Page 36 of Eight Count Heat
Bo rolls his eyes. "Sometimes I forget you're actually funny under all that nerd stuff." He shoulders his gym bag. "Team breakfast at The Griddle in thirty. Make sure Callahan knows."
I nod, watching him head to the showers. Bo might not have formal training, but his instincts are usually right. Yes, Reese is changing things. The question is how much, and whether it'll be good or bad for the team.
In the locker room, I observe another unusual interaction. Eli and Jackson, who usually keep public distance despite their private arrangement, standing close together near Jackson's locker. Their voices are low, but their body language speaks volumes. Eli gesturing emphatically, Jackson shaking his head, arms crossed.
Zane approaches me as I change. "You notice Reed and Stone?" he asks quietly. "Something's up."
"Not really our business," I reply, though I've been cataloging every detail.
"Since when do you not analyze everything?" He grins. "Come on, what's your theory? Relationship drama?"
I give him a warning look. The team acknowledges Eli and Jackson's arrangement without talking about it directly. Zane gets too close to that line sometimes.
"Fine, keep your theories." He pulls on a clean shirt. "But something's definitely happening with those two. And it started when our new cox arrived."
Zane notices more than people give him credit for, despite all the joking around. Another thing to consider.
I finish changing quickly, planning to head back to my room before breakfast to process everything I've observed. As I exit the boathouse, I spot Reese already leaving, walking quickly toward campus.
Making a quick decision, I jog to catch up.
"Wu," she acknowledges, slowing slightly but not stopping.
"Bo wanted me to remind you about team breakfast. The Griddle in twenty minutes."
She nods. "Thanks. I remember."
We walk in silence for a few steps before I ask, "How's your shoulder? I noticed you favoring it during the dismount."
She glances at me, surprised. "It's fine."
"Repetitive stress injuries can be tricky. Early treatment usually helps."
"I'll ice it," she says. "Thanks for noticing."
Another silence. I calculate the odds that my next question will confirm what I suspect.
"The medication you're taking," I say casually. "Is it helping?"
She stumbles slightly, then catches herself. "What medication?"
"The pills Eli gave you this morning at the coffee cart."
She stops walking, face going blank. "You were watching us."
"I notice patterns. It's what I do."
"That's called stalking where I come from."
"Just observation from a public place," I correct. "The coffee cart isn't exactly private."
Her eyes narrow. "What do you want, Wu?"
"Nothing. Just confirming what I suspected."
"Which is?"
I meet her gaze directly. "You're an Omega on suppressants."
