Page 35 (1/2)

He givesto acknowledge the spark that had danced between us, but instead, he says, "I’uards will escort you out of a hidden exit, for your privacy"

"Oh, of course," I reply, trying to hidethat I hope sounds upbeat

"When can I see you again?"

I look sharply at him A swarm of butterflies stirs in ain "Well," I start to say, "aside from e already discussed, I’m not sure I’ll have much more to report until after--"

Hideo shakes his head once "No reports Just your coaze is calht in his eyes "After the first game," I hear the words stumble out of me

Hideo smiles, and this time, it is a secret s of our first official gaainst , barely able to process his words

"Level’s in!" he’s shouting as he moves on to ram Hammie’s door "Get up! Up!"

Level’s in My eyes fly open, and I bolt upright in bed Today is the first day

I fumble around in my blankets until I find es There’s only one new e, and it’s from Hideo

Best of luck today You’ll hardly need it

I can’t tell if the flurry in ame or from his words In the last couple of weeks since our dinner, I’ve talked to Hideo ales are innocent, strictly business, but so that re our dinner when he’d leaned close

See you in the dome And thanks--believe me, I could use the luck

I don’t think I believe you at all, Miss Chen

Now you’refun ofthis?

What should I call it instead?

Moral support, perhaps?

I s to distract ize in advance

I shake

See you in the doe, but when none cos over the side of my bed I hurriedly throw so my teeth, bundle my rainbow hair up into a messy bun, and put in my NeuroLink lenses For a moment, I stare at ine Keira back in New York City, watching a the sao I let out a shaky breath, turn away from the mirror, and rush out

Everyone else is already in the atriu transmission for us Hammie nods at me as I join the each person their favorite breakfast Hah with syrup, fruit, and whipped creauacag whites and boiled spinach, while Roshan just nurses a cup of spiced chai and grimaces at the plate that Wikki offers him