Chapter 16
Riley
I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the bottom of my shirt and open the front door. “That was a good one,” I tell Reid as he follows me inside. “One of these days I'm going to beat you,” I tell him with a grin.
He tugs gently on my hair. “Keep dreaming.”
“No, seriously. I’m going to.”
He turns to face me, walking backwards. “I have no doubt you probably will.” His grin widens. “When I’m old.” He turns around and books it towards the kitchen.
I gasp in outrage and chase after him, opening my water bottle as I do.
I’m just about to throw my water at him, but he sees it coming and grabs my arm and twists so now the water bottle is above my own head.
I glare up at him. “Do it and watch what happens. Don’t forget; I know where you sleep at night. ” His grin only widens.
It’s at that exact moment that I realize we aren’t alone, which is odd because we’re usually the only ones up at this time in the morning.
Well, sometimes Slate is out and about, but we don’t often see him.
Every morning, for the past two weeks, Reid and I have gone for a run together in the morning.
After that, we head to the weight room in the basement.
I asked him to help me use my last two weeks before practice to train.
He's taken his task seriously. I’m pretty fit and in shape, but I thought I was going to die after the first day with him.
But I can feel myself getting stronger, and I feel like maybe I’m ready for my first practice tomorrow.
“You guys are so committed; I applaud you,” Tessa says, taking a sip of her iced coffee. “Slate is the only fit one in this relationship.” Slate smirks and moves, so he’s standing behind her.
“What’s everybody doing here?” I ask, still recovering from my insane workout with my personal trainer from Hell.
“It’s Sunday,” Evie says from the stove. My brother’s bent over, looking in the fridge for something.
“Did you forget about family Sunday?” Zane asks.
I frown. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Zane pops back up. “Yep. I just thought of it.”
“Okay. And no, I didn’t forget about it. How could I when you all remind me of it every minute of every day.”
“That’s because you missed the last two,” Quint says, walking past me. I step backward to get out of his way and step right into Reid. He drops a hand to my waist, keeping me from moving away.
I’m all sweaty, I send to him.
Does it look like I care? I feel him step even closer to me, and I relax against him and try to remember the conversation going on around me. “Are you all never going to let me live that down? I had plans last Sunday,” I explain.
“Yeah, you ditched us for other people,” Quint all but whines.
“Okay, first of all, I told you I forgot about Sundays here. Second, Ashley called me last minute to meet up, and I did. And third—”
“Wow. You really are trying to sell this excuse,” Quint says, and I ignore him.
“Third, you had an even number without me; so, I don’t know why you’re making a big deal about it.
Besides, I’m here now. What are we playing today?
” I ask, rubbing my hands together excitedly.
This will be my first official Sunday, and I’m looking forward to it.
I’m super competetive by nature, and I can’t wait to play against these guys.
I have no grandiose ideas about besting any of them, but I’m excited for the challenge. “Is it basketball?” I ask hopefully.
“Nope,” Zane answers as he comes up behind Evie at the stove.
She gives him a bite of whatever it is she’s making.
“Mmmm, that’s good.” Reid’s thumb strokes a circle on my side, right under my shirt.
I resist the urge to shiver and wonder if he knows it’s affecting me so much that I’m having a hard time concentrating on the conversation. “Football today.”
I take that in. “Okay. What are the teams?”
Tessa looks over at me. “We haven’t even had breakfast yet, and you’re asking about teams? Who even are you?”
The guys laugh, and I hold in my smile. “Sorry, Tess. You’re right. Breakfast first. What are we having? How can I help?”
Evie points to the fridge. “Eggs. Lots and lots of eggs.”
Tessa stands and takes another sip of her iced coffee. “Okay, I’m properly caffeinated. I’ll start on pancakes.”
“Pancakes?” I ask in surprise. Tessa turns to me and looks me up and down. “What?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “You’ve probably never eaten a pancake a day in your life.”
“Yes, I have.”
“When? When you were four?” she returns. She tries to be snarky, but she can’t stop smiling so the effect is lost.
“Don’t worry, Riley,” Evie says from the stove. “We have eggs for the healthy eaters.”
I walk over to the fridge and pull out two cartons of eggs. “What kind of eggs?”
“Cheesy ones,” Tessa says brightly.
Evie just laughs. “Your face, Riley. Just regular scrambled eggs.” I start cracking the eggs.
Tessa opens the freezer and pulls out a big bag. “Chicken sausage? How is that even a thing?”
I snatch the bags out of her hand. “Chicken sausage is the best.” I pull out a big pot and pour the entire bag in. “Want me to cook up some peppers and spinach for the eggs?”
Tessa stares at me in horror and puts her hand out. “Okay. Give it to me. You're officially fired.”
I stare down at her hand, laughing. “What?”
“Give me the spatula. You're out.”
“Out of what?”
“Out of the kitchen. You are no longer allowed to make breakfast.”
Evie laughs. “Leave her alone, Tessa.”
Tessa turns back to me. “Breakfast is for cinnamon rolls and biscuits and bacon, not spinach and peppers and chicken sausage.”
I grin. “Yeah, well practice starts for me tomorrow.”
Her face instantly changes. “Are you nervous?”
I shrug. “Kind of. I mean I’ll be a whole lot more nervous if I eat your kind of breakfast this morning.” I can’t resist the dig, and she gives me exactly what I was going for.
“You’re gone. Out of the kitchen. Go take a shower.” I ignore her and continue to stir the eggs. “Reid,” she hollers. Reid steps into the kitchen a minute later. “Take your girl and go. She’s ruining breakfast.”
My mouth drops open, even as I laugh. “I am not ruining breakfast. Evie, tell her.”
Evie just laughs and shakes her head. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.”
“Reid, take her. She’s trying to make breakfast healthy,” Tessa says, waving the spatula at me. Reid’s eyes meet mine, and I see the humor there. I turn back to the stove to turn the sausage. “Take her to the shower or something,” Tessa says.
“No, do not take her to the shower,” my brother calls out from the other room. “There will be no showers together.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Tessa says, shaking her head. But then she looks over at Reid, and I don’t miss the calculating gleam in her eyes. “Though that could be fun. He’s tall and built. You could climb him like a—”
“Seriously, woman,” Slate says, appearing out of nowhere. “I’m right here.”
Tessa grins. “Yes, you are, Hotshot.” He snags her wrist and pulls her into his arms, and she goes willingly, laughing the entire time. Her laughter is silenced when he kisses her. I feel a tug at my hand and look up into Reid’s dancing eyes.
He cocks his head, and I follow him. I hand Evie the spatula before I leave, and she takes it with a knowing grin. “Don’t listen to your brother,” she whispers.
“Always listen to your brother,” Zane growls from the other room. Reid pulls me out of the kitchen, and I go happily. I really do want to shower and get dressed for the day. The clothes I’m wearing now I threw on after rolling out of bed.
Reid pulls me towards the bathroom and inside. He closes the door a moment later, trapping me inside with him. I raise my eyebrows. “Are you taking Tessa’s comments literally?”
He smiles down at me. “As much as I would enjoy every second of that, no.” I feel my cheeks heat at his words, and I take a breath.
He steps around me to start the shower. “I was just getting it warm for you. I’ll grab one of my t-shirts you can throw on until you get to your room and can grab clothes. ”
He steps back. “Thanks, Reid.”
His eyes soften as he looks down at me. “You’re welcome. Take your time. It will be a little while before we eat. And if they want to eat before we’re ready, that’s fine.”
“Sounds good.” His eyes stay on my face, and I can’t help my grin. “You have to leave now, so I can get in the shower.”
He takes a deep breath. “I’ll be back.” His voice is deeper than usual, and I’m glad to see I affect him as much as he affects me.
As soon as the door closes behind him, I strip off my sweaty clothes and climb into the shower.
I stay under the warm water a little while, even though I’m not cold.
The warm water feels good on my achy muscles.
Reluctantly, I turn off the water and step out.
I wrap my hair in one towel and use the other one to dry off with.
I glance at the counter and see one of Reid’s shirts sitting on the counter.
Because I’m so tall, it hits about midthigh; but it will be enough to get me to my room.
Only, I wasn’t counting on the shifter standing right next to the bathroom door when I open it.
“Do you always linger outside the bathroom when a female is showering?” I ask trying to be funny.
Reid doesn’t crack a smile. “Only when it’s my mate who’s the one showering.”
I smile, but then I take in the tenseness of his shoulders. I step into him, putting my hands on his chest. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
I study his face. “Reid?”
“My wolf is just on edge,” he finally admits in a quiet voice.
I frown. “Why?” I glance around the house, making sure I didn’t miss anything.
He steps forward and takes a deep breath, scenting me. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. I’m going to take a shower now; nobody has to wait for me to eat.” Just before he turns away, I reach out and squeeze his hand.
“Everything’s okay.”
He gives me a soft smile. “I know.” And then he disappears into the bathroom.
I hear the shower turn on and take that as my cue to leave.
I make my way to my room to get dressed in sports’ clothes for the day.
I’m excited to play football. I grew up playing football with Reid and Zane and my dad.
It will be fun to play today. My stomach growls hungrily when I smell the food from the kitchen.
I hurry to get ready, braiding my wet hair, before heading back to the kitchen.
“Mmm, it smells good in here. What can I do to help?”
“We’re just putting the food on the table,” Evie says, handing me a plate overflowing with chicken sausage.
I put it on the table, and my brother grabs a gallon of orange juice from the fridge.
I grab a cup and fill it with cold water from the cooler and drain the entire cup.
I fill another cup for Reid. I smell him before I see him.
He comes around the corner a moment later, looking deliciously sexy in his shorts and t-shirt.
He is devastatingly good looking. He gives me a questioning look that shakes me out of my thoughts.
“Hey.”
He steps close and tucks a hair behind my ear. “Hey,” he returns softly.
“Heyyyy,” Quint says, stepping up next to us and completely ruining the moment. I just laugh, and Reid shoves him away.