Page 16 of Eight Count Heat
"I'd rather save it for the straightaway after. More bang for our buck."
He considers this, then nods. "Could work. We'll try both in practice."
The casual "we" sends an unexpected warmth through me. For a moment, it feels like we're just coxswain and stroke, planning strategy. No Alpha-Beta tension. No secrets.
"Gray!" a female voice calls across the library, shattering the moment.
Kinsley approaches our table, all smiles now. Her crew flanks her like perfectly matched bookends.
"Gray," she purrs, ignoring me completely. "I thought I'd find you here. Always studying." She places a hand on his shoulder, fingers curling possessively.
Gray stiffens but doesn't remove her hand. "Kinsley."
"We need to talk about the spring formal," she says. "Mother's asking which of your suits you'll be wearing so she can coordinate the flowers."
Gray's expression hardens. "I told you I'm not going."
"Don't be silly," she laughs, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Of course you are. It's tradition. Alpha legacy families always attend together."
"I'm busy that weekend. Training."
Her eyes flick to me for the first time. "I'm sure your little cox can spare you for one night. It's just a few weeks away."
"It's a critical training weekend," I say, unable to help myself. "We have time trials."
Kinsley's smile turns glacial. "I don't believe I was talking to you."
"She's right," Gray says, voice even. "Time trials. All weekend."
"You can't be serious." Kinsley's scent spikes with anger. Even through my suppressants, I can detect the sharp citrus of her frustration. "You'd miss the biggest social event of the year for practice?"
"For the team," he corrects. "For winning."
"You know what? Fine." She removes her hand from his shoulder. "Bring her if you must. Legacy families are allowed plus-ones."
The suggestion hangs in the air, absurd and unexpected.
"Kinsley," Gray sighs. “This isn’t about Reese.”
No one misses the fact that he used my first name and not my last. Kinsley narrows her eyes at me just a fraction before continuing.
"No, really. If she's so important to the team" (she makes air quotes with her fingers) "then she should understand our traditions. All the top rowing families will be there."
I sit perfectly still, caught in the crossfire of something I don't fully understand and really don’t care to.
"I'm not bringing anyone," Gray says firmly. "I'm not attending."
Kinsley's face flushes with anger. "Your father won't be pleased."
"My father is rarely pleased. I've learned to live with it."
The standoff continues for another tense moment before Kinsley's fake smile returns. "We'll discuss this later. In private." She turns to go, then pauses to look at me. "Enjoy your... strategy session."
The trio leaves as dramatically as they arrived. Gray's shoulders remain tight, his scent clouded with tension.
"Sorry about that," he mutters.
"Legacy family?" I ask.
