The Crypto.com Arena pulsed like a living heart beneath purple-and-gold lights, twenty thousand fans roaring so loud the floorboards vibrated under Alex's sneakers.
He bounced the ball once, twice, eyes locked on the defender who thought he could crowd him. Rookie mistake. Alex grinned, all teeth and trouble, then exploded into a crossover so filthy the poor kid nearly twisted an ankle trying to keep up. The crowd detonated. Alex pulled up from deep, the ball arcing like it had been shot from a cannon, swishing clean through the net. Another three. Another dagger. The Suns were up by twenty-two in the third quarter of Game 1, and the Western Conference playoffs had officially caught fire.
Ethan sat courtside, legs crossed, navy blazer open over a crisp white shirt, looking every inch the calm, collected boyfriend of a superstar—except for the way his fingers drummed a frantic rhythm on his knee every time Alex drove to the rim.
