Darcy walked toward the group, his steps light, almost bouncy. He tried to flatten his lips, tried not to let the grin stretch across his face. His hand reached up and tugged the hood of his sweatshirt a little lower, as if it could hide the warmth in his eyes or the flicker of pride in his chest.
Micah's words replayed over and over in his head.
'I'm not participating in the final.'
The meaning was obvious.
Micah didn't care about Archie. He didn't even care about staying for the final round of the tournament, enjoying glory with cheering crowds.
Micah's refusal to play in the final was not just a simple matter.
This round wasn't just another game. It was the match the scouts watched. The one that got clipped, shared, and remembered. The one that decided reputations.
The knockout stage was just a warm-up for pro players compared to the final match.
And now Micah wanted nothing to do with it.
Darcy swallowed, gripping the hem of his hoodie as he walked.
