Page 82 of Stand Your Ground

“Come on, Fabio,” he said, ruffling my hair before slinging an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go get the girls. I’m dying to see what discount Hallmark line you try on Livvy tonight.”

Will strolled past, tossing a grenade over his shoulder without slowing down. “Yeah, and I’m curious how many seconds it’ll take before she makes you regret speaking.”

A laugh fizzled out of Vince, and though it usually would have bothered me, I just smiled. Let them think what they want. Let them joke and tease.

They didn’t know what happened between us behind closed doors, and I loved holding onto that little secret.

The friends and family room buzzed with post-game chatter, laughter, and the clink of plastic cups. I scanned for her instantly — and there she was.

Livia stood with Maven, Chloe, and Ava, one hand curled loosely around her drink, the other tucked into the pocket of her perfectly tailored slacks. She looked like she’d stepped straight out of a glossy magazine spread — sleek ponytail, blazer cinched at the waist, heels that made my brain short-circuit — but there was something… off. It was just a flicker, a faint dulling in the way her gaze tracked the room, the way her smile lagged behind the conversation.

The other guys made a beeline for their people, but I hung back. Watching her was like wading into seemingly calm water only to realize you’ve walked into a rip current — and I realized quickly there was no hope of fighting it. I’d been trying all week to keep my head above water, to keep my feelings in check. Butthe second I caught the edges of that dimness in her eyes, the game was over.

And when she looked at me, I surrendered to the tide.

Our eyes locked, and it was like someone yanked the air out of my lungs. My pulse spiked, heat shot down my spine, and the noise of the room dropped to a dull roar in my ears. Her lips tipped into that devastating smile that could stop me dead mid-stride — and I felt it, low and hard, right in my chest.

I was hers, even though she’d never be mine.

She excused herself from the group and crossed the room, heels clicking, gaze locked on me like I was the only person in the building, like we didn’t have anything to hide. And maybe that was because she was confident in the fact that she could hide it so effortlessly, that she could tease me the way she always did, and no one would be the wiser.

I, on the other hand, suddenly felt like I had all our secrets written on my face like a billboard.

“Hey there, Rook.”

“Hey, yourself,” I said, my grin automatic, and without thinking, I swept her into a hug.

I wanted to hold her there, to bury my nose in her hair and inhale everything that she was. But I kept it as short and friendly as I could manage before pulling back. “Enjoy the game?”

“Surprisingly, yes. Although, my favorite part was listening to Ava roast all the players on the Seattle team.”

“Spicy little thing, isn’t she?”

“Can’t imagine where she gets it from.”

We shared a knowing smile, but Livia’s was a bit forced at the edges.

“You were pretty good out there tonight,” she said, her voice warm but threaded with that teasing lilt that always knocked me off balance.

“Does that mean you’re giving me an A, Professor?”

“A solid B plus. But lucky for you, there’s a chance to earn extra credit tonight. If you’re up for it.”

My pulse skyrocketed.

“Fuck yeah, I’m up for it.”

Livia rewarded me with that smoky little laugh of hers, but it faded too quickly, that sadness in her eyes overtaking the expression.

I looked around, making sure everyone was preoccupied before I stepped into her space a little more. “Hey… you good?”

“I’m great.”

“You don’t look great.”

“Gee, thanks. Now I really want to let you see me naked.”

“No jokes right now,” I said, surprising both Livia and myself. But I didn’t appreciate the dodge when I could see something was wrong. “What’s going on, Liv?”