Page 121 of The Rookie

A pause too long.

Then—her foot brushes against mine underwater.

Light.

Unintentional? Probably not, but who knows for sure.

Her eyes flick to mine, just for a second, then away.

“So…no crazy hot tub hookups for you before?” she teases, taking a sip of her drink. “Be honest.”

I smirk. “Nope.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “Not even one? All those parties?”

“Not my style.”

She hums, dragging her finger through the water.

Then, she glances up, eyes gleaming with something I can’t quite place.

“That’s a shame.”

Oh, she’s playing with fire.

And she knows it.

I lean in slightly, voice low. “You wanna fix that for me, Sinclair?”

Her breath catches.

And right then—I know I’ve got her.

Avery tilts her head, her fingers skimming absently through the bubbling water, but I can see the way her pulse ticks faster at her throat.

Her foot brushes against mine again. This time, definitely not unintentional.

I smirk, letting the silence stretch, waiting for her to back down.

She doesn’t.

Instead—she moves closer.

Just a little.

Just enough that I feel the shift in the water, that I hear the faint inhale she takes, like she’s talking herself into something.

And then she leans in, her lips just a breath from my ear.

"Maybe I do."

Oh, fuck.

The words are soft, teasing, but they land like a wrecking ball.

I turn my head, just enough to see her eyes flick to mine—calculated, playful, challenging.

She’s pushing me.

---