Never Date a Genius

Epilogue: Chris POV

Five Years After

The final buzzer cracked through the air, and the arena exploded. Mason had just sealed the win with one of his signature shots that'll live on highlight reels all week.

But even before the scoreboard hit zero, I knew where his head was.

Sophie.

Same courtside seat she's had since his very first pro game. Never missed a tip-off, never left before the final whistle. It wasn't a lucky charm thing, it was their quiet, unspoken tradition.

She'd been there two years ago when Mason won Rookie of the Year. I remember watching him step up on that stage, all bright lights and applause, and somehow, his eyes still scanned the crowd until they found her. When they did, his whole face changed like the award meant something, but she meant everything.

Tonight, though... something shifted.

I caught it when the girls started clustering near the tunnel, the usual ones, all hair flips and perfect smiles, calling his name like they had a claim on it. Sophie's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, a flicker you'd miss if you didn't know her. And Mason saw it.

I know that look on him. It's the same one I saw back in high school.

Flashback, years ago.

Jason Williams. Calm, collected, the quarterback with brains and charm. Sophie had been spending time with him, quiet conversations, confiding her broken heart with the Marissa debacle and Mason was devastated.

And I remember that night after practice, everyone else gone. Mason stayed. Shooting. Rebounding. Shooting again. Over and over, like he could sweat out the fear of losing her. Back then, it almost happened.

--

I could see that ghost brushing against him now, the awareness that all it takes is one mistake, one moment of doubt, and she could walk away.

And then, he moved. Like a guy rushing to fix something. Like a man choosing. Each step cut through the noise. Fans reached for him, cameras flashed, teammates shouted his name but his eyes never left her.

When he got to Sophie, he didn't speak right away. He lifted his arm to shield her from the blinding camera lights, his body turning just enough to put her out of the chaos.

"You good?" he asked, voice low, just for her.

Her answer was simple. "Always." And the flicker was gone.

He breathed out, that tension sliding off his shoulders. He said something that made her laugh, her real laugh  the one he's been chasing since they were kids.

They turned to leave together, and I saw it  Sophie's fingers curling into the hem of his jersey, holding on like she had no plans to let go. And Mason... Mason walked like a man who knew she meant it.

I watch Mason and Sophie disappear down the tunnel, hand in hand, like the world doesn't exist outside their little bubble. A smile tugs at my lips for them, for the love that survived everything. But then my eyes snap back.

From across the arena, a woman approaches. Someone I knew years ago. One foolish mistake. One night. One set up. One kiss I've regretted ever since. And now... she's here.

Panic seizes me. Fear twists my gut. I turn to Yasmin, who I catch smiling at Sophie and Mason.

Fear gnaws at me, and I clutch Yasmin's hand instinctively, my knuckles whitening. I can't lose her. Not now. Not ever.

Because the truth is, I've loved Yasmin since we were kids. Longer than anyone knew. Longer than even Mason had realized his feelings for Sophie. I'd watched her grow, laughed with her, argued with her, shared secrets and dreams. And somewhere along the way, she became the air I breathe.

And now... fear grips me like ice. One misstep, one careless word, and I could lose her. The thought is unbearable.

Yasmin notices my sudden stiffness, tilts her head, puzzled. "Chris... what's wrong?" she asks, her voice threaded with concern.

I can barely meet her eyes, my chest tight. The woman keeps approaching, unaware, radiant and familiar, and every step she takes sends a jolt through me. If she knows... if she ever finds out what that night meant...

Yasmin follows my gaze, her expression curious but still puzzled. "Who is she?"

I swallow hard, trying to steady my voice, but it trembles. "No one," I whisper, almost choking on the words. "Just... stay close."

My heart pounds, my mind spinning. Years of knowing her, of loving her in silence, now threatens to unravel in seconds. And all I can do is hold her hand tighter, pull her a fraction closer, and pray that I can protect what I've loved longer than anything in this world.

The woman keeps moving toward us, and I feel the weight of every year, every shared laugh, every childhood memory with Yasmin pressing down. My fear is raw, sharp, and unrelenting. I've loved her since we were kids, and I will not.

I cannot lose her.

And there, in the middle of the arena, with Mason and Sophie lost in their perfect moment, I stand frozen, heart hammering, gripped by the terrifying possibility that everything I've ever wanted could slip through my fingers in an instant.

---

Thank you for reading until the end.
I feel like Mace and Sophie deserves this ending. What do you think?

...And now, I want to start a new book. This time with our dear Chris and Yasmin. Will they have their happy ever after?

And any suggestions on the title?