Page 235 of Ruthless Court

The hallway behind the gym had been dark. Most people were already in homeroom. Ryan stood beside the equipment room with a cheerleader from our school. His real crush. Her back against the wall. His mouth on hers.

I heard them laughing before I saw them.”

Noor says nothing.

“She asked whether he felt guilty. He said I’d get over it. Then he joked that at least dating Coach Goodwin’s daughter had been good for something.”

My throat tightens despite the years between then and now.

“They laughed about me. My glasses. My clothes. The way I thought he wanted to hear about books.”

Noor reaches for my hand.

I let her take it.

“I stood there long enough to hear him say he had to keep pretending until recruiting season ended.”

“That’s horrible.”

“I walked away before they saw me.”

“Did you tell your dad?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d convinced him to help Ryan. I felt stupid.”

“You weren’t stupid.”

“I was useful.”

The word settles between us.

That is the part Kane doesn’t understand.

Attention from athletes has always come with an assignment attached.

A paper.

A test.

A call to a recruiter.

A correction no one else can find.

“He found out eventually,” I say. “Ryan stopped pretending once he had the film he wanted. Dad thought we had a normal teenage breakup.”

“And now Kane needs help with his game.”

I nod.

“He says the kiss had nothing to do with that.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I want to.”