Page 38 of The Captain's Curfew

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I want more of that.

More ofhim.

When he pulls into the staff lot, I reach for the door handle, but he stops me.

"Violet."

I turn, my heart kicking.

He studies me for a second."We’re not hiding anymore.If people ask, they ask.I’m not lying."

It takes me a beat to process the weight of that.

He’s not going to hide me.

He’s going to stand beside me.

I lean over and kiss him, short and sweet.He catches my hand before I can pull away and holds it against his chest.

Then he lets me go.

By lunch, the arena is buzzing.

Apparently, Logan walked into the locker room and told the guys he and I were together.

CJ finds me in the media room, grinning like a cat handed the keys to the gossip kingdom.

"So...you and Captain Stoneface, huh?"

I blink."You knew?"

He laughs."Everyone knew.The man went from glowering twenty-four-seven to humming between drills.It was suspicious."

I snort."He does hum now.It’s weird."

CJ leans against the desk, arms crossed."You good with this?The attention?The pressure?"

I nod slowly."I think so.He’s worth it."

"Good.Because I like you, Violet.And more importantly, you make him better."

I blink fast."Thanks, CJ.That...means a lot."

He winks."Don’t let it go to your head.I still think you should’ve dated me first."

The rest of the day moves fast.A whirlwind of meetings and content planning, with a few more curious glances than usual.No one says anything directly, but the undercurrent is clear: Everyone knows.

And the sky hasn’t fallen.

Yet.

It’s almost seven by the time I get back to the apartment.Logan’s already home, wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, looking unfairly attractive for a man who claims to hate attention.

He lifts his arm, and I immediately curl into his side on the couch.Like we’ve done this a hundred times.

"Long day?"he murmurs.

"Only slightly chaotic.You?"

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