Page 463 of Ruthless Court

When she pulls away, she stays inside my arms.

“You're still in trouble.”

“I can live with that.”

“No basketball.”

“Your father agreed.”

“He'll break in two hours.”

“Then we enforce boundaries.”

She smiles.

“Together?”

“Together.”

A voice comes from the kitchen.

Coach Goodwin.

“Haverhill, I have one question about your pick-and-roll⁠—”

Hannah tears out of my arms.

“DAD.”

He starts laughing.

I do too.

Hannah points toward the kitchen.

“No. He is my boyfriend for Christmas. Not your point guard.”

Coach Goodwin appears around the corner holding a cookie.

“Worth testing.”

“I'm serious.”

“So am I. His reads⁠—”

“Dad.”

He holds up both hands.

“Fine.”

I look at Hannah.

Her hair is falling from the messy knot.

Glasses sliding down her nose.

Flour still dusted across her red sweater.