Page 111 of The Catch

"Is there something to admit?" Dom asks, a worried wrinkle on his brow. "Am I the only one who's going to be single now?"

Bear frowns. "I’m single, too."

"Except you and Pen—" Damián starts, but Bear does a good impression of his nickname and interrupts.

He grows three sizes, his powerful wall-like shoulders turning to iron. "Don't suggest we are in love."

"Look, I get it." Damián makes a placating gesture with his hands. "I spent a lot of time trying not to dwell on my feelings for Nat when we were friends. Not that you're doing the same or just pretending you're not in love—"

He adds the last bit quickly, once Leon's chin drops and his eyes turn menacing. The scar that splits his top lip looks dangerous in its halo of black, thick beard.

"I'm not pretending anything," Bear says. "Pen and I are friends. That's what I'm making clear."

"Fair," Damián says. "All I'm trying to explain is that you two seem like an item and it's easy to forget you're friends."

"Well, don't." Leon growls. "I don't."

"Message received," Dom adds. "You're single, too. Good. I don't want to be the only one choosing the unattached life."

"We're getting distracted." Logan frowns. "This is an intervention for Saint."

"I have to insist," I say. "There's no need for an intervention. I'm giving off no signs."

From the sound Logan makes, and the gestures everyone else gets on their face, I'm wrong.

"Are you going to deny you have feelings for Ames?" Logan challenges.

I grind my teeth and put the damn beer away again. I can't deny it. As much as I've tried, I know I'm in the middle of feeling a lot for her. I may go to great lengths to avoid labeling it, but denying it out loud seems like a betrayal. A disrespect of what we have.

But does that mean I'm ready to talk about love?

What a risky thought. The question I have not let myself ask comes closer. I'm prey to its hunger.

Should I try what I've never dared? Should I try for a relationship with Ames?

"Don't trap me like that," I eventually say. "If I feel something, she should be the first to know. Not you lot."

"So you feel something." Rafa stares at me with his dark, sage eyes. "But she doesn't know."

I gaze back at the big man. As a defensive tackle, he's muscled and padded, though less than Bear is. Still fuller than the rest of us and, with his grounded, private energy, he gives wise father vibes.

Not surprising, since he has a young child.

His quiet presence anchors me.

I shake my head. "I don't do relationships, remember?"

"Why the hell not?" Logan asks. "I have reason to believe you've felt things for Ames for a long time. Even before the whole Aidan debacle."

"Even if that's the case." I smirk, trying to infuse some humor to it. Keeping it light, because I'm a pro at that. "Doesn't mean I should get a diamond ring and down on one knee."

"Never thought I'd hear Gael Santiago talking about marriage." Dom's voice is heavy with resignation.

"I amnot," I try.

"I'll be your best man," Logan says. "Unless you think it should be her brother. I won't be offended."

"You've been part of the team for eighteen months." I put on a defiant smile, responding to his humor. "You didn't make it into the group chat until a year ago. How dare you sass me like this?"