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“I never said anything about sex.” He chuckled. “I might need your help down the road. Think of it as trading favors.”
“I didn’t ask for a favor.”
“You will. You really messed up coming back here tonight, Kat. You’re about to fall back into the world you’ve been trying to run from. Even if they don’t realize who you are when you play, they’re going to find out.”
I blinked as we stepped back under the lights. “Running? My mom and William have been aware of every little thing I’ve done since I left. They’ve allowed me to stay away, since William hates me. Even when Eli and West find out who I am, there’s nothing they can do. They can’t force me back here. They might think they run this city, but our parents do. And I’ve gotten their word I can stay away from Braidwood until I graduate from college. I have another year of freedom.”
Surprise swam through his eyes. “Then what’s your plan? I know you, Kit-Kat. You don’t want to come back.”
“Just because you saw me once five years ago doesn’t mean you know me,” I snapped. “I’ve changed, just like the three of you have.”
The cheering crowd swallowed the last of my words as we walked to the center of the court. Drinks were everywhere, and I guessed half the people here were already wasted. But that seemed to make them even more excited to watch this last game. West and Eli were waiting, and once we were close enough, Eli passed the ball to me. They were both on edge as River moved under the basket.
We shot to see who got first ball, and my nerves were messing with my aim. River scowled as Eli easily made his shot, making them get the ball first. I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake the night off. But it wasn’t happening. I hadn’t played with the three of them in nine years, but once we all got into position, it felt like yesterday.
I wasn’t short by any means at five foot nine, but all three of them still towered over me. I was guarding West because he was maybe half an inch shorter than Eli. And out of the three of them, I could read him the best. I could guess what move he was going to make before he moved a muscle. He used to hate that when we were kids.
Tonight would be different, though. Even if I knew his play, I was going to hang back. What I told River was the truth. They couldn’t keep me here. And I’d rather be far from Braidwood when they found out it was me they were playing against.
“Game to fifteen,” Eli said gruffly, his eyes not leaving mine. “Call your own fouls.”
River and I nodded as the game started. I blocked out the cheering and drunken yelling and focused. A calm washed over me as Eli began dribbling the ball. Basketball was my therapy. When I was on a court, the real world washed away and became nothing. It was the only time I wasn’t Katalina Whitman, daughter of a founding family in the city of hell they called Braidwood.
I was just a girl. Who was doing the thing I loved. Without a care in the world. I was just me when I stood on a court and held a ball in my hands.
Although tonight I wasn’t playing how I usually did. Being so close to all of them was screwing with me. On top of not wanting them to recognize my moves, I was only playing with half my usual vigor. River was all over the court. For every shot Eli and West made, so did River and I. West had the ball, and I could tell he was going to charge to the left. He always did when he was blocked. Instead of moving that way, I angled my feet to the right. West easily darted past me and made his shot.
A hand grabbed me just above my elbow, and I was yanked into River’s chest. His breath tickled my ear as he spoke.
“Stop. Now,” he growled quietly. “You’re letting them get shots in on purpose. So help me, if you don’t start actually playing, I’ll scream your name at the top of my lungs.”
“You wouldn’t. You had all night to—”
“Call my bluff, Kat. Do it and see what happens. I’m back in Braidwood for good, and I’m not going to have my first day back ruined by losing to them. Understand?”
I jerked a nod, and his hand left my arm as we continued the game. The score was tied at thirteen. Sweat trickled down my back as my chest heaved from the constant moving. This game was as fast-paced as I’d expected it to be. West and Eli were keeping their snarky comments to themselves as they tried to maintain a lead.
After passing the ball to River, I blocked Eli’s path. River made the shot as the crowd grew quiet. We only had one more point to win, and from the sudden silence, I was guessing Eli and West didn’t lose often. River shot me a grin as the other two had unreadable looks on their faces. My pulse thrashed as I dribbled. West was guarding me so closely that with one wrong move, he’d have the ball in his hands.
The tiniest flicker of movement made me think he was going to lunge. If I was right, and I got past him, I’d have an easy shot. The second he darted forward, I spun to the right and headed straight toward the basket. I waited to hear Eli coming for me, but there wasn’t a sound except for the swish of the net as I made my shot.
The crowd of their college peers stayed in the stands, quieter than when the drinking first started. Their two basketball heroes had just lost to a guy who hadn’t lived here in years and a girl who no one knew. Taking a deep breath, I caught the ball as it fell and searched the bleachers until I found Everly. She was one of the few who were cheering.
“How’d you know?”
I spun around at West’s voice to see all three of them right behind me. River looked just as pissed as Eli and West, which I didn’t understand, seeing as how we won, like he wanted. Throwing the ball to Eli, I folded my arms.
“Know what?” I asked, keeping my expression unreadable.
“That I was going to rush you,” West answered. “You read my moves better than guys on my own team that I play with every day.”
Shit.I’d been careful. But obviously not careful enough.
“Why don’t you tell me why the hell you gave us the game?” River snapped, revealing why he was so mad. “You could have blocked her, Eli, and you didn’t.”
Looking behind them, I watched as people piled off the bleachers and began the party. Some were shooting curious glances at us, but they all kept their distance. Music started blaring and conversations started up as the court filled with everyone.
“Some things are more important than points on a scoreboard.” Eli smirked, and chills ripped through me.
