Page 26 of Tessa and Nash

“It was my locker.”

“You were still in my way.”

A few heads nearby turn. Penny Tucker’s eyebrows lift with interest. I ignore her.

Someone near the dartboard nudges a friend. I hear my name hissed. Buckhorn loves a spectacle. Especially when it involves old rivals and new scandals.

“Careful, McCoy,” I add sweetly. “Wouldn’t want your fiancée seeing you run into your old academic rival.”

The word lands.

His jaw tightens. “You got something you wanna say, Long?”

“Oh, I’ve got a list,” I reply pleasantly. “But let’s start small. Engaged?”

His laugh is sharp and humorless. It’s enough to irritate me. Muscle memory I never authorized.

Every time he shifts closer, my focus stutters. Words land a half-second late. I have to work harder than I should to stay sharp.

This is ridiculous.

“That’s too fast, even for Buckhorn,” he hisses.

“You announced it in a room full of people who treat gossip like a competitive sport,” I shoot back. “What did you expect? A confidentiality agreement?”

“I didn’t expect you to be keeping score.”

That does it.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I snap. “You made a spectacle at a public meeting. I happen to work there.”

“So this is professional concern now?” His eyes flick over me, challenging. “Because last I checked, you were glaring at me like I’d personally sabotaged your valedictorian speech.”

“You tried to,” I say. “You asked a question just to throw me off.”

“I asked because you forgot to define your terms.”

“I did not forget.”

“You absolutely did.”

I point a finger at his chest. “You smirked.”

He grins, unapologetic. “You hated that smirk.”

“I hated you,” I correct.

“Liar.”

The word lands soft, almost amused, and it sends an unwelcome flicker straight through my chest.

“Still making grand declarations when you’re cornered?” I say, grasping for irritation. “Some habits die hard.”

His brows knit. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Please,” I scoff. “I sat three rows behind you for four years. You always did your best work under pressure.”

“And you always assumed you were smarter than everyone else in the room.”