Page 46 of Unwritten Rules
My body tingles, eyes flicking to his. Sinnett is watching me with an intensity that feels like too much. Too much warmth in my muscles. Too much heat in my core. And too much electricity racing down my spine.
I tear my eyes from him, cheeks burning. Sinnett stifles a laugh, watching as I shuffle to his side, hands reaching for his right leg. Silence settles over us as I grip his calf, using it as leverage to extend his knee. With each movement, I study Sinnett’s features for a physical reaction—a good indication of his pain scale. His face stays deadpan, eyes locked on my hands.
I swallow hard. “What’s the pain like right now?”
“Not too bad,” Sinnett murmurs.
“And your limp?”
“Better.” He sucks in a sharp breath when I move his knee toward the bottom of the bed, trying to push it past ninety degrees. “Manageable.”
I hum, letting his leg fall naturally. His gaze is hot on the back of my head when I turn and reach for his chart on my desk. I make a note about the mobility of his knee as a reminder to update his plan with exercises that will help get his range closer to one-twenty degrees.
Setting the chart down, I return to Sinnett’s side. His hand runs over his thigh, likely to help soothe the pain settling in his quad muscles. Ocean eyes find mine, and I swallow hard, trying to avoid them as much as I can.
“I’m going to update your plan with some new exercises for you to try out that will help with the mobility around your knee. But, overall, the muscles don’t appear swollen at the moment, which is a good sign.”
Sinnett exhales a long breath and nods. “Thanks, Tate.”
“My pleasure.” I gesture to the table. “Ready for that massage?”
He nods and lies down, long legs stretched out over the table. I swallow around the lump forming in my throat and reach for his thigh. The second our skin connects, a zap of electricity races down my spine—similar to the spark I felt the night we met. Sinnett must’ve felt it too, because his eyes flick to mine. A fire blazes in the depths of his irises, and I force my gaze to his thigh where I work the muscles slowly, hoping to relieve some of the tension in them.
Silence settles over us for all of ten seconds before my brain decides to fill it by asking, “Any plans for tonight? It’s Saturday, after all.”
“I think some of the guys were talking about going out.”
“Are you going with them?”
“Maybe,” Sinnett drawls. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“Do you go out often?” I can’t stop the question from coming out. Warmth spreads across my cheeks at the lack of self-control I possess.
Sinnett rolls his lips, not fazed by my question. “More often than I should. I try to keep Khai company, he has a habit of going out a lot because of his jinx.”
I arch a brow, meeting his eyes. “Jinx?”
He shakes his head. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
“Is that good for you all?” I ask instead. “I mean, surely your nutritionist doesn’t want you drinking.”
Sinnett shrugs, hands coming up to rest on his stomach. “One or two drinks won’t kill them, but Khai likes to take it to the extreme, so there’s no telling with him.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” I chuckle. “He’s… a lot.”
“You’re telling me.” Sinnett’s mouth tilts up in a half smile. “He’s insane, but I wouldn’t have him any other way.” Dragging his tongue over his bottom lip, his eyes find mine. “Look, about the other night…”
“It’s fine,” I cut him off, not sure if my heart can take whatever he’s going to say. “I get it.”
Sinnett’s brows crease. “You do?”
I shrug. “Yeah. You helped me out and I appreciate it. But I know now that you have someone, so I need to stay in my lane. I understand. I’m not looking to break up a relationship.”
The muscles in his arms ripple as he grips the material of his jersey. “What? That’s not?—”
A sharp knock at the door saves me from this awkward as hell conversation where I have no doubt Sinnett would’ve tried to let me down gently and put me firmly in the friendzone. Axel stands in the doorway, eyes flicking between me and where Sinnett lays on the bed.
“Is everything okay? I can come back,” Axel asks.
