“Look at them over there,” Stella says. “All smug, thinking they’re going to win. They have no idea we have a human computer with us.”

After we realized having four Division-1 athletes on a team isn’t the best idea—since they all go after the shuttlecock at the same time—we enlisted Keiko to help us. She’s been secretly studying the teams all tournament and calculating the rate of their trajectory . . . or something like that. I have no idea, except that she’s pinpointed all their weak spots and has instructed each player thoroughly on the Forest Heights team about where they’re allowed to hit the shuttlecock.

They’re ready.

“Are there any questions?” Keiko asks. “I will be quite displeased if I have to repeat myself.”

“We got it,” Romeo says, bouncing back and forth like a tennis player, racket in hand.

“We’re going to annihilate them,” Stella roars, lifting her racket to the air.

“And then celebrate with donuts,” Cora says next to me, taking pictures.

Everyone cheers and heads to their positions.

Greer turns to me, cups my cheek, and says, “Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, babe.” I kiss her on the lips and look her in the eyes. “I love you.”

She smiles and replies, “I love you.” Then she leans in and whispers in my ear, “If we win, I’m sucking you so hard tonight.”

I whisper back, “When we win, you’re revisiting the kitchen island.”

Her cheeks redden and she pulls away. She gives me a quick wave, and I shoot her a wink as I watch her jog off to the court, her hair swishing behind her.

“God, you’re infatuated, aren’t you?” Cora asks.

“The proper term would be bewitched, Coraline. Utterly bewitched.”

THE END