Page 49 of Eight Count Heat
Another hesitation. Then, "Sure. Thanks."
I open the passenger door of my truck for her, an ingrained habit my mama would be proud of. Reese looks momentarily surprised before climbing in.
"This thing is massive," she comments as I start the engine.
"Compensating for something," I deadpan.
She laughs, the sound genuine and unexpected. It transforms her face from coxswain-serious to something softer. Something that makes my protective instincts stir.
"How are you settling in?" I ask as we pull out of the parking lot. "For real, not the official answer."
She glances at me, guard instantly back up. "Fine."
"Convincing."
"It's been an adjustment," she amends. "But I'm handling it."
"Never doubted that." I navigate around a delivery truck blocking half the campus road. "Team's different with you. Better, I think."
"Gray might disagree."
"Gray disagrees on principle. It's his default setting." I pull up to a stop sign. "But even he knows our times have improved."
"Split times aren't everything," she says, staring out the window.
"No, but they're something." I study her profile for a moment. "What's really bothering you, Callahan?"
"What makes you think something's bothering me?"
"I notice things." I shrug. "Part of my job."
"Your job is to row."
"My job is to hold this team together. Has been since freshman year."
She turns to me then, really looking at me for the first time. "The mother hen. That's what Zane called you."
"I prefer 'team glue,' but whatever works." I make the turn toward her dorm. "Point is, I can tell when someone's carrying something heavy. And you look like you're about to drop from the weight."
Her fingers tighten around the strap of her bag. "That's very perceptive, but I'm fine."
"Sure you are." I pull up in front of her building. "Take your time getting your books. I'll wait."
"You don't have to—"
"I know. Go on."
She disappears into the building, shoulders squared like she's heading into battle rather than a dormitory. I drum my fingers on the steering wheel, thinking about the subtle shifts in our team dynamic since her arrival.
The university's been watching us more closely since she joined. Coach mentioned it last week when he thought we weren't listening, something about "mixed-designation team protocols" and "additional oversight measures." The administration takes these things seriously ever since that mess at Concordia University a few years back. He's on edge, which puts us all on edge.
Gray, watching her with the intensity he usually reserves for championship races. Eli, calculating probabilities I can only guess at. Jackson, more withdrawn than usual. Tyler, surprisingly attentive to someone outside his statistical datasets.Beckett, flirtatious as ever but with an edge of genuine interest. Zane, offering friendship that might become something more. And Cameron...
Cameron is the biggest surprise. Something's changed with our resident shadow. I've caught him watching Reese with an awareness I've never seen him direct at anyone before.
My phone buzzes with a text from Gray:Where are you? We're all at The Griddle.
Giving Callahan a ride. Be there in 10.
