Page 654 of End Game

Cami lets out a breath. “Oh. Better.”

Ronan looks at me.

I nod.

That's it.

No discussion about who caught it first. No explanation of why the other one was right.

We both know what changed.

Across the room, Alexis laughs softly.

I glance over.

She is in a similar supported position, Carter beside her while Jeremiah watches the structure from the other side.

“You okay?” Cami calls.

Alexis turns her head. “Oh, I'm fantastic.”

Cami grins. “Show-off.”

“Jealousy is ugly on you.”

“Girls,” Jeremiah says.

Alexis looks toward him with a sweet smile. “Yes?”

He stares at her.

Carter loses it.

Even Ronan laughs.

Drake rubs a hand over his face. “Every class.”

“You keep having us back,” Carter points out.

“Because you pay me.”

“See? Healthy boundaries.”

The laughter breaks the tension without breaking anyone's focus.

That's changed too.

During the first few lessons, we treated every correction like we were defusing something explosive.

Now we know where the lines actually are.

Carter can make Alexis laugh while keeping one hand steady.

Cami can give me shit and still tell me immediately when something feels different.

Ronan can roll his eyes at me without losing track of what he is doing.

We can stop, reset, and try something again without anybody treating the mistake as a failure.