Page 18 of Alice Chen's Reality Check

His fingers are warm against mine. We’ve shaken hands before, at the end of a match, but this feels different. More electric. All my senses are focused on this point of contact, and I really don’t need this right now.

This has to be a calculated move, a tactic designed to throw me off my game. I hate that I’m clearly the only one reeling from our surprise reunion. Daniel’s strength has always been his adaptability, and that obviously hasn’t changed over the years. I, on the other hand, thrive on planning and strategizing—but I’ve never been good at rolling with the punches. Every single one of my bullet points has flown out of my head.

Regrouping, I shake his hand off. “All a competition requires is something quantifiable. And by every single metric, I decimated you. Number of cupcakes baked? Amount of money raised? Flyers designed, printed, and posted? Take your pick.”

“The real winner was the Hillsborough School District’s performing arts program,” he says with a smirk.

“For which I raised over two thousand dollars,” I shoot back.

“Your cupcakes might’ve been a bit overpriced if you asked your customers.”

“They were made with fair-trade chocolate,Midas, and they got the job done, unlike your cookies-and-cream fudge disaster.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Still haven’t forgotten that old nickname, huh?”

“Not any more than you’ve forgotten Slayer,” I say.

We’ve been sparring like no time has passed, but it’s been years since we last saw each other. I find myself really looking at him, taking in all the little ways he’s grown up since high school. He’d always been athletic, but I’ve never seen him like this—tanned, muscular, and glistening, his black hair casually swept back. I bet the hair and makeup team loves him.

“What?” he says.

“Huh?”

“You’re staring.” He ruffles his hand through his hair. “Is there something on my head?”

“It’s your hair,” I deflect. “It’s different.” It’s hot. Daniel’s hot.Oh no, Daniel’s hot.

He chuckles. “Couldn’t keep the bowl cut forever. Nice of you to notice.”

“I wasn’t—I didn’t say—” I stammer.

“All right, cut!” Leah says, and I startle. I whip around, suddenly realizing that not only has an audience gathered, but at least three cameras are trained on me and Daniel. “Finally! Something we can use, Alice. Love the banter. That’s going into the sizzle reel.”

“Nice,” Chase says. “Sizzle.” He slips an arm around me as Leah rattles off more directions to some of the crew about the footage.

“Hey! There you are, Danny!”

An outrageously attractive woman who’s defying several laws of gravity with her bikini leaps into Daniel’s arms.

“Danny?” I repeat. “You always hated when people called you that.”

“Oh, but the way I say it, it’s justsocute,” the new woman says as Daniel sets her down on the sand. She must be Daniel’s partner.

Daniel gives a half shrug. “It’s better thanMidas.”

“Okay,Danny,” I say, grinning.

“Who’s this?” Daniel’s girlfriend asks, tucking herself into his side. With her sun-kissed tan and the balayage highlights in her long wavy hair, she and Daniel fit like two pieces of a sexy beach puzzle.

“Selena, this is Slayer—”

“I go by Alice, actually,” I interrupt. “And this is Chase.”

“So, Danny, you and Alice know each other?” Chase asks, pointing at Daniel. “This gives us a leg up on the competition! We’ve got to lock this in now. How about a secret alliance?” Chase shoots finger guns at Daniel and Selena.

Daniel opens his mouth, but Selena squeals, “Yes! Yes, secret alliance! I love it, I love it so much.”

Chase grins. “Awesome! Final four, baby. Locking it in!”

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