Page 145 of Can't Always Get What You Want

His hand stays over his mouth for a second, then drops. His stare cuts through me.

“For how long?” he asks finally, voice flat.

I shift on my feet. “A while.”

“Define ‘a while.’”

“We matched on a dating app about a month ago?” Not sure of the exact timeline—it’s not something I’ve kept track of.

Her brother stands, walking away from me and moving toward the hall where the coaches’ offices are and leans against the cold, cinder block wall there.

I have no choice but to follow.

“You’re right. This isn’t something I want to discuss in front of those assholes.” He frowns. “Go on. Say more.”

I nod, heart thudding hard against my ribs. “We started texting first. It was casual—just jokes at first. Then one night, we stayed up talking until three in the morning. It just… kept going from there. Nova didn’t…”

Shit.

I don’t want to rat her out for wanting to keep this a secret, but I also don’t want to think any of this was intentional. Lying was the very last thing I wanted.

“Nova didn’twhat? Finish your sentence.”

I rake a hand through my hair, frustrated. “She didn’t specifically come right out and ask me to lie. We just didn’t say anything at first because it felt too new. At first there was nothing to tell. Then, well—she was afraid you’d react like...”

His eyes flash. “Like what?Protective?”

“Like you’d lose your shit,” I say, doing my best not to poke the bear but wanting to be honest. “I get it. I do. She’s yoursister.But she’s also her own person. She’s smart. Obviously stubborn as hell. She doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do.”

“Yeah.” He laughs bitterly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know that better than anyone.”

Duh.

“She didn’t want to hurt you. Neither did I. But I’m not sorry. I won’t bother pretending to be.”

That makes him look up.

Really take a long, hard look at me.

There’s a beat of silence where I wonder if he’s going to punch me in the face.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re in love with her?”

The question hits harder than a body check.

Am I?

“Yes. I think that’s where I’m at.”Have been from the second I saw her at the ESPYs and the moment I learned her name.

Then he scoffs, muttering under his breath. “Fucking dating apps. Knew it was only a matter of time before she matched with one of my friends.”

Friends.

Gio considers me his friend?

I swallow down the sentiment, the heat settling in my heart. For a moment, I bask in it and almost laugh from my nerves.

Almost.

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