thirty seconds.

She explains why.

Makes them do it again.

Then again.

Until they get it.

And when they finally do, she notices that too.

No screaming.

No showing off.

Just sharp.

Precise.

Confident.

I’ve never seen this version of her.

I can’t stop watching.

“Water break.” she declares her eyes locked on mine. I smirk, cross my arms, I’m not going anywhere.

* * *

Sneakers squeak across hardwood. Seven boys run a ball-handling drill while several parents watch from the bleachers.

Hannah walks backward in front of the tallest player, holding up numbers with her fingers.

“Eyes up, Evan. The ball isn’t going to tell you where the defense is.”

The kid pushes thick glasses higher on his nose.

“Three.”

She switches hands.

“Five.”