Page 21

Grayson

I lean against the counter, nursing my coffee, trying to ignore the elephant in the room—or rather, the sounds that echoed through the house all night.

The kitchen feels like a war zone.

Hunter slams cabinet doors with zero chill. He’s been nursing a black coffee and bad mood since I walked in.

I sip my own coffee and say nothing. No use poking the bear.

Rilee steps in wearing leggings and one of Caleb’s shirts, face flushed and hopeful like she thinks this morning might still be salvageable.

It’s not.

“Morning,” she says, soft.

Hunter doesn’t look up. Just shoves a plate into the dish rack hard enough to make it wobble.

She falters, glancing at me. “Did I… did I miss something?”

Caleb strolls in behind her a second later, already dressed, looking way too pleased with himself. He presses a quick kiss to her temple and grabs a protein bar from the counter.

“See you later?” he murmurs.

She nods, trying to smile. “Yeah.”

He heads out. The door clicks behind him.

And that’s when Hunter finally turns.

“This,” he says tightly, pointing toward the door, “is exactly what I warned you about.”

Rilee blinks. “What?”

“I had one freaking house rule,” Hunter snaps. “ One. Don’t sleep with my teammates.”

She opens her mouth, then closes it.

Oh. There it is. Realization hits her like a slap.

“I didn’t mean—” she starts.

Hunter laughs, bitter. “Don’t give me the ‘it just happened’ speech. We all heard how it happened.”

She flinches.

He grabs his mug and storms out, leaving a trail of silence behind him.

Rilee turns to me, stunned. “I didn’t think he’d care this much.”

I set my cup down a little too hard. “It’s not just about him. This affects all of us.”

Her eyes go wide. “You too?”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m not mad. But it’s… complicated.”

“So…” she says.

“So,” I say.

“Everyone really overheard?”

I keep my expression level, just the faintest trace of amusement tugging at my mouth. “You weren’t exactly quiet.”

She groans and covers her face. “Oh my God.”

“Mm.” I sip my coffee. “Thin walls. And you’re… vocal.”

She groans louder. “You are not helping.”

“I’m not trying to.” I let the pause linger before I add, “Did he at least take care of you?”

Her eyes fly to mine. “Grayson.”

I shrug. “You woke up half the house. I think I deserve to know if it was worth it.”

There’s a beat of silence. Her cheeks go pink. Then—reluctantly—she nods.

“Yeah,” she mutters. “He… did.”

I nod once, like we’re trading secrets instead of emotional landmines. “Good.”

She watches me carefully now, trying to read my mood. I don’t give her much.

Because yeah—I’m the quiet one. The steady one. The one who listens.

But I’m also the one who heard every damn sound and couldn’t sleep all night because of it.

But Rilee looks like she’s about to crumble.

I step forward, gently turning her by the shoulders. “Are you okay?”

She hesitates, then shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

I pull her into my chest, arms wrapping around her without a second thought.

We just stand there.

Her heartbeat racing against mine.

I shouldn’t notice the way her body fits against mine—all snug and perfect—not when she was in Caleb’s bed last night.

She fits against me too easily.

Too well.

I don’t know what I expected when she moved in. Maybe that we’d circle each other. Keep it light. That I’d stay out of it. Like I always do.

But that was before she started looking at me like she saw me. Before I kissed her, or watched her laugh at Caleb’s stupid jokes, or flinch every time Hunter raised his voice.

Before I let myself start wanting .

And now?

She’s here, pressed to my chest. And I can feel the weight of everything that just happened settling into her bones.

She smells like Caleb’s shirt and something soft underneath it.

And I can’t decide what’s worse—watching her fall for him, or knowing I was too careful to let her fall for me.

Hunter’s pissed, and yeah… I get it. I’m affected too; I’m just better at hiding it.

After another second, I force myself to step back. “I’ve gotta go. We’ve got practice this morning, and now I’ve gotta make sure these two don’t kill each other.”

She gives me a weary look and watches me go.