Page 164 of Ruthless Court

Lila reads over my shoulder and squeals again.

Noor leans closer.

Another text appears.

Kane: I know you don’t want the title, the attention, or anything attached to me.

Then:

Kane: Come because you understand the game.

I hold my breath.

The final message lands.

Kane: And because I want you there.

Nobody speaks.

The phone feels warm in my hand.

Lila breaks first.

“You’re going.”

“No.”

“You have to.”

“I absolutely do not.”

Noor watches my face. “Do you want to?”

That is the only question that matters.

It is also the one I don’t want to answer.

I picture Kane beneath arena lights. The bad left-side read. The shoulder turn. The moment his frustration gets ahead of his judgment.

I picture him looking into the stands and finding me there.

My heart starts pounding again.

“I want to see whether he fixes it.”

Lila grins. “That is the nerdiest possible way to admit you want to watch him.”

“I’m evaluating technical progress.”

“You’re going to sit in the girlfriend section.”

“Player guest section.”

“Wives and girlfriends.”

“I heard you the first time.”

Noor takes the phone gently from my hand and places it facedown on the bed.