CHAPTER THIRTY
ROWAN
The rooftop got louder the longer I stayed in it.
That was the rule of places like this.
At first it feels like noise.
Then it becomes rhythm.
Then it stops feeling like anything at all unless you stop moving.
I made the mistake of stopping.
Someone handed me another drink. I didn’t even see who at first.
“Careful,” a voice said beside me. “That one’s stronger than it looks.”
I turned.
A guy I’d seen around practice. Not on the court. Not really part of the main roster group.
He smiled like he already knew I wasn’t paying attention.
“Luca,” he said. “We’ve crossed paths. Technically.”
“I don’t think we have,” I replied.
“That’s why I said technically.”
That should’ve been annoying.
It wasn’t.
Because he didn’t try too hard.
He just leaned slightly against the railing beside me like the space was already shared.
Across the rooftop, I felt it before I saw it.
Mason.
Not moving toward me.
But aware.
That constant thing he did.
I didn’t look first this time.
That mattered.
Because I could feel him noticing that I didn’t.
MASON
I saw her talking to him.
Luca.
One of the bench guys.
Not important on paper.
But close enough to be in the same orbit.
That was the problem with parties.
Everyone became closer than they should’ve been.
Jace followed my gaze immediately.
“Oh,” he said. “That’s new.”
“What is.”
“That guy doesn’t usually talk to anyone.”
“He’s talking now,” I said.
“Yeah,” Jace replied. “And you’re watching it like it’s a film you didn’t agree to see.”
I didn’t answer.
Because Rowan laughed.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
Just a small shift in expression.
But I noticed it anyway.
That was the issue.
I was noticing too much.
ROWAN
Luca leaned slightly closer so he could hear over the music.
“You don’t like this place,” he said.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
That made me glance at him.
He wasn’t wrong.
But he also wasn’t pushing.
Just observing.
That made it easier to stay in the conversation.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I like chaos,” he said simply.
“That sounds unhealthy.”
“It is.”
He smiled.
That should’ve ended it.
It didn’t.
Because he didn’t move away.
He just stayed there like proximity wasn’t a negotiation.
MASON
He touched her shoulder.
Not long.
Just enough to get her attention as he said something.
That was mistake number one.
It wasn’t even intentional.
Probably.
But I noticed it anyway.
Jace saw my expression shift.
“You’re doing the jaw thing again,” he said.
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You are absolutely internally combusting right now.”
I exhaled.
“I don’t care.”
“That’s the biggest lie you’ve told all week.”
I didn’t respond.
Because Rowan stepped slightly closer to Luca to hear him over the music.
Not a touch.
But alignment.
That was worse.
Because it was voluntary.
ROWAN
Luca gestured toward the bar.
“Come on,” he said. “You’ve been standing in the same spot for ten minutes.”
“I’ve been here longer than ten minutes.”
“That’s worse.”
I rolled my eyes slightly and followed him.
Not because I needed to.
Because staying still felt worse.
We moved through the crowd.
People shifting out of the way without looking.
That was when I felt it again.
Mason.
Still somewhere behind.
Still tracking without looking like it.
I didn’t turn.
Not yet.
LUCA
He leaned against the bar like he owned the space.
Not arrogant.
Just comfortable.
“That drink’s bad idea level two,” he said, sliding one toward me.
“What’s level one?”
“Already being here.”
I almost smiled.
Almost.
“You’re very committed to warnings,” I said.
“Someone has to be.”
He leaned closer slightly—not invasive, just louder voice distance collapsing.
I noticed it then.
He wasn’t trying to impress.
Just… existing too close to the line where people usually start pretending.
That was different.
MASON
I saw it.
Bar now.
Closer space.
Luca leaning in slightly.
Rowan not stepping back.
Not stepping closer either.
Just staying.
That balance annoyed me more than I wanted to admit.
Jace noticed immediately.
“Oh wow,” he said quietly. “You hate this.”
“I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
I didn’t answer.
Because Luca laughed.
And Rowan looked at him again.
That second look lasted half a beat too long.
Not romantic.
Not anything yet.
But enough to register.
That was the problem.
ROWAN
He wasn’t doing anything wrong.
That was the annoying part.
Luca just made everything feel slightly less controlled.
“Do you always watch people like that?” he asked suddenly.
“Like what.”
“Like you’re trying to understand them before they talk.”
I paused.
“That’s not intentional.”
“That’s what everyone says about their worst habits.”
That made me look at him properly again.
He wasn’t teasing.
Just stating it.
Then—
he took a sip of his drink.
Leaning back slightly.
Still too close.
Not enough to matter.
But enough that I noticed.
LUCA
“I’m guessing you’re not from the loud-people category,” he said.
“What category is that.”
“You know,” he said. “The ones who fill space just to hear themselves in it.”
“That sounds like you.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
We stood there for a moment.
No pressure.
No expectation.
Just presence.
That was when I noticed him looking past me.
Not at me.
Behind me.
Like something else had his attention more than the conversation.
I didn’t turn.
Not immediately.
But I knew.
Someone was there.
MASON
She didn’t look yet.
That was the worst part.
Because I knew she knew I was there.
Jace leaned in.
“Are you going to say something or just mentally ruin your own night?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re watching her like she’s about to disappear into someone else’s story.”
I didn’t answer.
Because Luca said something again.
And Rowan smiled slightly.
Small.
But real.
That was enough.