Page 170 of With the Assist

Liam smirks. “Found it hanging on the towel rack.”

I snort before I can stop myself, which sends a sharp reminder through my shoulder. Worth it.

Grayson opens one eye. “Can we not?”

“No,” Wyatt and Liam say in unison.

Wyatt leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Okay, but like whose is it?”

Grayson exhales. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”

“Nice try,” Liam says smugly.

“Grayson has a secret girlfriend,” Wyatt sings. “Grayson has a secret girlfriend.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.” Grayson stands, slapping Wyatt in the back of the head and grabbing the bra from Liam. “And she’s not a secret.”

Wyatt blinks. “Then why don’t we know about her?”

“Because this isn’t a group project,” Grayson replies evenly while tossing the bra into the closest closet.

I shake my head, smiling. He’s always been like this. Loyal. Private. A terrible liar, but incredible at redirecting.

Which is exactly what he does next.

“Speaking of girlfriends.” He turns to me. “How’s Wesley?”

The air shifts instantly.

Liam drops into the chair beside me, while Wyatt shifts his entire body toward me, widening his eyes like a teenage girl gossiping.

“You’ve been suspiciously quiet about that,” Liam says.

I sigh. “She’s fine.”

Grayson tilts his head, studying me. “You’re keeping her at arm’s length.”

I stiffen. “I’m not.”

“You are,” Liam says. “And it’s stupid.”

I run my left hand through my hair. “I’m being careful.”

Wyatt scoffs. “Careful how?”

“She didn’t pick me. Sure, she might want to now, but what’s stopping her from running again?” The words sound more insecure out loud. “I don’t want to rush back into something just because I got injured and everything went sideways.”

There’s a beat.

Then Liam groans. “God, you’re being stupid.”

“Thank you,” I mutter.

Wyatt points at me. “She left her game, from what I heard, to sit next to your dramatic ass in a hospital bed.”

“That was a scrimmage,” I argue weakly.

“She had National Team coaches in the stands,” Grayson adds.