Page 122 of False Catch

Something hot and ugly snaps inside me. “Gray is never going to take you back after this!”

The words tear out before I can stop them. The room goes still.

Kinsley’s smile doesn’t falter. “I know. But he won’t have you either. Works for me.”

The cruelty lands like a gut punch.

“You’re tanking the whole team over jealousy?” Bo blurts, disbelief in his tone.

“I’m exposing rule violations,” she says with a shrug. “The fact that it ruins her is just a bonus.”

“Get. Out.” Gray steps toward her, voice flat with fury.

“Gladly.” She heads for the door, then pauses, tossing a look over her shoulder. “Oh—and don’t bother trying to scrub evidence this time. We won’t be making that mistake again. You’re stuck with the consequences now.”

Cameron straightens, his voice sharp. “We?”

But the door is already slamming behind her.

The word hangs there, poisonous.

“We,” Tyler repeats, pale. “She said we.”

“She’s not working alone,” Cameron says. “Somebody’s helping her.”

“Andrea,” I spit before I can stop myself. “From Westlake. She’s the one who started all this anyway and they’ve been so close throughout all this. We knew after what happened at my dorm that Kinsley was getting help from someone and with how close those two have been, it has to be her.”

“Yeah, that tracks,” Zane mutters. “Two bitter exes linking up.”

“They’re not exes,” I snap. “Andrea was never with Gray. She dated my ex, Andrew. But she clearly holds a grudge."

“Great,” Gray says flatly. “So we’re dealing with a tag team.”

As if on cue, phones buzz across the room—Gray’s, then Tyler’s, then mine, then everyone’s, one after another like dominoes falling.

I pull mine out, heart already sinking.

Subject: Mandatory Team Meeting – Tomorrow 8 AM

From: Athletics Oversight Committee

All members of the men’s varsity crew team are required to attend an emergency session regarding potential policy violations. Failure to attend will result in immediate suspension from competition.

Location: Administration Building, Room 401

Tyler exhales sharply. “Room 401. Fourth floor of Admin. That’s where they hold the serious meetings.”

Zane looks at him. “How do you know that?”

“My advisor told me,” Tyler says without looking up. “Said if you ever get called up there, bring a lawyer.”

“They can’t prove anything,” Zane says quickly, but it sounds like he’s trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

“They have photos of two claim marks,” Gray cuts in. “They have Kinsley’s testimony. Andrea’s backing. That’s plenty.”

“So what do we do?” Eli asks, voice quiet.

Everyone looks at me.