The arena lights blazed bright, turning the whole court into a glowing stage. Twenty thousand fans filled the seats, waving signs, wearing Suns jerseys, and making noise that shook the building. The air smelled like popcorn, hot dogs, and excitement. It was a big game against a strong rival team, and everyone felt the energy.
Ethan sat in his new courtside seat, close enough to see every drop of sweat on the players. His heart beat fast...not just from the game, but because Alex was out there. He wore the Suns hoodie Alex left at his place, hood up low to stay a little hidden. No one knew yet that the star player had someone special watching.
Warm-ups ended. The teams lined up for the national anthem. Alex stood tall in the circle with his teammates, hand over heart. He glanced toward Ethan's seat quick...found his eyes...and smiled small. Just for him. Ethan smiled back, feeling warm inside.
