Page 145 of The Blame Game

He shrugged. “No one ever asked.”

Dustin frowned. “As much as it might not seem like it”—he shot a pointed glare at Matty and Nico—“we do try respect people’s right to privacy around here.”

Jesse still looked confused. “Sure, but do I have to make a big announcement about it? Like, I figured if it came up or I met someone serious, I’d talk about it then.”

“Thank you!” Dom said with a sigh of relief. “That is so much more normal than whatever the fuck the rest of you get up to.”

“Since when has this team ever been normal?” Jonah asked, sounding flabbergasted by the idea.

Everyone chuckled.

“You have a point,” Dustin admitted. “And I respect that, Jesse. I do. I was just surprised.”

“Probably because he’s being low-key. Something the rest of this damn team is incapable of doing,” Dom muttered, ripping off the brightly colored crepe paper taped all over his stall. “God. You’re all the worst. You know I hate shit like this.”

Dustin held up his hands. “Dude, I had nothing to do with it. I told Matty and Nico that you’d hate it.”

“What?” Nico said, all wide-eyed faux innocence. “We were actually being so well-behaved. We were going to decorate your car but Dustin said not to do it in public. That’s why we kept it to the locker room.”

He looked pleased with himself. Like he’d done such a good job.

Dom rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, and this is way less than we originally planned,” Matty said. “I promise.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Dom snarked.

But the truth was—even if he’d never admit it aloud—there was something nice about being included this way. About knowing that these guys would support him no matter what.

He definitely wasn’t giving them the satisfaction of telling them that though.

“Look, I’m just here to meet with Eddie and do my workout. But are you guys getting ready for practice or not?” Dom asked. “I have a feeling Gilly isn’t going to be super patient today. I kinda pissed him off in our meeting earlier.”

“Oh fuck no.” Colton blanched, scrambling for his gear. “I am not going to be the last one out there if he’s on a tear.”

There was a flurry of activity as everyone else hurried to their stalls to get ready.

Finally able to dress in peace, Dom pulled on his workout clothes. He finished tying his hair back to keep it out of his eyes and Nico stepped closer, clearly not worried about being yelled at.

“Gotta say, you have good taste. He’s hot.” He flashed his phone screen at Dom.

It was Shea’s Instagram account and showed a picture of him on a beach, shirtless and tanned.

“Thanks?” Dom managed. Though Nico wasn’t wrong. Shea was incredibly hot.

Nico grinned. “I don’t know what the hell he sees in you but—”

“Fuck off,” Dom said gruffly, giving Nico a face wash before he walked toward the door.

“Are you sure you’re not paying him?” Nico called out and Dom shot him the finger over his shoulder without turning to see the response.

Shea had just started eating lunch when his phone buzzed with a message from Dom.

How’s your day going?

Shea smiled and tapped out a message in response. A little weird but not too bad so far. Yours?

Ugh. Don’t ask.

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