Page 172 of Red Zone

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And it scares the hell out of me, realizing what it is.

I think I’m falling for her.

Or worse—maybe I already have.

I tear my eyes away from her for a second, trying to reign in my thoughts.

I’ve never told anyone I loved them. Not once. Not foster parents. Not the other kids who lived in the houses with me. Never a hookup. No one.

I don’t even know what love is supposed to feel like.

But this?

This feels a hell of a lot like something I can’t name, and it terrifies me.

Because I don’t know if she’ll ever feel it back.

And if she did…

I’m not sure I’d even know how to say the words.

I finally look up at her.

She’s still sitting there, her hands folded on top of her notes, watching me with that calm, cautious look of hers. Like she doesn’t know if I’m going to say thank you or bite her head off.

The corners of my mouth twitch faintly.

“Thank you,” I say finally, my voice rougher than I mean it to be. “For…thinking of this. And for not just—” I cut myself off, shaking my head slightly. “Thank you.”

Her shoulders seem to loosen a little, and she nods, scribbling something in her planner to break the moment.

I stand, tucking the folder under my arm.

“Email me if they need anything else,” I murmur.

She nods again without looking at me.

And I leave before the ache in my chest can spread any further.

By the time I’m back outside, the air feels too heavy. My thoughts are all over the place, too sharp to sit with, too much to carry.

So, I do the only thing I know how to do.

I head straight back to the gym.

Even though I’ve already worked out today. Even though my body’s still sore from this morning’s lifts.

I just…need it.

I throw my bag down by the wall, yank my hoodie off, and start warming up with a few plates.

But I’m not even ten minutes into my first set before I catch sight of him.

Jaxon.

He’s at the squat rack, shirt soaked through, his knuckles raw from God knows how many pull- ups and bar grips.

He doesn’t even notice me at first—his eyes are locked on the mirror in front of him, jaw clenched, legs shaking under the bar.

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