Page 127 of Ace of Spades

Wherever I’m needed, I’m there.

About halfway through the morning, the worst possible thing happens.

Grayson Holt struts past our build station, cameras trailing after him like flies to shit.

He throws a smirk our way, then "accidentally" knocks over a stack of carefully placed parts with a swipe of his hand.

"Oops," he says, not even pretending.

Levi’s on him in an instant.

"Pick it up," he growls.

Grayson grins wider. "Or what, old man?"

The cameras pivot toward the two of them like vultures.

I jump between them before Levi’s fists can do what I know he’s thinking.

"Not worth it," I hiss under my breath. "We've got this, Levi. We'vegotthis."

For a second, he looks like he might rip Grayson a new one. And I kind of wish he could. But this is being broadcasted live. And from my understanding, anything Levi does at the moment is under scrutiny for his guardianship.

Levi jerks his head in a stiff nod and stalks off, shoving through the crowd toward the back lot away from the mayhem.

I bend to pick up the parts myself, heart hammering in my ears.

The whole world's watching.

And we are not going to give them the show they want.

Kick is next to me in a flash, helping me with the remainder.

“Thanks,” I mouth to her. She’s wearing her headphones to blast her music to help her concentrate. She nods at me and gets back to work.

* * *

Later, during the lunch break, I slip out into the spectator area, desperate for five minutes away from the cameras and pressure.

That's when I hear it.

"Si!"

I spin around—and to my surprise… it’s Julian.

MyJulian. Big, bright smile just waiting for me to react.

I launch myself at him and he catches me, spinning me in a circle. Something we rarely ever do.

"Oh my God, what are you doing here?" I gasp, tears pricking my eyes. And there’s really nothing I can do to stop them.

He grins, setting me down. "Had to see you kick some ass in person."

"I thought you had class?"

He shrugs. "Maybe we drove all night just to be here. Took a little road trip."

"Wait…we?" I say, catching the slip.

---