Page 75 of Too Safe

I give him a quick assessment, because, yeah, I’m only human. And yum. It’s hard to fathom that heishuman with a body like that. My cheeks blaze at the sight of the red marks I left on his trunk.

“I have a meeting this morning. Plans with Kendrick. Pregame rituals.” He’s speaking to me, obviously, considering I’m the only one in the room. But he hasn’t even glanced my way. No, his eyes are still fixed on the ceiling.

“You can go hang out with Locke now,” he adds, jutting his chin to the door connecting this room to the next. “His room is next door.”

I say nothing at first. Only hit him with a well-deserved scowl. That’s it? After the way he eased my concerns and helped me fall asleep last night, he doesn’t have anything else to say?

Apparently, Decker Crusade is back to his broody self in the light of day.

Sliding off the bed, I give him the same cool, unaffected treatment he’s offering me. Without a backward glance I say, “Sure thing, Cap. Let me change and freshen up, then I’ll be out of your hair.”

I scurry toward the bathroom. Once I’m safely inside, I close and lock the door, grateful he won’t have access to the mirror in here to inspect the marks on his body before they have a chance to fade.

With my toiletry bag open on the counter in front of me, I go through my morning routine quickly. I apply SPF and keep my makeup light then don my favorite pair of white cut-off shorts.

When I’m nearly ready, I dig through my overnight bag and pull out my surprise.

I can’t help but grin as I hold the jersey out and inspect it. Hunter helped me get it right. She insisted on picking it up for me, too, and won’t tell me how much it was so I can pay her back.

She had questions, and I gave her enough answers to appease her curiosity for now. I’m not ready for her to know that I technically live at the Crusade Mansion. Or that I’ve hooked up with two of the guys. Because I’m not sure I can explain how things have evolved without revealing too much.

I pull on the bright red and white jersey and assess my reflection with a wide smile. Flipping my head, I pull my hair into a high ponytail as planned. I don’t want anyone to miss the name on the back.

“Are we meeting up with everyone for breakfast before yourpregame rituals?” I call from the bathroom.

To my surprise, it’s not Decker who responds.

“We’re all here so we can head down together. Ready when you are, Jo.”

Kylian.

My grin grows so wide my cheeks hurt. I take two quick mirror selfies—one of my fit from the front and one of the back—and shoot them off to Hunter, then unlock the bathroom door and sashay into the main room.

Four sets of eyes bore into me.

They each look like they could eat me alive, albeit with very different intentions.

Dominance. Heat. Anger. Desire.

“Hot Girl,” Locke groans reverently.

I cock one hip and strike a pose, standing before them in my white shorts and custom Crusaders jersey.

“You like?” I tease with a cheeky smile before I turn around and offer them my back.

I don’t dare peek over my shoulder as their reactions hit my ears.

Confidently, I grab my crossbody bag and make my way to the door.

“Come on, boys. We’re burning daylight,” I call back.

Kendrick’s grumbling is the loudest. Something about it not being arealteam jersey.

I was prepared for this. So prepared, in fact, that I’ve been holding my breath, waiting to quip what I say next.

Tamping down my glee, I hurry down the hall and stab the elevator button, looking from Kendrick to Decker, then Locke and Kylian.

“That’s funny,” I muse, running my thumb and forefinger over my chin. “Last I heard, Kylianisthe fucking team.”

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