Page 101 of The Breakaway

I swallowed hard. "He's . . . at his house."

Axel shook his head. “So it’s true?"

My heart started to pound. Rob hadn’t been exaggerating when he said everyone saw that paper. “Logan didn’t sleep with anyone, if that’s what you’re asking.” I wasn’t going to protect him, but I also wasn’t going to throw gasoline on the rumour coals already glowing. “He just has other priorities right now.”

They looked down, taking in my suitcase. “You have company tonight, Thompson?” Rory asked, the corner of his mouth quirking.

Rob’s grip on the handle of my suitcase tightened. “Yeah. Possibly for longer than that.”

Heat rushed to my face. “I don’t mean to impose, I just don’t have anywhere to go right now, but I’m working on?—”

Rory held up a hand and stood, then crossed the living room in three steps and pulled me into a bear hug. “Stay as long as you want, Shar.”

I grunted as another set of arms wrapped around us. “Group hug,” Axel announced. “Except for Rob. You stay the hell out of this.”

I laughed, gasping for breath, then jolted when someone’s hand yanked Logan’s keys from my pocket.

“I’ll be taking those.” Rory grinned as they both let go of me.

Axel’s eyes widened. He stalked to the window and peered out. "You took his truck? Sharla, you badass." He turned back and motioned for Tim and Bear on the couch to get up. "Let's go, boys. Time for a little chat."

I breathed out a shaky laugh. "Please don't kill him."

"Don’t worry, we won't." Rory gave me a mischievous grin. "But we might make him wish we did."

I shook my head. "I’m pretty sure he’s already having a terrible night."

Rory clapped me on the shoulder, and I felt like I would crash through the floorboards. “He’s called us out on plenty of shit. Our turn to repay the favour.” They didn’t even bother grabbing coats, just clomped out of the house, the door slamming closed behind them.

The house seemed to exhale, the walls settling around me. Rob reached out and took my hand.

"You okay?" His voice broke through my thoughts.

I nodded, staring out the window as Logan’s truck pulled away from the curb. "Yeah. Just processing."

He stepped closer, his presence warm and solid next to me. "Thank you for coming here. I was worried about you."

Something swooped low in my belly. I turned, allowing him to draw me closer. “Thank you for making this the only place I wanted to be.”

Rob’s eyes grew glassy. He cleared his throat, then nodded toward the stairs. “You want to put all this luggage down?”

“Mmm. Super sexy pickup line. How long have you been working on that?”

Rob smirked. “Since I watched you pack an instrument to and from campus every day for a year.”

My face squinched. “With that much time, I feel like it could’ve been better.”

Rob laughed, then tugged me toward the stairs. The house was old, the floorboards creaking under our feet as we walked up one flight of stairs and down the hall to his room. The hallway walls were painted a faded white, and the wood trim was chipped and worn. There were a few framed posters of Calgary monuments, but otherwise, the decor was minimal.

Rob pushed open a door to reveal a small bedroom. His bed was pushed against one wall, a single nightstand next to it. Across from the bed was a dresser with a mirror, and a closet door stood slightly ajar.

"It's not much, but it's home for now," he said, stepping inside and motioning for me to follow.

I walked in and looked around. "It's cozy."

Rob chuckled and set my suitcase next to the wall. "That's one way to put it."

I turned to him. "Where's the washroom?"

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