Page 66 of The Roommate Remodel

FIFTEEN

Jaz

Idon’t know how long Leo’s been standing there, but from the way Brax’s body tenses, he’s not happy. Leo looks as smug as a fox who’s just raided a chicken house.

“What are you doing here so late?” Brax says cooly as he steps in front of me. I elbow him in the side, shooting him a look to let him know he doesn’t need to protect me. As much as I appreciate Brax’s muscles, there’s no need to use them now. Save it for the rink.

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Leo says with a smirky little grin to infuriate Brax. “I forgot something in the locker room. Then I saw lights on and wondered who was here. Late-night rendezvous?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“No,” Brax growls as he takes an intimidating step toward Leo. I grab Brax’s arm to reel him back.

Leo throws up his hands. “Kidding, man.”

“I had to work late,” I explain to Leo while keeping my hand locked on Brax so he doesn’t do something stupid.

Leo grins. “Alone in a dark office, after hours? Pretty suspicious, if you ask me.”

“I didn’t askyou,” Brax growls.

Leo glances over to the desk, where the carryout bags sit. “What’s with the food?”

“I brought her dinner,” Brax offers without explanation. It’s obvious he’s trying to get Leo to leave.

“How romantic,” Leo replies, peeking inside a bag.

“Like you’d know,” Brax mutters.

“I know what women like.” Leo smirks at Brax. “Me.”

Brax chuckles in disbelief. “You wish.”

Leo shrugs blandly. “At least I’m honest with the women I date. I don’t promise to contact them afterward if I’m not planning to.”

“How did you...?” Brax asks, before clamping his mouth shut. It’s a low blow, and Leo knows it.

“We’re living in the same house,” Leo says. “Nothingis private.”

Brax steps toward Leo. “I didn’t ask you to eavesdrop on my private conversation.”

“Listen, word gets around,” Leo defends. “Especially on this team.”

“By listening in on people’s conversations?Nice.That will build team trust.” Brax turns away from Leo and scrapes a hand over his hair.

“You’re the one who needs to learn about trust,” Leo argues, giving Brax an accusatory look. “I’m not a tattletale. I don’t care who you date.” Leo puts a hand on the doorway, a look of warning on his face. “But you can’t keep it from Alex forever.”

I don’t ride with Brax on the way home. After our unexpected visit from Leo, we agree that it’s less suspicious if we arrive home in different cars. While Brax stops at the grocery store to pick up ice cream, I arrive home to what seems to be total chaos. The stereo is blaring a song with a heavy bass beat that rattles my rib cage, pizza boxes litter the kitchen counters, and Lucian isthrowing a football in the living room. I enter just as the ball sails over Granny’s teacup collection, making my heart do a double somersault in my chest.

“Hey, Jaz,” Lucian says, totally oblivious to the mass destruction of china he almost caused.

“What is going on?” I gasp, dropping my bag on the floor.

“Football,” Dawson answers cheerfully as Tate catches the ball next. He tosses it to Vale, who then pretends to rush the ball between the couch and the coffee table before Dawson full-body tackles him onto the floor.

“Time out!” I lift my hands as all the guys stop and turn toward me. “How did my living room become a football field?”

“It’s game night,” Dawson answers, climbing off the floor like this is a perfectly reasonable excuse.

Granny would be rolling in her grave if she knew. So much for a quiet date night with Brax.

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