Page 160 of Play Dirty

I leaned back against the counter, watching it all unfold.

Noise. Movement. Energy.

Three days ago, this would’ve been normal.

Now?

It felt like someone dropped a marching band into a library.

Because we weren’t the same.

And yeah—

They noticed.

Not right away, but in the small things. The way Haven didn’t move out of the way. The way she didn’t shrink. The way Ares stepped a little closer to her without thinking.

The way Grayson came down the stairs, took one look at her, and didn’t even pretend it didn’t matter.

Eyes tracked those changes. Conversations hit half-pauses.

“…what’d we miss?” Zack called, emerging from the hallway looking ten pounds lighter and spiritually reborn.

I took a slow sip of my coffee.

“Snow,” I said. “Lots and lots of snow.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“That it?”

“Pretty much.”

He didn’t buy it. But he also didn’t have time to press.

Because right on cue—

“Alright, ladies!”

Mercer. He looked even meaner than before, which I didn’t think was possible.

He pushed into the kitchen like he owned the place.

“Gear down, ten minutes. Bus was a nightmare, roads are worse, and I don’t give a shit because we’ve got a game in forty-eight hours and you all look like you’ve been vacationing.”

His all-knowing eyes traveled between us, singling us out. I couldn’t help but freeze, wondering exactly what he knew.

Those eyes eventually landed on Grayson.

“Captain.”

“I’m ready.”

No hesitation. No edge.

Just… locked in.

Mercer nodded once.