In the end, the Riders win the game, which means they’re moving on to the next round of the playoffs. I grin as I watch Coach Lewis slap his players on their asses after the win. Football is so freaking weird.

The teams form two lines and exchange handshakes. A few of the opposing players don’t shake Reed’s hand. For a moment I wonder if there’s going to be a fight, but Reed doesn’t seem to care. The moment they’re done, Easton races toward me. He plucks me right off my feet, then carries me down to the field and whirls me around.

“Did you see that sack in the second?” he exclaims.

I strain my head toward Val, who’s hurrying down the steps toward us.

“Wait for Val!” I grumble at him, but he carts me down the sidelines and doesn’t release me until we reach the entrance of the tunnel that leads to the locker rooms.

Reed is there, helmet in hand, sweaty hair matted to his head. “Enjoy the game?” he asks before bending his head and kissing me.

A laughing Val finally catches up to us, and she and Easton start making gagging noises as Reed’s kiss drags on and on.

“Come on, guys, we’re standing right here,” Val announces. “Royal, stop mouth-mauling my best friend so we can walk back to the hotel already.”

I break away from the kiss. “You didn’t drive?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “It was a ten-minute walk. I figured there wouldn’t be any closer parking spots, anyway.”

Reed gives me a stern look. “I don’t want you two walking back to the hotel alone. Wait for us outside the stadium and we’ll all walk back together.”

I respond with a brisk salute. “Yes, sir.”

His mouth finds mine again. This time there’s something different about his kiss. It’s rippling with promise. When he pulls back, I see a familiar gleam in his blue eyes. We’re away from the Royal mansion. There’s no risk of Callum or Steve or anyone else interrupting us. Whatever reservations Reed had about saving himself until after the investigation is over were left behind in Bayview. There’s only one reason I’d join Jordan’s dance squad and it’s not to cuddle.

We both know what’s going to happen tonight.

* * *

Reed and I walk back to the hotel with Easton, Valerie…and Wade. Needless to say, Val is not happy about this latest development.

The moment we reach the parking lot, she plants her feet and crosses her arms. “Why is he here?” Her accusatory gaze is laser-pointed at me. “You said it was just Reed and Easton.”

I hold up my hands in defense. “I didn’t know.”

Wade looks uncharacteristically wounded. I always thought nothing fazed this guy, but Val’s obvious unhappiness about his presence brings a sad look to his face.

“Come on, Val,” he says hoarsely. “Don’t be like that.”

She bites her lip.

“Please,” he adds. “Can’t we just go somewhere and talk?”

“You’re staying with us anyway,” Easton pipes up, “so you guys might as well call a truce before the slumber party begins.”

I turn to Val in surprise. “You’re not rooming with me?”

A flicker of humor shines through her cloudy expression. “Didn’t I tell you? Reed and I reached an agreement. I agreed to bunk with Easton.”

I glance from Reed to Val in suspicion. When did they decide that?

Val’s humor fades and the clouds take over again. “But I didn’t agree to bunk with him.”

Wade looks hurt again. “Val…”

“Wade,” she mimics.

Easton heaves a huge sigh. “Okay, I’m tired of this lovers’ quarrel. I’m going to hit the hotel bar while you two figure this shit out.” He grins at Val. “And if you figure out that you guys want to be alone tonight, text me and I’ll get my own room.”

With that, he saunters inside, leaving the four of us in the parking lot.

“Val?” I prompt.

She hesitates for a long, long time. Then she groans. “Oh fine. I’ll talk to him.” She says it to me rather than Wade, whose whole face lights up at her words. “I need to come up and grab my bag, though.”

We climb up to the third floor, where I swipe the keycard to open the door. As Val ducks inside to get her backpack, Reed and I linger in the doorway with Wade, who decides to offer me his unsolicited advice.

“Make sure my man doesn’t skimp on the foreplay. That’s important. Warms that virginal body of yours right up.”

I whirl toward Reed. “You told him I was a virgin?!”

Wade answers for him. “Nah, East did.”

Frickin’ Easton. That boy can never keep his mouth shut.

“Also,” Wade adds solemnly, “don’t freak if you don’t have an orgasm the first time. You’re gonna be all tense and nervous. Besides, Reed won’t last more than twenty seconds—”

“Wade,” Reed says in exasperation.

“Leave them alone,” Val snaps, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “You should be worrying about your own technique. From what I saw in that supply closet at school, you need a lot of work.”

He slaps a hand to his heart as if she shot an arrow into it. “How dare you, Carrington. I’m a modern-day Romeo.”

“Romeo dies,” she says tersely.

I fight a smile as the two of them disappear back toward the stairwell. Wade has his work cut out for him, that’s for sure. Val is clearly not going to make this easy for him.

Reed and I exchange a grin and enter the hotel room, where he sits on the bed and gestures for me to join him.

Nerves flutter in my tummy. “Um…” I swallow hard and then clear my throat. “Give me a second?”

I dash into the bathroom before he can answer. The moment I’m alone, I stare at my reflection in the mirror, noting the deep blush on my cheeks. I feel stupid. I mean, Reed and I have fooled around before. I shouldn’t be nervous, but I am.

Breathing deeply, I reach for the gift bag I stashed under the sink and spend an excessive amount of time getting ready. Smoothing out my hair. Fixing the bra straps so they’re not crooked but perfectly parallel. I glance in the mirror again and can’t deny I look hot.

Reed agrees, because the second I step out of the bathroom, he groans, “Holy fuck, baby.”