Page 35 of Colliding with Ten

He lowered his voice. “You’re there too.”

Warmth curled under my ribs. I looked down at my knee brace, trying to imagine his face as he said it.

“Are you always this concerned with rival team housing arrangements and security?”

“No.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

“Then I’m honored.”

“You should be careful.”

“Did I just detect that tone?”

He exhaled, almost laughing in it. “You’re not serious.”

“I’m injured and bored. Humor is all I have.” I straightened. “I live in a luxury building with a doorman, cameras, security, and a brother who once threatened to fight a man at Whole Foods for reaching across my cart without saying excuse me.”

“I still want you to be vigilant.”

My smile dimmed because he sounded bothered. I pulled the blanket tighter, aware of my own heartbeat.

“Don’t post in real time or mention when AJ is traveling. If deliveries come, have the doorman confirm them first. If something feels off, tell your brother.”

I leaned my head against the back of the couch. “You do realize AJ already tells me what to do? That position is filled.” I laughed because it was a joke.

He fell silent. His lack of reaction left me exposed.

“I’m sorry, I’m overstepping,” he said.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m taking what you’re saying seriously.”

He grunted.

“What?” I asked.

“I was just wondering if that’s really what you sound like.”

I stilled. “What do you mean?”

“When you laugh.”

My fingers went slack around the phone. My skin heated. I looked toward the kitchen where AJ was on a call, probably about football.

“And was it what you expected?”

His voice dropped a fraction. “It’s better.”

I bit my lip. My body went still. Suddenly, my skin felt too tight. AJ wasn’t paying attention to me, but this felt wrong. Rivalries in this league made things like this impossible, and Lennox knew that.

I lowered my voice. “What are you doing, Monroe?”

Getting a call like this from a rival team member wasn’t normal.

“I’m making sure you’re okay.”

“Well,” I said, trying to recover, “my knee’s a bit better than yesterday. My apartment hasn’t been burglarized, and my brother locked all the doors, so I think I’m safe tonight.”