Page 80 of Scrum Heat

“I know.”

“I can't believe it. You and Theo.”

“Please stop saying it like that.”

“You. And. Theo.”

I peek at her through my fingers. She’sbeaming.

“He was shirtless!” I say, deadpan. “I was unsupervised. What’s a girl to do?!”

She cackles. “Oh, please—that man’s been circling you like a shark since the day you fainted into his scent cloud. You’re telling me the locker room was accidental?”

“I went in for a mic rig.”

“And got dicked down instead?”

“Harper!”

She giggles into her lemonade, practically vibrating with secondhand chaos. “Sorry, sorry. I’m just impressed. That’s a story for the ages. Andyou—” she points at me “—look like you finally slept more than four hours without stress-twitching.”

I hide my smile in my tea.

It’s nice. Having someone to tell. It’s been such a whirlwind that I haven’t even had time to process it. The looks. The tension. The fact that I literally can’t walk past Theo without heat prickling behind my knees.

It’s not just that it happened. It’s that I want it again. And that’s the terrifying part.

Harper bumps her shoulder against mine. “I’m happy for you. Truly. It’s nice to see you happy.”

I nod, soft. “You’re the first friend I’ve had in ages that isn’t allergic to asking about feelings.”

She winks. “You bring the chaos, I’ll bring the carbs.”

I’m mid-laugh when my phone buzzes.

You still here?

I frown at Evie’s message. I replyyes, and Harper and I pack up the rest of our snacks.

Twenty minutes later, I’m back at the club, unlocking the front door with Harper behind me, still mid-rant about cheese-to-bread ratios. I head straight for my office, thinking I’ll check my emails and maybe recover what’s left of my serotonin—

And nearly scream.

Because Evie is already inside.

Just…standing there, in the center of the room; perfect hair, perfect blazer, and holding a laptop like it’s about to ruin my life.

I jump so hard I almost drop my keys. “Jesus—Evie! You can’t just appear like that. This isn’t a horror film.”

Her expression doesn’t move. “Hello to you too.”

Harper coughs to cover a laugh and wisely retreats.

“Is everything… good? Are we being sued?”

She turns the screen toward me, and I freeze.

Because there it is. In bold, glossy font, sitting smug as hell on the homepage of a local gossip site I didn’t even know existed:

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