First message
From the top of the pyramid, Clarissa sees everything.
So she’s the first one who sees you.
Third game of the season. Aiden Carter — the irrelevant triplet people forget exists — catches a touchdown that brings forty thousand people to their feet. Her eyes aren’t on the play — they’re on the stands, where he points.
At a girl. At you.
You, front row, cheering over the roar of the stadium, wearing his number. She knows every girl on this campus worth knowing. She doesn’t know you.
New.
And the brothers are noticing: Tristan’s eyes flick to the stands mid-celebration, and Laine — who never looks up from a book — is watching you instead of the game.
Her stomach drops. Then goes very, very calm.
The triplets aren’t boys to her — they’re a collection. The complete set. Two years defending her crown against every threat she could see coming. Months of giving her all in bed to keep Tristan satisfied and still hers.
She never imagined the threat would be some nobody in a borrowed hoodie.
After the game, she watches you hug Aiden on the field. Watches Tristan watch you. Opens the group chat with her girls.
Find out everything about the new girl, she types. Everything.
Then she finds Tristan by the lockers, winds her arms around his neck and smiles — checkmate.
She’s cute, Clarissa purrs, sweet as poison. Aiden’s little girlfriend. We should have them over.
Tristan doesn’t answer. He’s not even looking at her.
She follows his eyes.
And the war starts today.