Page 31 of Survival

“I know.” He chuckled.

“Just tell us, Tucker.”

He glanced at Annie as Jet slid his arm from her waist. “I’m gonna go see if Corey needs help setting up.” He took off, and Nic was already at Tucker’s truck, loading the boards into the back.

Tucker looked from Annie back to me, purposely dragging out the silence to get under Annie’s skin if I knew him at all.

“Tucker!” Annie griped as I swatted his stomach.

“Okay, fine.” He laughed, running a hand through the damp strands of his hair, making my pulse speed faster. “I talked with Coach Larson today after practice.”

I held my breath as Annie bounced on her heels. “What did he say?”

“Not much. Just that he talked the Ridgeside U Coach into coming to next week’s game.”

“Oh, my God, Tucker, that’s great!” I cried, wrapping my arms around him in a fierce hug.

“See, I told you he’d come around.” Annie beamed. “This isexactlywhat we’ve been waiting for. You should call up Mateo, run some drills and things to prep this week. And I know Jet will help, too. Oh, my God, this is just too perfect.”

Tucker and I exchanged a wide-eyed look as Annie gushed. She wasn’t wrong. Ridgeside U was exactly the school we’d been waiting on since Jet had gotten his football scholarship. It was our only shot at the four of us staying together, even if I ended up at Baste Academy since it wasn’t too far away. But Tucker’s grades had taken a small dip this year after the accident, and while he’d brought them back up, the Ridgeside coach was more concerned aboutwhythey had slipped. Tucker had distractions, and he didn’t want players that weren’t completely dedicated to the sport.

If only he knew everything Tucker had put into basketball over the years. Even if we hadn’t lost Zoey, basketball was his life. I wouldn’t have let him give it up.

“Do you know what made him change his mind?” Annie asked.

Tucker shrugged. “I’ve been working my ass off this season, and Coach was pretty damn persistent about advocating for me. I fucking owe him for that.”

“I bet your dad is thrilled.” I smiled up at him.

“Yeah, he is, but I have togetthe scholarship first. Haven’t earned it yet.” Worry touched his tone, and I squeezed his hand.

“It’s not like you don’t have other offers, though. We’ll make things work if we have to. I may not be going to the same school either if I can pull off a decent number at my audition.”

“You’ll do amazing. I’m sure of it.” He squeezed my hand back, and I scoffed.

“You haven’t seen me lately. I need some serious time in the studio if I’m going to get back into shape in time.” Ijust had to wait for the doctor to clear me for more since my ankle was still healing.

“I’m gonna go mingle and give y’all a minute,” Annie said before running off for the party.

“Sure you don’t want to stay?” Tucker gave me a hopeful look, but I shook my head.

“No. I think I’m going to go before I get blocked in. I need to work on my exercises and the choreography I started. I really am behind with my ankle. I’m so happy for you, though.” I tiptoed for a kiss as Tucker leaned down to meet me.

“Love you,” he whispered against my lips, and my heart smiled as it ached for him.

“Love you.”

TUCKER

“Alright, Dad. Thanks for taking a look at it… No, we’ll be here a while… Yeah. Okay. Bye.”

I watched Jet slide his phone back into his jeans and passed him a cup of beer as he joined me and the guys around Noah’s tailgate.

“So, what’s the verdict?” I kept up my part.

Jet sighed, leaning back against the side of the truck before taking a long drink of his beer. He peered down into his cup, frowning before answering. “He’s not sure. Said he couldn’t pinpoint the cause of the noise, so he had it brought over to the shop. I’ll have to go take a look atit tomorrow.”

Oh, shit. “I’m sure your dad’ll be on it already. I wouldn’t worry about it. You’ll have your car back in no time. Plus, weren’t you going to run some drills with me?”

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