By the time Freya and I stepped into the gym, the air smacked me in the face, hot, sharp with floor polish, and just faintly seasoned with the unmistakable tang of sweat. Delicious. Said no one ever.
Basketballs thudded against the gleaming court. Sneakers squeaked in quick, chirpy bursts, like a flock of very agitated pigeons. Laughter ricocheted off the rafters, tangled with shouts and the hollow boom of the backboard, and I instantly regretted not bringing earplugs.
Somewhere near the far hoop, a whistle split the chaos, a single, authoritative shriek, before melting back into the noise, as if it had simply given up on life. Honestly, I could relate.
We were already dressed for practice, black shorts, our shirts clinging lightly to our shoulders, hair pulled back and out of the way.
My fingers were still cold from the evening air outside, but the heat in here was already beginning to sink into my skin.
That was when I spotted Kai.
