Page 75 of Instigator

Aidan’s low chuckle warms my blood, and as he wraps his arms around me from behind, my face flushes. “There’s only room in this relationship for one instigator, babe.”

At that, Ryan laughs. “Please. If anyone is about to start a rumble, it will definitely be her. You’re not exactly a fighter, dude.”

I open my mouth—to defend me, to defend him—but Aidan simply laughs.

“I pick my battles,” he says. “And she’s worth fighting for.”

Just like that, I melt, everything in me relaxing. I turn in the circle of his arms to face him, then thread my arms around his neck.

“You mean that?”

He nudges his nose against mine. “Yeah, babe. I do.”

Unable to help myself, I kiss him, pressing my body flush against his. It’s only when his teammates erupt into rowdy catcalls that I pull myself away.

“I’ll see you later,” I promise.

“Counting on it.” The small, private smile he gives me floods my entire body with a heady warmth.

If I don’t leave right this second, I never will.

Turning on my heel, head held high, I stride out of the room and to the nearest bathroom. I lock myself in a stall, dry off as best as I can, and finally change out of my sodden clothes.

As predicted, Aidan’s shirt hangs off me like a dress, and I have to roll the band of the sweatpants four times before they stay up.

I can’t deny that I like seeing his number on me. Wearing his name on my back. It’s like he’s claiming me. Owning me.

Bex looks up from her computer as I enter our shared office. Her mouth drops open, and I shake my head.

“Don’t say it.”

“But—”

“Nope. Not discussing it.” I sit at my desk, pulling the monitors in front of me to block her smug face. With a few short clicks, I turn on my favorite ’90s girl-power playlist, flooding the room with Spice Girls at a volume too loud for conversation.

My inbox is flooded with emails. I glance over them, scanning for anything critical, when a message from Colt catches my eye. It’s a calendar invite for seven o’clock on Friday, a few weeks from now.

Dinner +3, the invitation reads.

My heart skips a beat. He’s putting his money where his mouth is, trying to find his happiness. Maybe things with Robby won’t work out. Maybe they will. Either way, all I want is for my friend to be happy. To find the kind of easy friendship I’ve found with Aidan.

Being in a relationship won’t magically fix me. I’m still the same imperfect person I’ve always been. Now I simply have someone in my life who supports me unconditionally, who wants me by his side, not only in his bed. Who likes me for more than my money and what it can do for him. Whatever we become, I know it’s because of our solid foundation that we’ll be able to go the distance.

And if Colt has found the same in Robby, or even the possibility of it, I would empty my bank accounts to support their relationship.

I pull up the team’s schedule, trying to find a date that will work, then text Aidan.

Are you free on the 22nd for a double date?

His reply comes almost immediately. For you, I’m always free.

I laugh because that’s definitely not true. He’s got commitments up the wazoo. But I appreciate the sentiment.

Replying to Colt, I tell him dinner will need to be for four people, then close out of my inbox.

A knock raps on our locked door, and I spring out of my seat. Bex giggles as I rush over, wrenching it open to reveal my handsome ginger. He’s changed into a new set of team apparel, his hair dry and fluffy. I want to run my hands through it, settling the messy strands.

“Hey.” He steps forward and kisses my cheek.