Page 71 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

Jenny nodded.

“It’s dysfunctional,” Athena stated, though her tone lacked conviction. There was no way she’d admit how sexy she found the fighting.

“Who?” Cass complained, clearly impatient about being left out.

“Mullens and Lonnie,” Meddy explained.

“Who’s Lonnie?”

“Athena’s ex on the other team.” Meddy tapped her cup against Athena’s. “Admit it. It’s hot.”

“Super hot,” Cass said with a grin, having caught up with what was happening between the men.

“Someone’s getting lucky tonight,” Jenny predicted in a singsongy tone. “Get him to kiss you on the inside of your elbow. Totally erogenous.”

“You need help,” Cass muttered, shooting her a sly smile.

Jenny crowed, “You tried it! It was sexy! Admit it!”

Cass shrugged, her cheeks turning pink.

“What are they talking about?” Meddy asked.

“No clue.” Athena sagged in her seat, scrunched her eyes shut and rubbed the heels of her hands into her forehead, trying to relieve the growing tension.

Chad and his behavior were hot, sexy and dysfunctional.

She really, really wanted to enjoy this. To leap into his arms, wrap her legs around his waist and kiss him silly. But the idea of him fighting her battles—in a war that had already ended—felt…

She didn’t even know how it felt. She’d never had a boyfriend act like this before and she couldn’t decide if it was super sexy or frustratingly antiquated. Did he believe she couldn’t take care of her own business?

“It’s sweet,” her sister said, nudging her.

“Yeah, he’s telling you he loves you in Neanderthal,” Jenny said, slurping on her drink.

The other women burst into laughter.

“He doesn’t love me,” Athena muttered, knowing her face had turned red. “And remind me to loan you my favorite new caveman romance.”

Jenny grimaced. “That’s a thing?”

She nodded knowingly.

“Mullens likes you,” her sister sang, then sighed dreamily. “He’s expressing his truest feelings.”

“With his fists,” Athena argued.

“He’s a man, Athena. An alpha who’s feeling protective. And he’s smart. He’s using the bounds of the game to beat up your ex and send him a message.”

“Except Lonnie and I are so totally over.”

“Then maybe that message is for you.”

Mullens exited the locker room, hoisting his bag over his shoulder. He looked left on instinct and felt the lift of a smile.

There was his woman.

She saw him, her face turning red, her gaze darting away as though shy. Her right arm crossed over her chest as she toyed with her necklace, her left arm across her middle. She licked her top lip and came closer, as though unsure what sort of reception she might receive, uncertain what she could expect from him and their relationship.

---