Page 66 of The Rookie

Avery raises her glass to her lips, giving me an unimpressed look. “Are you just trying to get me drunk, Knox?”

I wink at her. “Maybe.”

“Unbelievable,” she mutters, taking a sip.

I lean back smugly in my chair, feeling victorious for all of three seconds.

Jake, of course, can’t let it go. “Wait, wait. WhyPride and Prejudice?”

“Because,” I say, grinning, “Avery reads it like,every year.It’s her ‘comfort book.’”

Avery freezes, drink halfway to her mouth. “How do you know that?”

“You told my sister,” I remind her. “And Cassie told me. And now I’m using that knowledge to crush you at this game.”

Kayla lets out a laugh. “Oh my god. I think he’sstudyingyou, Avery.”

Avery glares at me over the rim of her glass. “You’re ridiculous.”

I shrug, all fake innocence. “Hey, if you’re an open book, that’s not my fault.”

“Never have I ever wanted to punch someone in the face more,” she mutters.

Jake, meanwhile, is cracking up. “You guys have seriousrom-comenergy right now.”

Kayla nods solemnly, tapping the table with her finger. “Enemies to lovers. It’s a classic trope. I respect it.”

I shoot her a look. “Who said anything about lovers?”

“You two arethis close,” Jake says, holding up his fingers with barely an inch between them. “It’s all sexual tension and pent-up rage.”

Avery groans. “I hate all of you.”

“Denial,” Kayla sings, raising her glass like it’s a toast. “Classic sign of attraction.”

Avery sits back in her chair, fixing me with a wicked grin that instantly makes me wary.

“Alright, Knox,” she says slowly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Never have I ever…owned a Taylor Swift album.”

I freeze mid-sip.

Jake and Kayla immediately burst into laughter as I cough, spluttering tequila down my chin. “What—how—what kind of call-out is that?”

“Drink,” Avery says smugly.

“I don’t own one!”

“Liar. Cassie told me you hadFearlesson repeat in high school.”

Jake nearly falls out of his chair. “Bro. NotFearless.”

Kayla’s wheezing at this point. “It’s always the athletes. Secret Swifties.”

I glare at Avery, but I can’t help the grin tugging at my mouth as I drink. “You’re a menace, Sinclair.”

“Thank you,” she replies sweetly.

As the game winds down, we’re all a little buzzed and way too loud for this tiny corner of the bar. Avery’s still smirking at me from across the table, and I’m still pretending her little dig didn’t hit its mark.

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