Jaxon stood in front of the coach's office, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. His hands curled into fists at his sides as he took a deep breath, then knocked once before pushing the door open.
Coach Marshall barely looked up from his clipboard. "Walker, what's going on? We're about to start practice."
Jaxon didn't sit. He didn't waver. "I'm not playing if Ryan is."
That got the coach's attention. His brows furrowed, and he set the clipboard down. "Excuse me?"
Jaxon inhaled slowly, steadying himself. "I'm not stepping on the court if he's on the team."
The silence in the room stretched, thick with tension. Coach Marshall leaned back in his chair, assessing him. "This about that fight at the party? Because I don't have time forâ"
"It's not just about the party," Jaxon interrupted, his voice even but firm. "Ryan's done a lot worse than running his mouth. He's hurt people. And I won't be part of a team that protects guys like that."
The coach's lips pressed into a thin line. "You realize what you're saying, right? We have a championship game next week. If we lose youâ"
"Then figure out how to win without me," Jaxon cut in. "Because I meant what I said."
Another long pause. Jaxon knew what was coming next before the words even left Coach's mouth.
"You're one of the best players I've ever coached," he admitted, voice quieter now. "And you know we need you out there. But Ryan's good too, Jaxon. Losing either of you right before the finals? It's not exactly an easy choice."
Jaxon scoffed. "It should be."
The coach studied him for a long moment. "Does this have anything to do with Lena?"
Jaxon's eyes darkened. "It has everything to do with Lena. And every other girl he's treated like garbage."
The coach let out a slow breath, rubbing his temples. "This isn't as simple as you think, Jaxon. Ryan's parents have been big supporters of this program. They've donated a lot to the school. Benching himâlet alone kicking him off the teamâwould cause a lot of backlash."
Jaxon's jaw tightened. "So, what? That means he gets a free pass?"
The coach sighed, clearly torn. "It means the decision isn't just mine. It's political, and the school board would have something to say about it."
Jaxon nodded, even though frustration burned in his chest. "You have until game day."
He turned on his heel and walked out, leaving the tension hanging in the air behind him.
---
Lena sat on the bleachers, her stomach in knots. She glanced to her side where Ethan sat, arms crossed over his chest. She knew he should've been on the court with the rest of the team, but he had made his stance clearâif Jaxon wasn't playing, neither was he. Below, the rest of the team had started practice, but Jaxon was still nowhere to be seen. That alone told her his conversation with the coach wasn't going great.
Ethan exhaled through his nose, his gaze flicking between the team and the locker room where Jaxon had disappeared. "They're going to notice I'm not out there too. Coach is going to be pissed."
"You know, not everyone on the team is going to back him up on this. Ryan's good. Not Jaxon-level good, but still. Some of them are going to care more about winning than doing the right thing."
Lena's stomach twisted. "Are you sure about this? Skipping practice?"
Ethan glanced at her, then shook his head. "Jaxon's not doing this alone. I can't be part of a team that values winning over basic decency. If he's out, I'm out."
Relief flooded her chest. She reached over and squeezed his hand, grateful that at least one thing in this mess made sense.
A few moments later, Jaxon finally emerged from the locker room, his expression like stone. He scanned the court, then spotted them and made his way over. Lena barely had time to stand before he pulled her in, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"How'd it go?" she asked softly.
Jaxon exhaled. "He's thinking about it."
Ethan let out a low whistle. "That's more than I expected."
Jaxon turned to face them fully. "Either way, I meant what I said. I'm not playing if Ryan does."
Lena saw the certainty in his eyes, the unshakable resolve that had always set him apart. And for the first time in a long time, she truly believed that maybe, just maybe, things could change.