Page 57 of The Roommate Remodel

“That’s just his way. He plays by the rules when he’s afraid.” Vale leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Of me?” I shake my head with a laugh. “I don’t believe it.”

“He’s afraid of disappointing you.”

I frown. “If he’s so worried about disappointing me, why didn’t he contact me after the wedding? Let’s start there.”

Vale shakes his head. “You need to talk to Brax about that. It’s not my place to say, other than he knows the mistake he made.”

Of course Vale is not going to out his brother. It wouldn’t be fair, even if I want answers.

Vale studies me. “All I can tell you is that I see the way he looks at you, and it’s not like he looks at anyone else.”

So much for having things under control.

I know Vale wouldn’t lie to me. He knows Brax better than anyone. But if it’s true, why wouldn’t Brax tell me this himself?

“Well, he knows where I live,” I say, turning back to my desk. It’s not like he hasn’t had an opportunity to explain.

“He needs to know you don’t hate him. Because right now, he thinks you’d never forgive him.”

How could he think that after we zip-lined together? If I hated him so much, I would’ve pushed him off the platform instead of letting him help me.

I face my computer, avoiding Vale. “I don’t know why he would believe that.”

“Because he notices everything. How you joke with the otherguys on the team instead of him. It’s like you enjoy hanging out with everyone but him...”

That’s the problem.I enjoy him too much.

I turn around to face him. “It’s not that easy, Vale. We have a history. I made things clear that no one on the team should find out.”

“Everyone on the team already suspects there’s something between you two. Brax would never say this to you. He’s trying to honor your wishes of keeping him at arm’s length.”

“Honor my wishes? Who said that’s what I want?”

“It’s not what you said, Jaz. It’s the way you treat him. Like he needs to make up for whatever hurt he caused you in the past.”

I wanted him to apologize for what he did, but not like this. I didn’t intend for him to pay a never-ending debt.

“Does he know you’re here, telling me this?”

Vale shakes his head. “I’d be in huge trouble if he found out. But I’m doing what he’d never do for himself.” Vale stands. “Now it’s up to you to decide what you want to do.”

“Vale,” I say, stopping him in the door. “Have you heard any of the players mention how Alex feels about players dating staff?”

He crinkles his eyes like he’s trying to remember. “Lucian mentioned he dated one of the office administrators once. She didn’t last long.”

That’s what I thought.Alex doesn’t want any hookups on the team. Which means if anything were to happen between Brax and I—and that’s a bigif—we’d need to keep it a secret or else risk our positions. And I can’t lose this job.

Vale looks over his shoulder, and his face shifts. “Hey, Brax.”

Brax steps into the doorway alongside his twin, making me feel like I’m seeing double.

“Why are you here?” he asks Vale with a trace of suspicion.

“Can’t your brother chat with me?” I tease, trying to cover up the reason for Vale’s visit.

“Taking care of business,” Vale says, slapping his brother’s shoulder. “Or don’t you trust your twin anymore?”

---