Page 23 of The Roommate Remodel

“How will that help?” Tate asks.

“We need to figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I can already see that we’re pretty different.” I glance around at everyone. “If we’re going to play as a team, we need to figure out how to make things work.”

Lucian stands. “I agree with Brax. Living together could be the best thing that’s happened to this team.”

Leo gives a doubtful laugh. “Or the worst.”

“Then this will be your test.” Lucian looks directly at Leo. “Can you adapt under pressure?”

My gaze slides over to Jaz. I’ve got a few people to convince that I’m on their side. And she’s going to be the toughest one of all.

Lucian checks his watch. “This meeting is adjourned. We’ve got work to do, boys.”

Everyone leaves the table while Jaz slips down the back hall.

I head toward her bedroom and make sure I knock first. When she appears in the door, to my disappointment, she’s trying on Lucian’s jersey.

“What do you think?” she asks, twirling around.

Jealousy stirs inside my chest when I see his name on her back. I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of making me jealous. Better for her to think I have no feelings than to see me react to her wearing the team captain’s jersey.

“It looks...” I keep my emotions—and my face—in check. “Okay.”

“Justokay?” she asks.

I’m trying so hardnotto say the wrong thing, or let her know how much it bothers me that she’s not wearing my jersey. But it’s like she knows how to push my buttons. Every. Single. One of them.

She moves closer to me, and I can smell her perfume, sweetand floral and delicious. “I want your honest opinion.” She looks up at me with her doe eyes.

I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms. “Honestly? I think you’d look better in mine.”

Her cheeks heat as her mouth opens. “I see you’re breaking the rules already.”

“And what rule is that?” I arch an eyebrow, still playing it cool while enjoying the flush across her cheeks. “No guests in the bedroom? You’ll notice my feet have not crossed the line.”

She glances at my toes, which are firmly on the other side of the doorway. “You know which one, Mac.” She uses the nickname that only comes up when we banter. “I meant the no-flirting rule.”

“I thought that wasn’t a rule,” I say with a smirk.

“It is now,” she says with a flash of challenge in her eyes.

“Well, I wasn’t flirting.”

She looks at me doubtfully. “Then what was it?”

I hold her stare long enough for the air to crackle between us.

“Only the truth. You were meant to wear my jersey.”

SIX

Brax

The cold of the rink is a welcome relief after the tension of the meeting about house rules. Or maybe it’s the churning in my gut from seeing Jazlyn in someone else’s jersey. I didn’t stay to see her reaction after I told her my jersey was meant for her.

I said what I said. If she’s angry about it, then she’ll probably wear Lucian’s jersey just to spite me.

Since we’re the first to arrive at the Ice House before the staff meeting, we circle the rink to get a feel for our new home. Vale skates next to me, unusually quiet after the tense meeting.

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