Page 28 of Rookie Rules

"Working on it."

The answer came so dry Luca laughed before he could turn it into a weapon.

Rowan looked almost pleased.

Almost.

At the Harbor Regent, the lobby held stranded travelers, damp luggage, and the brittle patience of people whose plans had failed. Wolves staff occupied a corner near the dark restaurant. Room keys lay across a table in pairs.

The hotel staff had arranged bottled water and boxed meals on two linen-covered tables. Half the lobby lights were running on backup power, leaving the corners dim. Rainwater gathered beneath rolling bags despite the towels placed at the entrance.

Vale spoke briefly with the players while operations fought the room list.

"Morning skate is optional until we confirm the rink," he said. "No one invents a workout in the hallway. Eat, hydrate, wait for the message."

"Can we invent sleep?" Jace asked.

"You can attempt it."

The room loosened around the answer. Rowan took a box only after verifying there were enough for staff. Luca watched him choose the turkey sandwich, remove the tomato, and eat standing up while answering a message.

Another fact no one needed.

Luca stored it anyway.

Players collected food first. Rowan ensured Gabriel and Benji had rooms away from the elevator, then checked that Owen's treatment bags had arrived. Luca ate half a sandwich standing beside a potted tree while names moved across the operations coordinator's list.

"Mercer and Moreno," she called.

Jace saluted Finn. "I don't snore."

"You lie while awake, so this seems promising."

"Novak and Reyes. Price and Shaw."

Names paired and disappeared toward elevators.

Luca leaned against his suitcase. Rowan stood at the table, reading the list upside down.

"Bennett and—" The coordinator stopped.

Rowan's eyes narrowed.

Luca felt anticipation arrive so quickly it embarrassed him.

"No," Rowan said.

The coordinator looked up. "I haven't finished."

"You were going to say Hale."

"I was."

Finn made a sound suspiciously like a cough as he wheeled his bag away.

Rowan placed both hands on the table. "Switch me with Mercer."

"Mercer's already sharing with Moreno."