Page 60 of Rookie Rules

"I said okay."

Luca drank. His eyes stayed on Rowan over the rim.

"That includes team travel," Rowan said. "Meetings. Treatment areas. Any place a teammate or staff member should be able to enter without becoming part of this."

"You can say sex."

"It includes more than sex."

The correction escaped before Rowan could contain it.

Luca lowered the glass. "Does it?"

Rowan felt the opening and closed it.

"The rule is about focus."

"Naturally."

The refrigerator compressor started in the silence.

Rowan continued.

"This is not a relationship."

Luca set down the glass carefully. "What is it?"

"Private."

"That's a location, not a definition."

"It does not need a definition."

"Things usually have one even when you refuse to use it."

Rowan placed both hands on the counter. The stone was cool beneath his palms.

"We play on the same line. I am your captain and mentor. A relationship creates complications neither of us needs."

"But sex creates only excellent scheduling."

The humor landed too close to hurt.

Rowan kept his voice even. "You agreed to privacy."

"I did. I'm not asking you to tell anyone."

The distinction stood between them.

Rowan had prepared for pressure about exposure. He had expected Luca's confidence to become demand, his directness to force a choice Rowan was not prepared to make. He had not prepared for Luca to protect privacy while refusing erasure.

"Then we understand each other," Rowan said.

Luca held his gaze for a long moment.

"No," he said. "But I understand the rule."

The precision was worse than anger.