Page 133 of Traded

But she’s looking at me, her brows tightening. “You’re sweating.”

Can’t say I’m surprised after my face off with an alpha twice my size and four times my width. “It’s hot.”

“No, it’s not,” she says slowly. I jerk when her palm slaps across my forehead. “You have a temperature.”

“Probably coming down with a bug.” Just to add to all the fun and games.

“Could it be your heat?”

My throat tightens at the question, and I mentally count. “I’m not due yet.”

And that’s one thing I really don’t need. Shoving the thought away, I stand. “Want to make Liam and Jonas do the kitchen,change into our pajamas and eat shit food in front of a movie until Carter gets home?”

I’m not in the mood for any more discussion. Not tonight.

“Yes,” Lauren says after a moment. Almost in surprise. “I would like that.”

“Cool.” I turn for the door. “You ask them, since they actually like you, and I’ll get the snacks. Hope you like The Breakfast Club.”

“I’ve never seen it.”

She’s never seen the freaking Breakfast Club.

Every cloud has a silver lining, it seems. “Oh, I havesomuch to teach you.”

Chapter thirty-seven

Hoisted by my own Petard

Games Played: 80/82

Blackwater Aces

43–30–7

5th Atlantic Division

Clinched WC2

Jeff Akerman, NPHL Network Analyst:

“News just in is that Blackwater’s Aces are officially heading into their dream playoff run, Cal. It hasn’t alwaysbeen a convincing campaign, but Boone Mercer has pulled off a miracle with his team and bounced back to secure the East’s final wild-card position. With two games remaining for the Aces, their focus shifts from getting in to proving they belong in the increased pressure of the Everly Cup playoffs. With their regular-season finale against the Titans coming up, I’m hoping to get a useful indication of exactly how dangerous this team can be.”

Leaning against the doorway, I watch Carter carefully wrap tape around a stick.

When he’s done, he sets it against the wall and tugs a pill bottle from his pocket with shaking hands. My stomach sinks as he tosses one into his mouth. “Hey.”

The twitch of his hand sends pills scattering across the floor of the equipment room. Carter chokes. “Jesus, Ro. Where’d you come from?”

“What are those?” Stepping inside, I watch him lean down to pick them up and drop them back into the dark, amber bottle. “New painkillers?”

“Yeah,” he mutters, still looking around the floor. He curls his hands over them as I approach.

“Let me see?” The sinking turns to a cold, hard rock as he slowly releases his fingers to show me the label.

“Oxy,” I breathe. He doesn’t look at me. “You’re takingoxynow? Since when?”

“It’s all above board.” He stuffs the bottle back in his pocket. “Martin brought in some new doctors. It’s the only thing that helps with my shoulder.”