"Yo, did you guys see the new drop on the site?" Jamal shouted the second he walked into the gym, tapping frantically on his phone screen before holding it up for the rest of the guys. "Hale’s actual face is on the front page!"A small crowd instantly formed near the bleachers as Tyrone and Luke leaned in to get a look. Ethan was standing off to the side, adjusting his laces and trying his absolute best to look completely unbothered. But curiosity won out. He cast a quick, nonchalant glance over his shoulder, his eyes locking onto the screen.The sportswear brand had just launched their digital campaign featuring Marcus, and the photos were devastating. Marcus was modeling their core line, showing off his toned, absurdly muscular frame in a pair of low-rise athletic shorts and a compression top. In the main promo shot, Marcus had his hands hooked low into his waistband, pulling the fabric down just enough to expose his sharp V-line with the dark, prominent veins tracing all the way do

The whole trip was a complete mess from the very second Coach opened his mouth that morning. Out of nowhere, he pulled some random mandate, claiming he wanted the squad to run drills and scrimmage on a different court so they wouldn't get "too comfortable with home court advantage." Since it was just an unofficial, quick trip to a local athletic facility a few miles out of town, the school hadn't cleared any special travel arrangements for them. There was no comfortable private charter bus, no reserved van, and zero extra space to breathe. It was just all fourteen of them, plus their heavy equipment bags, forced to shove themselves into one tiny, outdated mini-bus that smelled faintly of old gasoline and stale sweat.The moment the folding doors squeaked open in the parking lot, someone near the front of the line shouted that the last person inside was a rotten egg. That single dumb comment triggered an instant, chaotic dash for the seats. Guys were shoving each other by the shoulder

The practice at the new court was tense from the very first drill. The heat inside the unfamiliar gym was stifling, the air thick with sweat and squeaking rubber, and Ethan was already running on a dangerously short fuse after the horrific bus ride. He was moving aggressively on the floor, slamming his feet onto the hardwood, snatching rebounds with violent force, and taking shots with way too much power behind them.During a high-strung 5-on-5 scrimmage, Marcus managed to read Ethan's movement and cleanly strip the ball from his hands right near the key. It was a good play, but as Marcus turned to transition down the court, he threw out a casual comment over his shoulder, his voice loud enough for Ethan to hear over the shoes squeaking on the floor."You're rushing it, Ethan," Marcus said, offering a small, half-amused tilt of his head that he meant as playful court banter to break the ice between them. "You always try to force the play when you get desperate. Just let me handle the

All Chapters of Crossing The Line : Chapter 71 - Chapter 73

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