Page 113 of The Trade

The following morning,I’m rushing to make it to class on time and nearly trip over something on my doorstep. There, perched on the welcome mat, is an iced latte. I pick it up, noticing a small, folded note stuck to the bottom.

I crouch down to retrieve it, my fingers tracing over the handwritten letters. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen West’s handwriting, and the sight of it—so personal, so intimate—stirs a complex tangle of emotions in my chest. Part pain, part longing, it’s an echo of our shared past and the uncertain future looming before us. With a deep breath, I unfold the note and carefully dissect the scribbled words:

Jade—

Our coffee deal was only fair play.

And so is this—I'm not giving up on us, no matter what it takes.

I'd do anything to earn your forgiveness.

To show you how much I've changed since we first met.

Let's start with something I should have done a long time ago.

—Theo

33

WEST

There aretwo weeks left until this term ends, which means I have fourteen days to prove myself to Jade. To prove I deserve a second chance.

I have to make it through one last spring practice, Dayton’s Spirit Night, and three grueling finals before summer hits. Before Jade leaves for Washington. Before training camp starts and I lose all sense of time.

But before all this can happen, there’s one wrong I need to right.

I set up a meeting with both my team captains, Noah and Danny. While Noah was elected leader of the offense, my housemate spearheads the defensive team. If all else fails, I know I can count on them to have my back.

“What’s this about?” Danny asks, settling into our living room couch.

“I want to put a lifetime ban on the Trade,” I tell them, scrubbing a hand across my forehead. “I need your support bringing this to the team.”

“Damn.” Noah lets out a low whistle. “That’s gonna be a hard sell.”

I grit my teeth. “No shit.”

“I’m fully behind that idea,” Danny says, expression earnest. “Sofia thinks the whole thing is bullshit, anyway.”

I arch a brow. “You told your girlfriend about it?”

“Of course.” Danny gives me an affronted look. “I’m not gonna keep it a secret. Not when my teammates are making assholes of themselves right in front of her. Besides, she wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“Right.” I purse my lips, stomach sinking. “The whole thing is fucked. We should have gotten rid of it a long time ago.”

“I agree.” Noah rubs the underside of his jaw. “But I think the team’s gonna be pissed about breaking tradition. Especially all the rising underclassmen.”

“Fuck that,” I bite. “We’ll make a new tradition. A competition that doesn’t jeopardize our careers or make us look like total assholes.”

“What do you propose?” Danny asks.

“Why don’t we just let the team decide?”

“Okay, you have my support.” Danny pushes off the couch, slinging his duffel over one shoulder. “We doing this after practice today?”

“That was the plan.” I shift my gaze to Noah, awaiting his verdict. “You with us?”

“Fuck yeah, dude. Let’s do this.”

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