Page 24 of Well That Happened

Grayson looks up from the kitchen, red Solo cup in hand, and just… watches. His expression doesn’t change, but his gaze sticks to her like gravity.

Hunter’s mid-pour at the keg. The stream overshoots the cup. He doesn’t even blink—just stares, jaw tight, knuckles going white around the tap handle.

Even the rookies on the couch stop pretending to care about their beer pong rematch.

And beside me, Rilee tilts her head.

“What?” she murmurs.

I grin, lean closer. “You just broke at least three hearts and a team dynamic.”

She rolls her eyes, but her cheeks go pink—and not from the cold.

I guide her through the crowd, hand at the small of her back, and everyone parts like we’re royalty. Or a wreck no one can look away from.

And honestly? I don’t blame them.

Because Rilee Jameson just walked into this party like a bomb no one saw coming.

And I’m the idiot standing too close—hoping to feel the blast.

Someone overshoots a ping pong ball. It ricochets off the wall and smacks Hunter dead in the chest.

He doesn’t even flinch.

Still watching her.

I lead her to the kitchen, get her a drink, and by the second sip, she’s already lighter. Smiling. Swaying with the music.

Then someone pulls her into a dance.

One of the juniors. Luke. Good guy. Terrible rhythm.

He spins her—badly—but she laughs, and I swear the sound lands somewhere under my ribs.

She moves like she doesn’t care who’s watching.

Like she’s finally remembering how tohave fun.

She lets Luke pull her into the crowd, her drink still in hand, hips swaying like she didn’t just work a ten-hour shift.

And it’s a problem.

Because she’s having fun.

And I am absolutely not.

I stand near the kitchen, watching, nursing my beer.

Until I see Luke’s hands slip a little lower.

Too low.

My jaw tightens.

I’m moving before I know I’ve decided to.

But Hunter gets there first.

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