The memory of last night’s kiss came back in pieces.
I had meant to go back to my own bed. Instead, somewhere between talking and the quiet that followed, we’d both just stayed in his.
Both our phones buzzed again.
Chris stirred with a low groan, tightening his arm unconsciously before shifting to reach for his phone. I felt the drag of his fingersover my hip as he pulled away, and my body reacted before my brain did, reluctant at the loss of contact.
“Morning,” he muttered, voice rough with sleep.
“Mm,” I replied.
He huffed something that might’ve been a laugh, then frowned at his screen.
I rolled onto my back and grabbed my own phone.
Event Notice:
Due to the ongoing investigation into equipment tampering discovered during yesterday’s trials, all competitive events remain postponed until further notice.
Participants are requested to attend a mandatory briefing at 9:00 AM in the Grand Magnolia Ballroom for further updates.
We thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Chris let out a quiet curse under his breath. “Guess they sent it to everyone,” he said.
“Yeah.”
Chris turned his head toward me. His hair was a mess, falling into his eyes. There was still a faint crease on his cheek from the pillow. He looked a lot younger like this.
“You think they caught someone?” he asked.
“Maybe,” I said. “Should we go check it out?”
He nodded immediately. “Yeah.”
We untangled from each other reluctantly, grabbing clothes from the chair and dressing quickly.
I kept an eye on him as he pulled on his shirt. There was something about the morning light catching his jawline that made it hard to focus on anything else.
When we finally made our way downstairs and arrived at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom, it looked nothing like it had during the welcome reception.
It was still packed with handlers and their dogs, but it was quieter in a way that felt tense rather than celebratory. Gone were the bright, coordinated outfits, glittering leads, and polished jackets.
I was still trying to find a table when I saw a hand waving above the crowd.
“Over here!” It was Sheila.
She was impossible to miss, even in a plain sweater. Tall, sharp eyes, dark braid over one shoulder. Beside her stood Donnie, broad-shouldered and perpetually skeptical-looking. Both were shifters we’d met during the course of the event.
We edged through the crowd until we reached their table.
Sheila leaned in slightly. “Did you hear? They caught someone,” she said, her voice lowered but vibrating with energy. “Late last night.”
Chris’s posture sharpened just a fraction. “Caught them doing what?”
“Messing with the equipment,” Sheila said. “The agility course. The teeter and at least one of the jump bars.” A few handlers nearby glanced over.
Donnie shook his head. “Unbelievable. Who does that? You could seriously injure a dog.” Donnie’s gaze sharpened. “You two were right there yesterday. Chris, I even saw you jump over the barrier.”
