"You're very... vocal."
"Shit. Was I too loud?"
"No." He kisses me softly. "It was perfect. You're perfect."
My chest goes tight with emotion. "Doc..."
"Shower," he says quickly, like he's embarrassed by what he said. "We're gross."
"Best kind of gross," I grin, but set him down carefully.
We actually shower, sharing soap and trading lazy kisses under the spray. He traces an old scar on my ribs, one of Dad's greatest hits, and I tell him about the football injury I blamed it on.
"I could kill them," he says quietly. "Your family. I could actually kill them."
"My scary pre-med boyfriend." I turn him around to wash his back. "What would you do, poison them?"
"No… Too traceable. Make it look like an accident. Or maybe just perform very detailed anatomical threats until they piss themselves."
"That's... weirdly hot."
"You're ridiculous." But he's smiling as he turns off the water. "Come on. Let's get dressed before someone actually does come in."
We towel off and dress quickly, still stealing glances at each other.
"So," I say as we head out. "That was okay? Not too fast?"
He stops, turns to face me fully. "Gavin. That was... I've wanted that for weeks. You're not pushing. If anything, I'm the one who jumped you in a public shower."
"You can jump me anytime."
"Noted." He reaches up, fixes my still-damp hair. "Your place or mine?"
"Yours. Ethan and Tyler were being very frisky when I left this morning. Doubt that's calmed down yet."
"Mine then." He takes my hand, casual as anything. "Come on. I'll make you dinner and properly examine that thigh strain."
"Is that what we're calling it?"
"Behave."
But he's smiling as we walk to his car, and I'm thinking about his hands on my thigh, and yeah.
"Best track meet ever."
Chapter 19
Operation: Social Integration
Sebastian
The living room looks like a library exploded and had babies with a robotics lab. Books stacked on every surface, circuit boards scattered between throw pillows, and Leo's half-finished cosplay armor taking up the entire coffee table.
Home.
"So," JP adjusts his glasses, pulling out an actual color-coded chart. "I've been thinking?—"
"Dangerous," Luca mutters from his spot on the floor, laptop balanced on his knees.
