Page 69 of Trade It All

My hand shifts slightly against her back, pulling her closer without waking her, my jaw tightening just a fraction as something else settles into place right behind it. I’m not letting that happen. Not by accident. Not because I hesitated. Not because I didn’t fight for her the way she deserves. If being careful with her heart means I take my time—I will. But if I don’t find a way to keep her—to make sure she’s mine in every way that matters—I already know what that’s going to do to me. And that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.

The knock is loud. Sharp against the quiet we’ve been wrapped in, cutting through it like it doesn’t belong here.

Then voices and laughter. Maddie jolts in my arms, her whole body going tight in an instant, breath catching as she tries to figure out where she is and what just happened all atonce.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, tightening my hold on her before she can pull away completely, my hand sliding up her back, grounding, steady. “It’s just the guys.”

Her head lifts from my chest, eyes wide, panic already settling in before she even fully wakes.

“They can’t find out,” she whispers, her voice rushed now, her hands pressing lightly against me like she’s trying to put space between us without actually leaving. “Dean—we can’t—”

“I don’t want to hide anymore.” The words come out before I can soften them.

Because it’s the truth. Because being here with her in my bed, wrapped around me like this feels too damn right to keep pretending it’s something else.

Her brows crease immediately, something between frustration and worry flickering across her face. “Just… a little longer,” she says, quieter now, but firm in a way that tells me she’s not asking. “Please.”

The knocking comes again. Louder this time. And Luka’s voice follows right behind it. “Coach, you alive in there or what?”

Jasper laughs, something muffled through the door. “If he’s not, I’m taking his coffee.”

I exhale slowly, pressing a quick kiss to Maddie’s forehead before I shift, forcing myself to move even though everything in me wants to stay right where I am.

“Bathroom,” I murmur, my hand brushing her arm as I pull back. “Go.”

She doesn’t argue this time. Just scrambles out of bed, grabbing the first thing she can find to cover herself before slipping toward the bathroom, her movements quick, quiet, like she’s done this before—even though we both know she hasn’t. The door clicks shut just as the knocking turns into a pounding.

“Coach!” I drag a hand down my face, forcing my expression back into something neutral, something that doesn’t give anything away as I cross the room and open the door. Jake’s standing there first, coffee in hand, Luka right behind him, Jasper already leaning past them like he’s trying to see inside before I even move.

“Well, look who finally decided to wake up,” Jake says, holding out the cup like a peace offering. “We were about to assume you died in your sleep.”

“Or had company,” Jasper adds, a grin already forming like he’s hoping for it.

My jaw tightens just slightly, but I don’t give him anything.

“Coffee,” Luka says, stepping forward and handing me another cup, his eyes flicking over my shoulder for half a second before settling back on me. “Figured you’d need it.”

“I’ve been up,” I answer evenly, taking the cup without hesitation, stepping just enough into the doorway to block their view inside without making it obvious.

“Yeah?” Jake raises a brow. “Doing what?”

“Thinking about how we lost last night,” I say, letting just enough edge slip into my voice to redirect them, to give them something else to latch onto.

It works. It always does.

Jasper groans, leaning back slightly. “Jesus, don’t start that already.”

Luka shakes his head. “We’ve got time before walkthrough, Coach. You can rip us apart then.”

I take a sip of the coffee, letting the heat settle me, letting the moment stretch just long enough that it feels normal again. Controlled. Contained. But behind me—I know she’s there. That thought makes me want to get these fuckers out of here quickly. I don’t let them linger. Not today.

“Conference room,” I say, keeping my tone easy, controlled, like this is exactly what I planned all along. “Hotel has got breakfast set up. Be there in ten.”

Jake nods like that’s all he needed, already turning. Luka follows without question, and Jasper lingers just a second longer, eyes flicking past me like he’s still trying to catch something I’m not giving him.

“Don’t take too long,” he says, a smirk pulling at his mouth. “We might eat everything.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” I shoot back, already easing the door shut before he can say anything else.