Page 184 of Blackwood

Dad drops into the seat beside me and glances around the packed stadium. “This place is a damn zoo. How many people go to this school?”

Cade shrugs. “Not this many. They’re not just here for football.”

He nods. “Right. You said your girl’s dancing tonight. So where is she?”

I point toward the field. “Right there, Dad. The one on her back being stretched out by Captain Too-Happy-With-His-Hands.”

He follows my gaze, “Damn, men. Your girl’s hot.”

“Mmhmm,” I nod, eyes still locked on her. “Black hair, long legs, cherry red lipstick, a goddamn dream.”

We watch her for a beat in silence. She looks over and catches us staring. Her eyes land on me first and then slide to the man sitting beside me. I can see it instantly, the flicker of nerves across her face. She tries to smile, but it falters at the edges. Still, she gives us a little wave.

I raise my hand in return, giving her the softest look I can manage, silently telling her she’s okay. That we’re right here.

She looks back at Josh and says something I can’t hear. And yeah, I’m still watching his hands. But now I’m watching hers too, and I see that little tremble in her fingers.

“She nervous?” Dad asks, softer now.

“Yeah, first time meeting you has got her twisted up.”

He exhales slowly. “She’s got nothing to worry about.”

“You’ll like her,” I say without looking at him. “But she’s been through hell, Dad. And somehow, she’s still soft. Still fire. Still standing.”

He places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a firm squeeze. “Good. You two deserve a girl like that.”

I feel the tightness in my chest ease. Even though I still want to break Josh’s fingers.

Dad leans forward, elbows on his knees, eyes scanning the field like he’s trying to understand what all the fuss is about. “So explain this to me,” he says, nodding toward the cluster of girls stretching near the end zone. “What makes their dances so special? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for tight uniforms and a little choreography, but this… this feels different.”

“It is,” I say, already half-smiling. “This isn’t just cheer or dance. It’s a performance. A full-blown production. Think halftime at the Super Bowl meets a damn Broadway show.”

Cade chuckles. “He’s not exaggerating.”

He points again, this time at the three girls in different crop tops. “Why do those three look different from the rest?”

“Because they are different,” Cade says. “That’s The Trifecta.”

Dad raises a brow. “Sounds like a great bourbon.”

“Sounds like trouble,” I add with a grin. “But nah, it’s Bella, Ellie, and Haley. Coach Javi started grouping them together their freshman year and couldn’t separate them after that. They’ve got chemistry no one else can touch.”

“They choreograph most of their own routines now,” Cade adds. “They draw crowds to practices and trend online every time they perform. There’s a reason the rest of the team wears matching basic gear and the three of them have their own. They’ve basically become their own brand around here.”

“They’re not just dancers,” I say. “They’re the act. Legacy’s the team, but The Trifecta’s the show.”

He watches for a beat, then leans back in his seat. “Damn. No wonder you look like you’re ready to throw hands with the guy stretching her out.”

Cade laughs under his breath. I just shrug.

“I’m fine,” I lie, eyes narrowing at Josh again.

“You’re in love, son” he says, not even looking at me. “That’s what that is.”

The stadium lights dim just slightly, enough to make the jumbotron glow brighter, casting a cool electric haze over the field. The crowd’s already loud, but when the PA system crackles and Hugh’s voice booms out across Kingsley Field, the whole place vibrates with energy.

“Alright, Wexley fans!” Hugh’s voice is pure stadium hype, loud and smooth. “We’ve got a sold-out crowd tonight for the first home game of the season here at Kingsley Field!”