By the time Liam’s game ended, the bleachers were buzzing with cheers. His team had won—of course they had. Liam always made winning look easy, like the universe bent itself to his charm.
I was on my feet, clapping too hard, smiling too wide, like maybe my pride in him could swallow the ache in my chest.
When the team spilled out of the locker room, Liam spotted me right away. His grin stretched across his face, the kind that made me forget how to breathe.
“You came,” he said, like he’d doubted it.
“Of course I did,” I answered. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
And for a second—just a second—there was something in his eyes. Something softer. Something that made me wonder if I was imagining it all along.
We walked side by side toward the parking lot, the night air cool against my skin. I wanted to
