Page 175 of Rookie Rules
Finn's smile was warm and knowing and blessedly free of questions.
They continued toward the player exit together. Staff passed them. Cal offered advice about protecting the crutch tips from road salt. Claire reminded Luca of the Boreal fitting Monday. No one stopped because the captain was leaving beside his winger after an injury.
Rowan did not manufacture distance for the possibility that someone might wonder.
At the elevator, Luca stood at his right side. Their sleeves touched.
Rowan let them.
The doors opened onto the parking level where Luca had ended the old arrangement.
This time they crossed it together.
Luca unlocked his car and opened the passenger door. Before Rowan lowered himself into the seat, he caught Luca's wrist.
"Front door," Rowan said.
Luca went quiet, attention fixed on Rowan.
"When we get home."
The ordinary word held.
"I am sleeping on the sofa," Luca said.
Rowan's fingers loosened around his wrist. "The guest room has a bed."
"The guest room is upstairs. You are not."
"Then take my room."
"And leave you downstairs attempting a midnight expedition because you decided water was optional? No. Sofa. You take the recliner until Owen's medication schedule stops turning you into a liability."
"This sounds like an order."
"It is a condition of the ride. You can call Finn."
Rowan glanced across the garage. Finn had already disappeared through the exit, taking both his coffee and plausible rescue with him.
"Sofa," Rowan said.
"And tomorrow I go back to my apartment."
The reflex to object rose quickly. Rowan let it pass without using it.
"All right."
"We have breakfast if you are awake. We talk to Vale after he speaks to me. We do not use painkillers and one good conversation to pretend the last month did not happen."
"All right."
Luca searched his face for resistance. Rowan gave him the only useful thing he had: none disguised as agreement.
"I don't know when I will trust this," Luca said.
"You do not owe me a date."
"That sounded rehearsed."
