Page 12 of Stuck with my Guarded MVP
“It’s not what it sounds like,” I said quickly.
Claire nodded, crossing her arms with mock solemnity. “It’s exactly what it sounds like.”
Nolan’s eyes narrowed. “Start talking. Slowly.”
Of course, she had a connection to the one person in this building I can’t afford to piss off.
I shifted my weight, setting the stat sheet on the edge of his desk. “She was in the lobby. Real estate agent bailed. Looked stranded. I had a comparable unit. Figured showing her mine was better than letting her waste her time.”
Nolan looked at Claire. “And you just… went along with it? You went into the apartment of a strange man?”
She shrugged. “He seemed trustworthy enough. Although, come to think of it, I did see several sharp knives in the kitchen.”
I blinked. “They were part of a set.”
“Sure they were,” she said, deadpan. Then she looked at Nolan again. “What I didn’t mention was that I never actually got into your apartment. I only saw the listing pictures and drone tour. And I didn’t want to hear the lecture about me being ‘too independent for my own good.’”
Nolan leaned back and pointed at her. “Which is exactly what you’re getting now.”
Claire grinned. “See? This is why I didn’t say anything.”
I watched them go back and forth, and something they both said clicked. This wasn’t tense, it was them. Familiar, sarcastic, warm underneath all the dry wit.
“Wait a second,” I said, holding up a hand. “You two are related?”
Nolan nodded, vaguely amused. “Liam, meet Dr. Claire Bennett. My younger sister. She's in town, short-term to help set up my apartment up. Claire is younger by eighteen months, but still acts like she knows better than I do.”
“That’s because I do.” Claire leaned her elbow on the armrest, chin in hand. “And apparently, I’m also better at scouting apartments. Liam’s kitchen was waaay nicer, by the way.”
Nolan gave me a long look. “You didn’t mention anything about playing tour guide.”
I shrugged. “Didn’t seem relevant.”
I sensed the older brother death stare.
“I mean, I had no idea that my showing an apartment to someone would be relevant to you.”
Okay, Callahan, stop rambling.
“It just seemed efficient. She was in a jam, I had the same apartment floor plan as the one she was trying to look at.”
He snorted. “I’m just busting your chops. Sorry, it's a sibling thing.”
The corner of Claire's mouth lifted just slightly. Not a smile exactly, but something close to it. That same dry composure, but there was warmth behind it now. And just like that, the edge in my chest eased a notch. Not all the way. But enough to breathe.
Still, she was my coach’s sister.
Fantastic.
And since she was moving into his apartment to help prepare it for his family's arrival, I’d be seeing her. Again. Soon.
Right now, I just watched the two of them volley jabs across the desk, pretending like my pulse wasn’t still trying to outrun itself. There was a familiarity I wouldn’t mind being a part of.
Coach Bennett leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “Sorry you walked into the middle of a sibling dispute. Happens more than I’d like to admit.”
Claire cut in without missing a beat. “He’s just upset because I’m right. Again.”
“You’re not right. You’re stubborn,” Nolan shot back.
