Page 81 of Blackwood

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

I glance up. Cal and August.

Of course.

“I was invited.”

Cal scoffs. “Fuck right you were.”

“Bella invited me.”

That shuts him up. For exactly one second.

August barks a laugh. “No fucking way.” He claps once, loud enough that one of the Legacy girls turns and glares. “Dude, I thought you were joking when you said that shit back at Cinco.”

Cal’s head whips toward him. “What shit?”

August grins like he’s just pulled the pin on a grenade and can’t wait to watch it blow us to pieces.

“Your brother and his Russian boytoy are on the hunt for a third. Apparently, they’ve got their sights set on Bella.”

Cal jerks like he’s been punched. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

“Nope,” August says, way too pleased. “Looks like your brother’s trying to make it a full-blown throuple.”

I grind my teeth, ignoring the heat rising in my chest. I know that look on Cal’s face. The same look he used to get back when Bella would curl up on the couch with me during family movie nights. The same look he had when we were in high school and she showed up drunk to a house party, and I was the one she texted for help.

The same look he gave me in Nashville.

Cal shakes his head slowly, voice low. “You’re serious.”

“I am,” I say simply. “And I’m not here to fight, Cal.”

His jaw flexes. “You know I’ve always liked her.”

I nod once. “I know.”

“So what, now you want her too?”

“Just drop it, Cal.”

His laugh is sharp, bitter. “You always say that. You always try to take what’s mine.”

I meet his eyes. “I didn’t know she was yours.”

“She’s not, but that doesn’t mean you get to swoop in like—”

“I’m not swooping in.” I cut him off.

“Then what are you doing, Cade?”

“Trying not to lose her,” I say quietly.

Before Cal can fire back or throw a punch, Coach Javi’s voice cracks across the gym like a man on a mission.

“Thank you all for coming,” he says, his Latin accent smooth and charismatic. He’s standing mid-court with a clipboard and one dramatic hand raised.

Cal’s mouth opens again but I shoot him a glare.