Breaking the Grid

Game night

The chill room buzzed with the usual banter and laughter, a comforting background noise as the team unwound after the day's training. I was sprawled across one of the couches, tossing a stress ball lazily between my hands. Katie and Beth were perched nearby, their playful jabs flying back and forth while Alessia scrolled on her phone.

Katie was leaning back, a dreamy smile on her face as she reread something on her screen for the fifth time.

"McCabe," I called out, smirking as I stretched my legs over the couch. "Are you texting Caitlin again? God, just propose already."

Her head shot up, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink. "Shut up, Kyra," she snapped, though the way she clutched her phone close to her chest gave her away.

Beth, sitting cross-legged on the floor, was all too happy to jump in. "She's got a point, Katie. You've been staring at that text for ages. It's nauseating, honestly."

Katie threw a pillow at Beth, who ducked, laughing. "Says the girl who can't go five minutes without FaceTiming Viv."

"Hey, at least I don't hide it," Beth shot back, sticking her tongue out.

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head as I tossed the stress ball into the air. "You lot are hopeless."

"Speak for yourself," Katie retorted, narrowing her eyes at me. "You're just as bad, Cooney-Cross. Don't think we haven't noticed you grinning at your phone every five seconds."

I froze for a fraction of a second, my grip tightening on the ball before I caught myself. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said, keeping my tone casual.

Just as Katie opened her mouth to retort, my phone buzzed on the cushion next to me. I picked it up, my heart doing a little flip when I saw Blair's name on the screen.

Bee : Monaco is insane Amore. The party's starting soon. Wish you were here.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I typed back a quick reply: Kyra: Don't drink too much. And behave yourself.

Before I could put my phone down, Katie's voice rang out. "Ohhh, who's that?"

I glanced up to see her grinning at me, her interest piqued. "None of your business," I said, trying to sound casual as I set my phone face down.

Katie's eyes lit up mischievously. "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Let me guess... Blair?"

I rolled my eyes, but Beth leaned in, clearly intrigued. "Wait, is this about Blair Becks? You two are—"

"Absolutely not," I said quickly, though my voice lacked conviction.

Katie smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "You're blushing, Kyra."

"I am not," I muttered, crossing my arms.

Beth grinned. "Oh, this is fun. So, how's Blair doing? She's still away, right?"

I sighed, knowing there was no way out of this. "She's in Monaco for a party," I said reluctantly, holding up my phone where her message was still on the screen.

Katie leaned over, squinting at the text. "Wish you were here? Aw, that's adorable. She's whipped."

"Alright, I'm done with this conversation," I said, standing up and grabbing my bag.

Katie wasn't ready to let it go. "You might be done, but we're not," she called after me. "And don't think you're off the hook. We'll be at your place tonight for the game party. And don't forget, we're meeting Milo!"