Not My Type

''The Wrong Target''

Lily followed. "Me too."

Ethan stood as well. "I can—"

Charlotte cut him off gently. "It's okay. I'll be right back."

She walked away with Ryder and Lily.

Ethan stayed behind, jaw clenched.

Tom watched the whole thing.

Ethan spun around, frustrated—

And nearly ran into Tom.

Tom stood still, expression unreadable, eyes cold.

Ethan swallowed. "What."

Tom didn't blink. "Don't shove me again."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Stay away from her."

Tom stepped closer, voice low. "She's not yours."

Ethan's fists curled. "She's not yours either."

Tom didn't respond.

He didn't need to.

The silence between them was sharp.

She walked back with a mat under her arm, smiling at something Ryder said.

She didn't see Tom and Ethan staring each other down.

She didn't see the tension.

She didn't see the jealousy.

She just sat down on the mat and tied her hair tighter.

"Ready?" she asked Lily.

Lily nodded.

Ryder grinned.

Ethan forced a smile.

Tom looked away.

But his eyes kept drifting back to her

Gym class moved on to stations, and the teacher blew the whistle.

"Handstands first! Then trampoline!"

Charlotte groaned. "I'm terrible at handstands."

Ryder grinned. "Perfect. Entertainment."

Lily laughed. "I'll spot you."

Charlotte rolled her eyes but followed them to the mats.

Charlotte kicked up—

And immediately fell sideways.

Ryder burst out laughing. "That was tragic."

Charlotte shoved him lightly. "Shut up."

She tried again.

This time she got halfway up before her legs wobbled like cooked noodles and she toppled over onto her back.

Lily clapped. "Improvement!"

Charlotte covered her face. "No it wasn't."

Tom was across the gym, pretending to stretch.

But he saw everything.

Charlotte's failed handstand. Her dramatic fall. Her annoyed face. Ryder laughing. Lily cheering.

And Tom's lip twitched.

Not a smile. Not a laugh. Just the tiniest twitch — like he was fighting it.

He looked away fast, jaw tightening.

But the twitch happened.

Ryder noticed.