Page 198 of Ruthless Court

“You almost dated him.”

“I almost chose him.”

“Is there a difference?”

“A big one.”

The pep band starts playing as a youth dance team runs onto the floor. The women farther down our row stand to film, holding their phones high enough to place themselves in the foreground.

Stella leans closer so I can hear her.

“Kane likes beautiful women. He’s twenty. He has working eyes.”

“Groundbreaking.”

“But beauty doesn’t hold his attention.”

I glance toward the tunnel.

“Krista seemed to manage.”

“Physically.”

“That sounded judgmental.”

“It wasn’t. They both knew what they wanted.”

Stella looks toward the scoreboard.

“They were never going to last. Krista wanted pictures, parties, and the fun parts of being connected to someone headed toward the NBA. Kane could barely get her through dinner without checking the game on the television.”

I remember the restaurant.

Krista kissing his neck while Kane watched the point guard reject a screen.

I hate that Stella is right.

“He’s paranoid about women wanting his future contract.”

“He has reasons.”

“That doesn’t excuse treating everyone like a suspect.”

“No. It explains why someone like you gets under his skin.”

“Someone like me?”

“Smart. Difficult. Unimpressed by his face.”

“I’ve noticed the face.”

Stella smiles.

“Brave of you to admit it.”

“I’m not blind. The glasses prevent that.”

She laughs.