Page 120 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
I didn’t ask him what he thought it was, mostly because it needed to behis. I could help point him in the right direction, but for it to touch Maisie’s heart, he needed to come up with the specifics on his own. “Aren’t you afraid of what Jade will do?”
“I’m more afraid of losing Maisie.” Connor’s lips lifted into a small smile. “And I guess that’s the thing, isn’t it? You act when you have something worth fighting for.”
More afraid of losing Maisie than of Jade’s wrath. On paper, it sounded crazy. Insane. But sitting across from Connor, seeing how our situations were so similar, I understood him.
I agreed with him.
Somewhere along the way, the fear of losing Logan had eclipsed everything else. Being found out still scared me—but not as much as the thought of losing him. If I were Connor, I would’ve done the same—risked everything, even the Top Tier Queen’s rage, to win Logan back.
But unlike Connor, I had something he didn’t.
The quiet, unshakable belief that I’d have Logan at my side, no matter what came next.
I walked Connor back to the front door, and I could practically see the hope in his steps now. He had an endgame in mind, ready to execute it. “I’ll see you at the parade,” he said when he stepped out onto the porch.
“And I’ve got your back tonight,” I told him seriously. “However you need it.”
Connor nodded his thanks, but still hesitated. “I’m sorry for not saying something about your label. I should’ve. And I should’ve said something about Landon’s.” He gave his head a little shake, lips pressed together. “I don’t think you’ll peak in high school.”
I chuckled a little, giving my nose a little scrunch. “Let’s hope not.”
The stars aligned with Brentwood’s rival game with Jefferson ending up on homecoming. Seriously. Brentwood always got so riled when we faced down the Bulldogs, and the fact that it fell on homecoming—arguably the most school spirited-day of the whole year—it definitely felt something like fate.
Except it was theoppositeof fate that I couldn’t manage to find Loganat allbefore the game started. Jefferson’s school day was still in session when we had our parade, which meant he hadn’t seen me in my dress yet. We’d planned to try and meet before the game started, but his coach wouldn’t let him off the field, and too many people surrounded me to gush over how pretty I looked.
Which of course I appreciated, but I really wanted to hear my boyfriend’s opinion.
Before half-time, though, I did have a chance to fulfill a different wish, one I’d been holding onto longer: seeing Logan play football. And my imaginationsodid not do him justice.
Logan transformed under the football field lights, and it didn’t feel like I was watching the boy who teased me about my coffee order. It felt like I was watching someone powerful. Confident. Someone I couldn’t look away from. When he called the play and took his position, my pulse stirred in my chest, beating louder than the student section’s drumline. Logan looked so focused, like every piece of him knew exactly what he was doing—and then the snap came, body moving fluidly into the throw. Smooth. Fast. Determined.Hot.
I’d known I liked him before. But now? Watching him under the lights, cheeks flushed, eyes bright, unstoppable grin—yeah. I wasgone.
And the half-time buzzer, halting his playing, was super cruel.
“I still think it’s ridiculous that the guys aren’t in their suits for this,” Jade said now, folding her arms across her chest and looking at the football players who’d come straight back to join us behind the bleachers once thescoreboard buzzed. “I mean, it’shomecoming court.And you’re just in your shoulder pads.”
Everyone on homecoming court, from freshmen to seniors, all congregated at the back corner of the field, where we were obscured by the opposing team’s bleacher section. We’d walk straight down the field and stop just in front of Brentwood’s side, so everyone could see us in our full glory. We waited for the band to finish their fight song, for the cheerleaders to wrap up the final trick, and for the announcer to begin.
Two of the three seniors and two juniors were playing in the game tonight, which meant they didn’t have time to change out of their uniforms. Or, seemingly, wipe the sweat from their brows. “It’s still spirited,” I said. “Especially us, Jade.” I looked at our dresses.
I’d picked out a beautiful blue floor-length dress for this, one that had gemstones sewn into the bust and skirt. It matched the blue of Landon’s jersey perfectly, and we’d look stunning walking down the field together. Not as stunning, though, as Jade and Connor would look. Her dress was gold, with a hundred times more gemstones than mine, making her look like a glittering jewel herself. She matched the gold of Connor’s Bobcats jersey—royalty material.
Even though they weren’t a good couple, theywerea pretty one.
“Okay, Bobcats!” The announcer’s voice broke through the final beat of the marching band’s song, clinging to the excitement and stirring it in the air. “Before we get back to the game, let’s take a second to recognize the Brentwood High homecoming court!”
The teacher who stood with us signaled the freshmen to start walking, and then, after a beat, thesophomores. Jade and Connor positioned themselves behind Landon and me.
Landon offered an arm out. His hair was a little damp from the first half of the game, and his cheeks were still reddish from the last play. “Let’s do this?” he asked.
I took his thick arm. “Don’t let me trip.”
“Never.”
“Okay, you two,” the teacher said, gesturing at Landon and me. “Walk now.”
And we walked.
