“Oh.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Okay, well, shit.”
Without another word, I turned on my heel and tore out of the gym.
“Wait, you don’t want to do this!” Kappy called out.
“Yes, he does!” Colt yelled, aggressively clapping for me. “Go get your girl!”
“Piper is going to besomad at me,” Kappy muttered. “Damn it.”
——————
Their door was unlocked. Without thinking, I threw it open and burst into the penthouse to find Niko and Ali’s clothes on the floor.
No, no, no. This could not be happening.
Seeing it in person made me feel sick.
Moving down the hallway, I knocked on each door, but there was no answer. There was no one home. My tiny relief at not findingthem together gave way to overwhelming panic.If they weren’t here, where the hell did they go? Was she okay? Was she nervous? How could I have let this happen?
My ears started ringing with panic as I rushed toward the door.
“We gotta trespasser, boys!” Niko’s voice called out, making me whip my neck around. My body was moving toward the patio before my brain even registered what was going on.
My eyes immediately locked on hers. “You okay?” I asked breathlessly.
Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “Yes, I’m fine. Areyouokay?” she asked slowly.
No.I wasn’t. Because it felt like my chest was about to explode. “You were… and he was… I thought…” Why was it so hot out here? It was a fall night in Chicago, I should’ve been freezing. Looking up, I spotted the outdoor heaters. Jeez, these guys made it feel like summer out here.
“Just because we know you doesn’t mean you’re not trespassing,” Zukes said, pulling my attention to him. He crossed his arms over his chest. “We should really report you. Breaking and entering, my friend.”
I wiped sweat from my forehead. “I didn’t break in, your door was unlocked. This is…not right.” I shook my head. “Ali, you shouldn’t be… And he shouldn’t be…” I trailed off.
“Shouldn’t be what?” she asked, staring at me like she was afraid for me.
I held my chest, trying to calm myself.
“I didn’t even kiss her,” Niko claimed as he placed his beer on the side of the hot tub. “I mean, I will if she wants me to.” Niko moved closer to her in the tub, but Ali was still staring at me.
“Ali?” I croaked.
That seemed to snap her out of her trance. She rolled her eyes at Niko and splashed him with water, then continued watching me curiously.
The three rookies all laughed at my expense. My feet were frozen to the patio, trying to piece everything together.
“Ali?” Zukes imitated me. “I can’t breathe.” He held his stomach.
“Wow, that was priceless.” Niko grinned.
Ali moved to get up, and I quickly moved forward to help her step down from the hot tub. Just her accepting my hand slightlyeased the tension in my chest.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “I’m going to use the bathroom and get changed. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“You can keep the clothes, blondie. Just get ‘em back to me whenever,” Niko called after her.
That was the first time I took notice of what she was wearing. She had “Belltani” stamped across her back. Watching her walk into their penthouse, I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth could crack.
“You need a water? You look like you could use a water, bud,” Niko said to me, rising from the hot tub and striding across their heated patio.
