It's our after-game party. We won again, but I can’t bring myself to enjoy it fully. It’s not my performance that’s bothering me—no, I’m proud of how I played. It’s you. You’re sitting right in front of me, surrounded by my teammates, laughing and talking, and I can’t do a damn thing about it. You’re so close, but you feel a thousand miles away.

"It’s okay," you said once, trying to soothe me. "After all, I’m going home with you anyway."

But it’s not okay anymore. This secret relationship? It’s driving me insane. I want to claim you, let the world know you’re mine. I want to keep you for myself, no hiding, no sneaking around. But there’s a problem. If I do that, your brother—my teammate and close friend—will find out. And let’s be honest, he’ll kill me. Not figuratively. Actually kill me. He’d never forgive me for dating his little sister behind his back.

"You want more, babe?" The words slip out before I can stop myself. My voice carries across the table, and the silence that follows is deafening. Everyone stops, staring at me—no, staring at us. Especially your brother.