Page 13 of Red Zone

“That’s not true.” I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table as I lowered my voice. “I didn’t know shit back then. Hell, half the time, I still don’t. But you… you made me feel like I didn’t have to pretend. Like I could be myself.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, her composure cracked. Her eyes darted away, and her fingers twisted tighter around her purse strap. “That was a long time ago.”

“Not long enough for me to forget,” I said, my voice softer, more vulnerable than I wanted it to be. “You disappeared after our last disagreement, Skye. No explanation, no warning. I thought… I thought we had something real.”

Her head jerked up, and for the briefest second, guilt flickered across her face. But she quickly masked it, shaking herhead. “You never indicated that. I specifically remember you saying we were just casual.”

I flinched. She wasn’t wrong there.

“And… it wasn’t that simple.”

“Then explain it to me,” I pressed, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “Because I’ve been trying to figure it out for three years, and I still don’t have a damn clue.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes. She was about to say something, but before she could, a shadow fell across the table.

Maverick.

He set a drink in front of Skye, his expression casual, but his eyes held an edge as he looked at me. “You okay?” he asked her, his voice light, but there was no mistaking the protective undertone.

“Fine,” she said quickly, taking the drink. “Thanks.”

My gaze stayed locked on her as she turned toward him, her posture stiff, her movements abrupt. She was hiding something—I could feel it.

Maverick lingered a second longer, his gaze meeting mine with a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Good seeing you, Cartwright.”

“Sure,” I said, my tone clipped as I leaned back in the booth.

He turned to walk away, Skye by his side, then he paused just long enough to lean in close, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “Figure it out, Cartwright. Before it’s too late.”

His possessive words hit like a direct blow to the chest.She doesn’t want me.I sat there, frozen, watching them disappear into the crowd.

CHAPTER SIX

SKYE

Glass shattered at my feet, a sharp crash that jolted me back to reality. I closed my eyes and willed my hands to steady. It was just a beaker, not the end of the world. But my nerves were another story. I needed my study to be successful, but it was Liam’s stupid grin that kept replaying in my head, throwing me off balance.

I muttered under my breath, brushing the shards into a dustpan. My chest tightened at the uninvited memories of his touch—strong, warm, infuriatingly gentle—lingering from our last tutoring session.Why did he have to be so… him?

“You okay?” Joe turned to face me, concern flickering in his deep-espresso eyes.

“Yeah, just clumsy today.” I summoned a smile I didn’t feel.

The weight of his gaze stayed on me as I finished cleaning up, but I avoided looking directly at him. Joe didn’t need to know how much my current distraction was tied to a certain wide receiver.

I noticed Joe’s disheveled hair and swollen lips then remembered seeing Megan slipping out of the lab as I came in. I laughed. “I’m fine, but it looks like you’re more than fine. Whatwere you and Megan doing before I came in? Did she finally agree to go out with you?”

“I took your advice.” Joe’s sheepish grin tugged at my mood despite my frazzled nerves. “Megan said yes.”

“Good. Don’t screw it up.” I waved him off with a laugh, sweeping up the glass and trying not to let my shaking hands give me away. “When did this happen?”

“Last night.”

My brows climbed my forehead. “You dog. Bet you were here ‘working’”—I air quoted—“last night. Maybe she didn’t even go home.” I glanced around the lab. “Just tell me, should I avoid working anywhere because of… contamination?”

“Shit, Skye.” His cheeks flamed red, and he ducked his head. “You’re all good. But yeah, we were… working all night, and she said yes when I asked her out.”

“So it’s official?” I’d known Joe since last year, when I’d started being a TA for Professor White’s introductory chemistry class. Joe was at the top of his class and was Professor White’s go-to assistant. We’d become friends when he covered for me during a few emergencies with Lily. I’d noticed how he pined for Megan, another grad student who had access to the lab for her research on the harmful effects of pain meds and performance-enhancement drugs in high school and college student athletes. Because he’d been such a great friend and had helped me out when I’d needed it the most, I’d decided to coach him on how to ask her out. Guess he’d finally manned up and taken my advice.

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