Page 99 of Verdict

"Your first step was slow."

Drake nearly choked on his pizza.

I shook my head in disbelief, unable to wipe the grin from my face. “All right, I’ll be sure to keep that in mind the next time.”

We ate in comfortable silence for a few moments. I grabbed a napkin, wiping my mouth. “Walker mentioned you’re heading off to college soon. Where did you decide to go?” The question felt lame. Too surface-level.

“Going to USC, Pre-Law.” Ava lifted her water and took a sip. My attention followed the movement of the bottle to her lips. I shifted uncomfortably on the stool, forcing my eyes away.

What the hell was wrong with me? This was Walker’s little sister. But one look at this girl and she brought me to my goddamn knees. I forced myself to focus on anything but her pretty face.

"Why law?" I asked.

"Because I like finding loopholes."

I laughed. "That sounds like trouble."

"For other people, maybe.” She shrugged. “And I also like to argue.” A mischievous glint shone in her eyes.

Walker groaned. "That's not an exaggeration," he muttered.

"It's really not," Aria agreed.

Ava pointed at them. "And I'm usually right, which is important."

Both Walker and Aria rolled their eyes as Drake and I laughed.

This girl.

As the night continued on, it was as if everyone else in the room faded away. I had tunnel vision with Ava. I felt myself leaning in, hanging on every word that left her pretty mouth. I’d never met anyone like her. She was smart, bold, and confident. Yet she still seemed to have a softer side. She loved baseball wholeheartedly and her family and horses. She was funny and sarcastic. And so easy to talk to.

I felt a pull toward her I’d never felt before.

But she was Walker’s sister. She was going to the West Coast to start college and her life. Who knew where she’d end up after graduating. I was a twenty-one-year-old rookie for the Aviators. My life was only just beginning too—not to mention the fact I didn’t really do serious, not anymore. My head was still all sorts of fucked up from losing my mom unexpectedly only two years ago.

Talk about wrong place, wrong time.

Maybe in another life.

Suddenly, Walker stood up and announced it was time to call it a night. I couldn’t help but feel a small pang of disappointment.

"I've got to get home anyway, Elle gets home early tomorrow," Drake said.

I turned toward Ava. “It was really great meeting you.” I started heading in the direction of the exit, following behind Drake.

Ava walked next to me, as if she wasn’t ready to say goodbye either. Like she didn’t want this night to end as much as I didn’t. We stopped in front of the elevator.

“I had fun talking to you tonight.” She tucked her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, rocking on her heels. “Good luck, this season. I’ll be watching,” she winked.

I smirked, though the ache in my chest only deepened. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“Thanks, it—,” I began before I was cut off abruptly by a loud clap and Walker sidling up next to us.

“I’m exhausted, and we’ve got an early practice tomorrow, Jordan. Better get going.” Walker all but shoved me into the elevator.

Message received.

Drake and I got into the elevator. As the doors slid closed, dark blue eyes locked on mine, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was losing something.