Page 72 of 4th Degree

Laughing, I wrap him in a hug. He lets out a whoop and spins me around.

“Honestly, that might be the coolest thing you’ve ever done,” I say breathlessly when he finally sets me down.

“I don’t know, I think blowing up a volcano in the sixth-grade science fair was a little cooler.”

“You only think that because you weren’t on the receiving end of your science teacher’s scathing phone call,” I respond dryly.

Joey throws his head back and lets out a bark of laughter. “Okay, okay, you’re right. Scoring the game-winning basket as a sophomore is way cooler.”

I’m still chuckling when Joey notices Dominic standing behind me, just close enough to make it obvious that he’s with me. I watch as my brother’s giddy mood fades into wariness.

Dominic decides to meet this challenge head-on by stepping forward and extending his hand before Joey can say anything. “Hey. I’m Dominic.”

Joey shakes his hand, but doesn’t introduce himself. “And who exactly are you to my sister, Dominic?”

I make a sound of surprise. Joey has never once been protective over me in front of a friend. But before I can smooth this over, Dominic says, “I’m Skylar’s coach. She trains at my MMA gym.”

Now my head whips toward Dominic, shocked that he went with that title. But before I can comment on that, Joey asks, “And why would my sister’s MMA coach be at my basketball game?”

“Okay, okay, I think I need to be the one doing the talking here,” I say hurriedly. Turning toward Joey, I say, “Yes, he’s my coach. But he’s also a friend. And I wanted to spend some time with him. So now we’re here. Is that okay?”

Joey’s eyes narrow as he studies Dominic, looking every bit the skeptic. But my answer seems to have reassured him, because after a moment, he says, “Fine, I’ll allow it.”

I roll my eyes and throw my arm around his neck, yanking his head down under my armpit. “Since when do you make the calls here?”

He pokes me in the side once, and again, until I squirm. “Since I scored the game-winning basket and became the more successful sibling.”

I let him go with a haughty sniff. “Fine. If you’re so successful and mature now, you can buy yourself a pizza at Santucci’s.”

At the mention of his favorite pizza, Joey brightens. “Seriously? We’re going to Santucci’s? But it’s a school night.”

I shrug, my smile too big to hide. “Special occasion.”

Joey turns toward Dominic. “I take it back. I’m officially your biggest fan now. Whatever you said to my sister, keep it up.”

Dominic chuckles. “I just suggested—very gently—that she should step out of her routine a little bit.”

I quirk an eyebrow at him. “Gently? I’m pretty sure you jedi mind-tricked me into inviting you here tonight.” That earns me a wink in return.

“Well, whatever you did, you have my support,” Joey says. “I swear, I’ve never met a person who needs to relax more than her.”

Turning a glare on my brother, I lightly slap his head. “Hey!”

“Skylar, you put robots to shame.”

I let out an exaggerated gasp of outrage and open my mouth to make a retort, but I’m cut off by Dominic chuckling again.

“Alright, alright, easy, Big and Little Vega. The sibling love is blinding me. Why don’t you two go bury the hatchet with that pizza?”

“You’re not coming with us?” Joey asks, sounding surprised. My chest warms at him already welcoming Dominic.

“Maybe another time,” he says politely. “I got my time with Skylar, and I don’t want to intrude on your time together.”

Joey rolls his eyes in that way that only teenage boys can. “Trust me, dude, I don’t need one-on-one time with my sister.”

That earns him another glare and a slightly harder smack. “Just go get your stuff, you jerk.”

When he bounces away, I turn my full attention toward Dominic. “You can come, you know. I was going to invite you.” I only hesitate for a moment before adding, “I want you to.”

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