I press my lips together and nod solemnly like I’m being briefed for a mission.
Jake’s mouth twitches.
That’s it.
That’s all I get.
But it feels like a secret.
Jake stops near a row about halfway back.
“This one,” he says.
I glance at the seats.
They’re two together, which makes sense, but it also makes my heart do that stupid leap, because it means we’ll be sitting side by side for the entire ride. Like a real couple.
I slide into the window seat and tuck my legs in, trying to make myself smaller.
Jake stows my bag overhead without asking.
Another flip in my stomach.
I watch him settle into the seat next to me, long legs stretching out like the bus was built for giants and I somehow got permission to board.
The guys around us keep talking, loud and overlapping, throwing jokes like hockey pucks.
“Okay,” Declan says from across the aisle, leaning forward with a grin. “So what do we call you? Mrs. Captain?”
I blink.
Every single head on the bus turns toward me again.
Oh God.
I clear my throat and force a smile. “Hi. I’m Talia.”
There’s a chorus of greetings.
A few exaggerated waves.
A couple of players twist around in their seats to get a better look at me.
“I’m Connor,” says the rookie guy, pointing to himself like I might confuse him with someone else. “Resident troublemaker.”
“That’s accurate,” someone mutters behind him.
A tall, broad-shouldered player across the aisle gives me a polite nod. “Rhys,” he says simply. Then he gestures to the brunette sitting beside him. “And this is Elara.”
Elara smiles warmly. “Hi. I promise we’re not always this loud.”
Before I can respond, Declan leans forward dramatically. “Declan.” He hooks a thumb toward the woman next to him. “And this is Ivy.”
Ivy gives me a friendly wave. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Next to them, a dark-haired man sitting sideways in his seat closes the book he’s been reading and glances over the top of it with quiet curiosity.
“Marcus,” he says, giving me a small nod before resting the book on his knee again.
