Page 5 of These Secret Years

Trying to act like I’m invested in this tournament, I ask, “Any hints on the grand prize?”

He grins. “Now don’t go getting ahead of yourself.”

“I’d just like to know what I’m playing for. Keep myself motivated.”

“I’m not sure I have anything that’ll impress half you guys, but it doesn’t suck.”

I’m distracted once again by a high five and another laugh. He’s won. Good.

I need to get this over with.

Now I just need to decide how I want to act. If I’m a dick, which violates Gabe’s rules and also isn’t who I am as a person, it won’t really count if he hates me. If I’m a hundred percent myself, I won’t say a word and therefore won’t get the information I’m craving. I need to strike a balance. I need to be the homecoming king.

Soon enough, Gabe has two tables designated, and he’s calling over the winner of the loser’s bracket. The winners bracket consists of Tyson, then me, Deandre, and Sullivan.

Sullivan? Sully? Really? I know I’m not one to talk about having a weird name, but the last thing this guy looks like is a Sully.

Everyone else has met as we sit, so I hold out my hand to introduce myself. “Knight Winters.”

“Sullivan Scott.”

He puts his hand in mine, and yeah, I guess there’s a jolt or whatever. I was expecting that. I don’t touch attractive men all that often. His handshake is firm, but what I notice more than that are his fingers. I have big hands, but his fingers are really long, wrapping my hand up like it’s nothing.

“Do people call you⁠—?”

He gives a quick, sharp shake of his head. “Sullivan.”

“Got it.” So, he’s not a Sully. Good.

We take our seats, and I ask, “Where are you from? I already know these guys.”

“Michigan.”

“Yeah? Whereabout? I’m from up North.”

His brows lift as Tyson shuffles the big deck. “Uh, yeah. Me too. You probably wouldn’t have heard of my town, though.”

I shrug like try me.

“Sunrise Point.”

I frown. He’s got to be kidding. No one has ever heard of Sunrise Point. I laugh. “My reputation precedes me.”

“How’s that?”

“Sunrise Point? My hometown?” I say.

He scoffs. “No, it’s not.”

“It is, actually.”

He shakes his fucking perfect head. “There’s one high school there. You didn’t go to it.”

“Well, no. I went to high school in Saginaw for football, but my family lives in Sunrise Point.”

“No, they don’t,” he says dismissively as he cuts the cards Ty slides his direction.

I half laugh. “I’m pretty sure we do.”