Page 195 of Ruthless Court

“You probably saw the blogs,” she adds. “The hashtags. The entire campus acted like we were a tournament bracket.”

“I didn’t.”

Stella turns.

“Seriously?”

“I don’t follow any of that.”

“You live under a rock?”

“I moved out of the athlete quad to escape it.”

“Where?”

“Briar Hall.”

Her smile grows.

“I definitely like you now.”

“The old pipes and dripping faucet won me over.”

“You left the athlete quad because the gossip annoyed you?”

“That and the basketball court outside my window.”

Stella studies me for a moment.

“You don’t like basketball?”

The question catches.

“I understand it.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

Before I can answer, the arena erupts.

Kane steals the ball near mid-court and drives left.

The defender angles him toward the help.

He keeps the dribble alive.

One extra bounce.

Then he drops the pass behind the second defender to Vale, who rises and hammers it through.

The crowd jumps to its feet.

Stella and I stand with them.

Vale lands and points toward her.

Kane turns toward me.

I tap one finger against the side of my glasses.