Page 12 of Scrum Heat

“In case you pass out again,” Rory says, perfectly serious.

Theo laughs. “Nah. It’s actually in case you hump something.”

“I’m here to stop Finn from adding more pillow spray,” Jax says without missing a beat.

“Did youhaveto bring that up already?” Finn huffs. “I said I was sorry!”

It’s all too much.

The scent. The noise. The hovering. The fact that I can stillfeelcinnamon in the air.

“Okay!” I blurt, hands flying up. “Ireallythink you’ve all done enough for now.”

They freeze.

“I appreciate it,” I add quickly, softer this time. “I do. I know you’re trying to help. But I just… I need space.”

Finn lifts a finger. “But I was just gonna -”

“Finn.”

“We were only trying to help,” Theo shrugs.

“Yeah, well, I don’t want your foreplay-nest right now,” I grumble.

“It’swellness—”

“No!” I cut him off. “No cinnamon-scented offerings, no protein-drenched hoodies, and definitely no more unsolicited pine-fogged pheromones in. My. Room.”

Theo opens his mouth. Closes it. Then tries again.

“Technically, it’sour—”

“Do you want todie,Theo?”

He runs.

Jax vanishes, too, and Finn backs out slowly, until only Rory remains.

I throw him a look so sharp it could cut diamonds.

“Just making sure they actually leave,” he shrugs.

“I will throw that oven mitt at your head.”

There is a beat of silence.

“…Fair.”

He closes the door behind him, and I step up toward it and turn the lock, securing myself in as Finn’s hushed voice comes through from the other side.

“She’s majestic even when she’s threatening our lives.”

“Shutup,” Theo laughs at him.

Then,silence.

Sweet, blessed, cinnamon-free silence.

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