Page 41 of Make Me Yours (Chicago Railers Hockey #1)

LILAH

W e’re all stretched out in Steele’s living room, surrounded by fuzzy blankets, half-eaten charcuterie, and a few empty bottles. The view outside the massive windows is nothing short of stunning.

It feels like the perfect backdrop for a cozy night in.

“So,” Rina says, sipping her cabernet and narrowing her eyes at me over the rim of her glass, “I think we’re all due for an update.”

I arch a brow, playing innocent. “About what?”

Callie snorts. “Um, hello? The friends-with-benefits offer Steele oh-so-casually tossed out. I’m dying to know what you decided. The sparks flying between you two at the Railers event last week were enough to singe our eyebrows.”

“I’m still recovering,” Rina adds dryly, swirling her wine. “You could cut the tension with a butter knife.”

I laugh, but the moment my gaze flicks to the coffee table—the very one I’d been sprawled across not that long ago—heat floods my cheeks.

“I decided to take him up on the offer,” I murmur, taking a long sip of wine to hide the rising flush in my cheeks.

There’s a collective inhale from around me .

Callie leans in, her eyes wide with curiosity. “As in… you two are sleeping together now?”

I shake my head. “I’m not giving details, but yeah, we are.”

Rina lets out a satisfied hum as she sinks deeper into the couch, looking entirely too smug. “I knew it. That man looks at you like you’re the only woman on the planet.”

“He does,” Callie agrees, nudging my knee with hers. “And he always has.”

I offer a small, slightly dazed smile. “The difference between him and Devon is like night and day. There’s no comparison.”

That earns a chorus of nods and a few muttered “obviouslys” from around the room.

Sloane, who’s been sipping her wine, sets her glass down with a decisive clink. “Okay, real talk. Friends with benefits can certainly work. But only if both people are clear about what they want.”

“And really honest,” Rina adds, tapping her nails against her wine glass. “Because otherwise? It gets messy fast.”

Callie’s brows knit together. “But this is Steele. He’s not some random hookup. He’s your best friend. That makes it even riskier.”

I chew my bottom lip, feeling their eyes on me. “I know. Trust me, I know. It’s just being with him feels different. It’s not just about sex. It’s easy. Comfortable. Almost like our friendship has always been leading to this place.”

“Maybe it has been,” Callie says gently.

“You deserve easy,” Sloane adds firmly. “You deserve to be worshipped and adored.”

“Desired,” Rina chimes in. “And don’t even try to deny it. That man desires you. You can see it every time he looks at you.”

Warmth blooms in my chest at their words, at how fiercely they rally around me without hesitation .

“It’s scary, though,” I admit. “What if I screw it up and lose him?”

“You won’t,” Callie says, reaching for my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “If it’s real, and it looks pretty damn real from where I’m sitting, you’re not going to lose him.”

“And if you do,” Sloane says, shrugging with a mischievous glint, “we’ll key his Lamborghini.”

I laugh as the knot of fear inside me loosens just a little.

“Whatever happens,” Rina says, raising her drink, “you’re not alone. You have us.”

I clink my glass against theirs, feeling lighter, steadier than I have in weeks.

The conversation dips for a moment, all of us lost in our own thoughts. I shift on the couch and glance at Sloane, who’s stretched out in the armchair with her wine glass balanced on one knee.

“Sooo…” I begin, drawing out the word with a teasing lilt. “What did you think of Jax?”

Her reaction is immediate. She lets out a snort and then takes a long sip of her wine, like she needs the strength before answering.

“Not much.”

I laugh. “Seriously?”

She raises one unimpressed brow. “He strikes me as your typical hockey player. All swagger and charm, like he’s never heard the word ‘no’ in his life.”

Callie grins. “Well, your assessment isn’t wrong.”

Sloane continues dryly, “From what I’ve read on the Railers gossip site, he’s a headline waiting to happen.” She glances at Rina. “Someone she’ll have to clean up after.”

Callie leans in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “He wanted to take you out, though. No interest?”

“Absolutely none.” Sloane shakes her head without hesitation. “I have way too much going on to throw in the complication of a man. Especially one who collects women like trading cards.”

Rina chuckles from her spot across the room. “Remind me never to let you near my dating app profile. You’d murder half my matches.”

Sloane lifts her glass. “Probably. But only out of love.”

We all laugh, the easy rhythm returning as the conversation drifts from the boys to the gala, to wine preferences, to the worst dates we’ve ever been on.

But somewhere beneath all of it, I can’t stop thinking about Steele. About the way he looked at me last night, like I was the only thing that had ever made sense to him.

And the way I felt when he stared at me.

Seen.

Wanted.

Cherished.

There’s a piece of me that knows this friends-with-benefits thing is temporary. That the clock is ticking on whatever it is we’ve become. But there’s another part, one that’s growing louder, that wonders what would happen if I stopped fighting the truth and let myself fall completely.

Rina nudges me gently with her foot. “You’re quiet.”

I blink, realizing everyone’s watching me. “Just thinking.”

Callie gives me a knowing smile. “About a certain protective center with broad shoulders and golden retriever vibes?”

With a groan, I toss a pillow at her. “Maybe.”

They crack up. It feels amazing to be surrounded by people who really know me, and still choose to stay.

No matter what happens with Steele, I’m grateful for that.

Callie shifts in her seat, trailing her finger along the rim of her wine glass. The easy mood evaporates in an instant.

I frown. “Are you okay?”

She exhales and stares down at her drink. “Yeah. Have you seen the latest about Zane?”

Rina’s face twists in disgust. “Unfortunately. That man’s a walking PR nightmare. And I should know since I’m the one who always has to deal with the fallout.”

Callie’s mouth presses into a tight line. “He and his new girlfriend were all over each other at the gala last week. They couldn’t keep their hands to themselves. She’s barely twenty-one and already chasing every camera she can find.”

Sloane leans forward, her expression sharp. “You and Nora deserve so much better than to be dragged into his circus.”

Callie swallows hard, her fingers tightening around her glass.

“It’s not about who he dates. I don’t care about that.

It’s just…” Her voice falters, and for the first time tonight, real fear leaps to life in her eyes.

“What if he gets serious? What if he marries her and decides he wants to play the family man? What if he tries to take Nora?”

Silence falls over us.

Rina is the first to shake her head. “No way. Not a chance.”

Sloane’s eyes flash. “Zane’s not interested in being a father. He’s interested in being famous. That’s it.”

“But people change,” Callie whispers. “What if he decides he wants custody just to look good for the cameras? What if he uses her as a prop to clean up his image?”

I reach for her hand and squeeze it tightly. “You are Nora’s home, Callie. Her safe place. Anyone with eyes can see that.”

“She’s right,” Rina says fiercely. “Judges don’t just hand over custody to absentee fathers with reality TV dreams. Zane’s record speaks for itself.”

“And if he even tries to come after you,” Sloane says darkly, “he’ll have to go through all of us first.”

Callie lets out a choked laugh before swiping at her eyes. “You all are the best.”

“What we are is loyal to you,” Rina says, lifting her glass in a mock toast.

Callie gives a watery smile, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “ Thank you. I guess I’m just scared about what the future holds.”

“You’re allowed to be scared,” I tell her gently. “But you’re not alone in this. We’ve got you.”

“All the way,” Sloane says firmly.

Callie nods, a little steadier now. “Thank you. That really means everything.”

We exchange a look that says it all.

Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.

Rina shakes her head, leaning back against the couch as she lifts her wine glass.

“I swear, Zane must be on a mission to get mentioned on Railers Rumors more than anyone else on the team. He and his girlfriend are practically staging their own damn PR campaign. Every time I check, there’s another ridiculous headline about him. ”

Callie groans, rubbing her temples. “I know. My phone is constantly blowing up with texts asking if I’ve seen them. Like I need a reminder that he’s making a fool of himself.”

Rina takes a sip of wine, her expression darkening.

“I’ve tried to get that site shut down. Or, at the very least, force them to take down some of the more invasive posts.

But it’s impossible. They’re protected under some bullshit free speech loophole, and as long as they’re not publishing outright lies, it’s all fair game. ”

Callie snorts. “Yeah, because taking candid photos of guys at a bar or speculating about their sex lives is totally fair game.”

“Right?” Rina huffs. “I’ve had to deal with so many PR disasters because of that site. And Oliver doesn’t need any help in that department. Half the time, he leans into the stories like it’s a game.”

I raise a brow, smirking. “Sounds like someone’s taking their job a little personally.”

Rina glares at me over the rim of her glass. “I swear to God, Lilah, if you say one more word about me and Oliver, I’m leaving. You know how much I can’t stand that guy. I’d be more than thrilled if he got traded to another team. Preferably across the country.”

I arch a brow and lift my wine glass to my lips. “Are you sure about that? You two seem to have a lot of chemistry.”

Rina snaps her head toward me so fast, I’m surprised she doesn’t get whiplash. “Are you out of your mind? How can you even say that?”

Callie smirks. “Because you bicker like an old married couple.”

“Please,” Rina scoffs. “He’s a typical hockey player. All he cares about is scoring. And we’re talking both on and off the ice.”

I tilt my head. “So you’ve noticed, huh?”

Her glare is immediate. “It would be hard not to. It’s also part of my job. Until he straightens up and stops getting into trouble, I’m stuck with the guy.”

Callie shrugs. “I don’t know, it could be worse.”

“I really don’t see how.”

“You could have a thing for him.”

Rina practically chokes on her drink. “God, no. First off, he’s Oliver Van Doren.

” She pops a brow. “You know, the big O . Second, there’s no way I’d ever date a hockey player.

I’m pretty sure there’s a strict no-fraternization rule in place.

My entire job is making sure his latest bad decision doesn’t end up as a headline. ”

Callie hums, clearly unconvinced. “You sure about that?”

“Positive.” Rina takes a long sip of wine, then sets her glass down with a smirk. “Besides, he’s about to have bigger things to worry about.”

I narrow my eyes. “Uh-oh. What did you do?”

Rina’s grin turns downright wicked. “Let’s just say Oliver Van Doren is about to be one of the lucky bachelors auctioned off at next month’s charity gala. He just doesn’t know it yet. ”

Callie gasps, looking both amused and horrified. “Oh my God. He’s going to lose his mind.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re so evil. I like it.”

Rina shrugs, entirely unapologetic. “I prefer to think of it as a heavy dose of karma.”

Sloane raises a brow. “You put him in a bachelor auction without telling him?”

“Correct.”

Sloane considers this before nodding. “That’s fair.”

Callie wipes tears of laughter from her eyes. “I can’t wait to hear about his reaction.”

Rina sighs dramatically. “And I can’t wait to remind him that he really should read his emails before blindly agreeing to things.”

I shake my head, still grinning. “You really are his worst nightmare.”

Rina smirks. “And yet, he keeps giving me more reasons to torture him.”

The room dissolves into laughter as the seriousness from our earlier conversation melts away. I lean back against the couch, wine glass in hand, and let myself soak in the warmth of good friends, good gossip, and the comforting hum of the city just beyond the windows.

Still, in the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder what Steele is up to right now. And if he’s thinking about me too.