Page 61 of My Pucked Up Enemy

I move her water glass closer. Offer the last breadstick without making a thing of it. Protective? Yeah. Subtle? Trying.

I nudge her with my elbow. "So when’s the group therapy circle? After dessert?"

She side-eyes me. "Only if we get to start with you."

The guys all point to me. James grins. "Captain Emotional Suppression."

"I prefer emotionally selective," I shoot back.

"Oh, is that what the kids are calling emotionally constipated these days?" Nina teases, lifting her glass.

"Only when the kids are incredibly self-aware and devastatingly handsome," I deadpan.

Connor leans forward. "What’s the most messed up pre-game ritual you’ve seen, Doc?"

She hums like she’s thinking. "There was a linebacker who had to sniff his cleats before warmup. Said it 'cleared the head.'"

James gags. "Okay, no. We’re not doing that."

"I mean, I wouldn’t recommend it," Nina replies dryly.

"You ever have to break someone out of something like that?" Ethan asks.

"You mean behavioral conditioning? Sure. You’d be surprised how many guys can’t function without the ‘right’ song or the ‘right’ socks."

Mikey groans. "Don’t look at me. I just like symmetry."

Connor raises a brow. "You match your socks to your underwear. That’s not symmetry. That’s serial killer energy."

Nina laughs. "I’m not judging. Much."

"Are you taking mental notes on us right now?" I ask.

"I always am," she says.

"So what am I, then?"

"You’re... a puzzle. Part alpha. Part enigma."

"And you’re dangerous with a clipboard," I say.

"You should see me with a whiteboard."

"I’m starting to think you enjoy poking bears."

"Only when they growl," she replies, lifting a brow.

The table explodes into laughter. Nina just smirks and sips her wine. I sit back, watching her, knowing damn well I’m grinning like an idiot.

Dangerous, I remind myself.

But I don’t want to be careful tonight.

Nina leans in. "Keep teasing me and I’ll schedule your next meltdown."

I swear the air tightens. Just a little. Just enough.

Dinner flows. Jokes, jabs, more drinks. Parker tells a story about Grace out-shooting him in a charity game. Connor makes fun of Mikey for his pre-game sock superstition. Nina throws in a line about sports rituals being a sign of underlying need for control. Mikey looks like she read his diary.

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