“I feel safer with you than being here by myself.” I slide into my shoes by the door, hopping in place to get the backs on. I usually wear Foster’s slides when I go get the mail and stuff.
He stops and stares, his delicious abs on display. I wait for him to argue with me so I can argue back. I am not staying here by myself.
“Fine. But you’re not going past the security gate.”
I salute him. “Yes, sir.”
He grunts and opens his door, looking right and left before he signals for me to follow as if we’re a pair of Navy SEALs on a mission.
The alarm is even louder outside the condo.
Easton and Decker are already at the bottom of the stairs, and Easton is pressing in a code, but the alarm isn’t shutting off. I toss my hoodie over my head and cover my ears as we walk down the stairs to join them.
“Fuck, do you not remember it?” Decker asks loudly enough that he can be heard over the screeching alarm.
“Why would I remember the code to the alarm?” Easton presses some numbers again, but it doesn’t turn off.
“Because it’s gone off twice in the past month.” Decker glares at Foster.
I turn to Foster with a questioning look because I haven’t heard it go off. And why would Foster be to blame anyway?
Decker finally presses in the correct code and the blaring stops.
Easton’s phone rings, and he walks off to the side. “Hey, Coop—yeah, Decker got it to turn off, but I’m not sure if there’s a malfunction or what…” He listens, nods in understanding at whatever is being said.
“When did it go off before?” I ask Foster.
His eyes are on Easton, but he answers. “During the day. You were gone both times. Ruby told us about it, and she called Cooper.”
Decker’s gaze drops to my sweatshirt, then flicks to Foster.
“Don’t ask,” Foster grumbles.
“What?” My head volleys back and forth between them.
“You live with a Colts player,” Foster says matter-of-factly.
“Your neighbors are Colts players,” Decker adds.
“Your brother is a Colt,” Easton says. I guess he’s done talking on the phone. “But Cooper will be happy when he sees you.”
“Cooper’s coming?” Decker asks.
“Yeah, security company called him, and cops are coming this time, so Cooper has to sign the paperwork.”
“Cooper who?” I glance between them all, and their attention snaps to my sweatshirt at the same time. My confusion spikes.
“Cooper Rice. Grizzlies quarterback,” Foster clarifies.
“Ohhh… I vaguely remember Hayes saying something about him owning the building.”
Decker rolls his eyes.
I sit on the cement stairs and pull the sweatshirt over my legs. “It’s comfortable, okay? And someone left it behind, I guess. I still love you guys the mostest though.” I bat my eyelashes.
They all take turns glancing at one another then shake their heads.
“So who’s going to go outside the gate and see if someone really is trying to break in?” I raise my eyebrows.
