Page 94 of Monstrous Serpent

I quirk a brow. “Are you forgetting how good my mom’s food is?”

“On second thought—”

“No, you’re not invited. But I’ll bring leftovers if there are any.”

“Thanks, man.” Doyle daps me up, then heads for the showers.

I dig my phone out of my bag, unlock the screen, then read Mom’s texts.

Mom: Amazing game sweetheart. Dad and I are outside whenever you're ready.

Me: be out in ten

Mom: See you soon.

I scroll through my other messages. There’s nothing from Trembley or Kincaid. But there is a grade alert from the student portal.

Mom always says good things come in threes. So, I log in and tap my Intro to Economics class.

My stomach drops, fingers tightening around my phone.

How?

How the hell did I get a C-?

I throw my phone into my bag. “Fuck!”

My eyes sting, and I press my palms into them.

The tutor said I had it down. Said I was ready. Hell, I even explained supply and demand curves to Doyle during warmups on Tuesday because he couldn't be bothered to open the textbook.

I knew the information. Even used the little tricks the tutor showed me with the graphs—tracing, tapping, and slowing down.

So, why didn’t it work?

I rake my hands through my hair, tugging at the strands.

No matter how much effort I throw at school, it’s never going to be enough.

Chapter 24

Hunter

Nakagawa walks out of the arena flanked by two teammates, a duffel slung over one shoulder, grinning at something on his phone.

I take a step forward.

Atlas grabs my shoulder, pulling me back. “Nope.”

“Let go.”

“No.” His fingers sink into my flesh.

My molars grind as UConn's forward steps onto the team bus. “He touches Jenkins again, he loses his hands.”

“Pretty sure Shin already called dibs.”

I grunt.