Page 38 of Major Penalty

I should be scared, running the other way, but instead, I want to run toward him.

Why does this thrill me? Why did the warning in his voice make my pulse race? Why does the danger in his eyes send heat curling in my stomach?

I don’t know and don’t understand the way he makes me feel because I’ve never met anyone like him.

Someone who is both a storm and silence. Someone who is both brutal and gentle. Someone who warns me to stay away but looks at me like he can’t do it himself.

I try to shake the thoughts of Ares from my mind but fail. Even as I go through the motions of Rowan’s physical, my thoughts are still circling back to him. I take a deep breath and pull my chair closer to Rowan, trying to focus.

I don’t even realize how lost in my head I am until he speaks.

“You good, doc?” Rowan’s voice is dry, laced with amusement.

I blink, realizing I’ve been staring at his shoulder like it holds the meaning of life.

“Yeah! Yeah, I’m good.” I clear my throat.

Rowan lifts a brow but doesn’t comment. He just sits back on the medical bed, his shirt already discarded, watching me with those calculating green eyes of his.

Too sharp and piercing.

I roll my stretch and scoot forward, pressing my fingers into his shoulder.

“You’ve got some tension here,” I murmur, mostly to distract myself, because he doesn’t have tension anywhere.

Rowan hums, stretching his other arm behind his head while I press on his biceps.

“Anything I should know about regarding the team?” he asks casually, but his tone is anything but.

I go rigid. I know what he’s really asking, know exactly who he’s asking about.

I force myself to keep my expression neutral as I straighten.

“They’re fine,” I say carefully. “Langley’s shoulder needs icing and rest, but other than that, they’re good.”

Rowan scoffs, and his gaze snaps to mine, sharp and cutting.

“You don’t need to cover for Ares.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, my voice higher than usual and my pulse stuttering. Ares told me not to tell anyone, and I have a feeling he really meant it.

Rowan tilts his head slightly, studying me. His gaze softens just slightly, though there’s still that keen intelligence in his eyes.

“I’m not accusing you. I’m just saying, you don’t need to protect him from me. I know my best friend. And I already know about his hip.”

“You do?” I lift my gaze to his. Rowan just hums with a nod before giving me a look. The kind of look that says ‘Talk.”

And for some reason…I do. I press my fingers into his shoulder again, trying to focus.

“His hip is worse than he’s letting on.” I exhale softly. I swallow, pressing my fingers deeper into the muscle. “I tried to get him to let me treat it. But he won’t. He’s…” I hesitate. Because what even is Ares? I shake my head. “He’s being stubborn.”

Rowan makes a noise. Not a hum. Not a scoff. Something in between.

“What?” I glance at him.

Rowan exhales, shaking his head. “I can describe Ares with a lot of words.” He tilts his head. “But stubborn is pretty mild.”

I drop my hands to my lap silently, looking up at him, soaking it in. For some reason, I want to know everything there is to know about Ares. And Rowan is one of his closest people.

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