Page 44 of Rule 5: Never Crush on the Captain

“He’s not always grumpy.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“He didn’t used to be grumpy.”

“He really likes you, huh?”

I squirm. “I think so. I like him.”

My cheeks burn, and my gaze bounces around the room.

“You never told me you liked men, Evan.”

“I didn’t think it was important,” I mumble.

She pulls back.

“I liked you too,” I say. “I like women. I do.”

She assesses me. “It’s fine if you don’t.”

Shame floods me, and I remember all those times I tried and wasn’t good enough for her. I would slide into bed, and everything would be awkward.

“I-I know,” I stammer. “I wasn’t trying to trick you or anything.”

“We were young,” she says softly.

I nod eagerly.

A door clicks.

I swivel my head toward the window.

Vinnie marches toward his car. He’s wearing the clothes he arrived in, even though they’re dirty. I guess that’s why he went upstairs. He wasn’t waiting for me. He was leaving.

“I should go after him,” I say.

“And make the story even more interesting for the paparazzi?”

“But—”

“Are you sure he wants that?”

My shoulders slump. I’m not sure. And to be honest—I’m not sure I want that either.

“I’m sorry, hun.” Valentina squeezes my thigh, but nothing can calm my racing heart.

VINNIE

I enter the locker room warily. Evan isn’t here yet, which is...great.

Finn looks up from his phone and flashes a wide smile. “Dude. How was nursing? Looked pretty romantic.”

“That picture was taken out of context. I was just helping Evan to the bench.”

“I didn’t think it looked romantic, Vinnie,” Luke tells me. “Not a single rose anywhere.”

“Yeah.” Finn slides his gaze away, already bored.