Page 52 of Keep Me Close

His brows rise as his gaze zeroes in on the bruise beneath my eye. “What happened to you?”

Humor dances in Steele’s eyes as he turns toward me. “You get jumped in a dark alley?”

“Nah, it’s nothing,” I say, waving off the questions.

Cheyenne stills beside me. The reaction is subtle enough that no one else would notice, but I do. It’s there in the way her body tightens and her fingers flex against my sleeve. I shift my hand more firmly against her waist. It’s a small movement meant to reassure.

Oliver leans in, joining the conversation. “Funny, ‘nothing’ usually doesn’t look like a right hook.”

A passing waiter stops nearby, and I grab two drinks off the tray before handing one to Cheyenne. Her fingers brush mine as she takes it.

“Would you believe I walked into a door?” I ask.

River snorts. “Only if the door had hands.”

I take a swallow of my drink before giving them enough truth to get them off my back. “A guy caught me off guard and then took off. End of story.”

That wipes the humor off their faces.

Steele’s brows slam together. “Some guy just hit you for no reason and then ran?”

“It’s been handled,” I say easily. “It’s not a big deal.”

Cheyenne shifts beside me, as if uncomfortable with the lie.

“Handled how?” River asks, unwilling to let it go.

“I told the doorman to call the cops if he shows up again.”

Oliver studies me for a second before clapping me on the shoulder. “Next time, try ducking.”

“Thanks,” I mutter. “That’s super helpful.”

Steele’s attention shifts to Cheyenne. “Are you going to introduce us to your date, McNichols?”

“Not if I can help it,” I say dryly, earning a few grins before I do exactly that. “Cheyenne, this is Steele, River, and Oliver.”

My teammates say hello before Lilah pulls Cheyenne in for a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”

Some of the tightness drains from Chey’s shoulders.

Good. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.

Callie smiles. “You look incredible. Lilah was right, that dress was made for you.”

The woman isn’t wrong. The gown is enough to bring any man in this room to his knees.

I know because I’m halfway there.

Oliver whistles. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look way too good to be on this clown’s arm.”

Rina elbows him in the ribs. “Ignore him. You look stunning. Even better than when you tried it on in the store.”

Kia smiles from where she’s tucked against Laiken’s side. “It’s nice to see you again.”

I wasn’t prepared to see Cheyenne standing here with my friends and teammates, fitting in so seamlessly. The women are so welcoming, and instead of that feeling strange or forced, it feels right.

Way too right.