Page 185 of Blackwood

Cheers erupt, echoing through the stands like thunder.

“Your Wolves are taking the field against the Northvale University Titans, undefeated last year, and ready to prove they’ve still got it.”

Booing breaks out in the student section.

Hugh’s voice cuts through the roar again, this time with a grin so wide you can hear it. “Hey, Bella! You girls about ready to get this show on the road?”

On the sideline, Bella turns and flashes a wicked little smile toward the announcer’s box, blowing a kiss in Hugh’s direction. The camera catches it and plasters her face across the jumbotron, larger than life.

Right next to me, Dad leans in with a raised brow. “Wait, are the girls mic’d up?”

“Hell yeah, they are.”

“You serious?”

“I told you,” I say, jerking my chin toward the field where the girls are finishing stretching, shaking out nerves like they’re about to walk into battle. “It’s a whole damn show, Dad.”

The girls start heading down to the walkway in front of the stands. Right in front of us. Bella takes the center. Hair in perfect waves, black and burgundy top hugging her like a damn dream. Ellie and Haley on her left and right, all three of them standing with that signature Trifecta confidence, like queens about to burn down a kingdom.

“Hey there, Hughy!” Bella calls, strutting across the walkway in front of our row. “God, I’ve missed you. It feels so good to be back at Kingsley Field.” She pauses for the crowd to react.

She’s close now. Too close. One arm’s length away from me in that little crop. I nearly grab her ass and pull her onto my lap where she belongs, but I restrain myself.

Barely.

She starts pacing slow, owning the space like a born performer. “So, Hughy, how have you been? How was your summer?”

“It was great. The wife and I took the kids to Ireland for a few weeks. What about you girls?”

Bella twirls with one of her curls and flashes a smile. “Oh, nothing major. Just the usual—dancing, laying out by the pool at The Row working on our tan…” That gets a loud pop from some of The Order sitting in the student section.

She pauses. “Oh my God, Hughy, I totally forgot to tell you!” She says with the sass and excitement of someone gossiping with a girlfriend at brunch. “So, you know how we get to perform at The Row parties, right?”

“Yeah, of course!” Hugh says. “The Order should be grateful you girls show up. Y’all make their Row parties worth something. I hope they are paying you well.”

Bella laughs. “Right? Make sure you tell that to Cal and Augie,” she says pointing over her shoulder. “Anyway, we were at the end of summer pool party and guess whoshowed up.”

Ellie takes the cue, stepping forward. “The disgusting Revenants.” The stadium boos on instinct.

Haley adds, “Yeah. Maddie Rae stomped up like, ‘You girls are so mean, you took Fight Night from us!’ Blah blah bullshit. Then challenged us to a rematch.”

Hugh chuckles. “So, what’d you do?”

Bella flips her hair and steps center. “What we always do, kicked ass while shaking ass.”

Cade laughs beside me.

“Three rounds. Three wins. You should’ve seen it,” Ellie beams.

“I’m honestly not surprised,” Hugh says. “But hold up girls, did you just say you stole a Fight Night?”

“We didn’t steal it, Hughy.” Ellie cuts in.

“Yeah, we earned it. We were invited to dance by one of their Hollow Kings. It’s not our fault that The Revenants suck.” Haley says eyes on me now as she points in my direction. “Just as Bella’s new boyfriend, he was there.”

Right then, Knox steps up to the girls. “Excuse me, what exactly are you all doing?”

Bella rolls her eyes. “What does it look like, Knox. We’re having a conversation,” she says in an annoyed tone. The crowd roars again.