Page 21 of False Catch

"Says the guy who's been calculating her measurements since day one," Beckett shoots back.

"I was calculating weight distribution for the boat," Tyler protests.

"Sure you were," Cameron says, which is shocking enough that we all turn to stare. He never joins in the banter. A ghost of a smirk plays at his lips. "That's why you needed to know her hip-to-waist ratio."

"That's... that's relevant to biomechanics," Tyler sputters.

"Children," Gray says, but there's less ice in it than usual. "This is exactly what we're not supposed to do."

"Why?" Cameron challenges, apparently deciding to use his word quota for the month. "Because the university says so? Because society says eight Alphas can't want the same Omega without tearing each other apart?"

"Because it's dangerous," Gray snaps. "Because bonds form. Because people get hurt."

"People are already getting hurt," Jackson says quietly. "We're hurting ourselves trying not to feel what we're feeling."

"Deep thoughts from the guy who communicates in grunts," Beckett says, but it's gentler than his usual ribbing.

Jackson flips him off without looking.

"So what do we do?" I ask, looking at Reese. "How do we get past this?"

She meets my gaze, and something passes between us. A memory of her heat, of holding her while she came under me, on top of me, of the trust she placed in me when she was most vulnerable.

"We start by admitting what's already there," she says. "Bo, you've been inside me. Gray, you knotted me. Those are facts we've been dancing around all week."

"Jesus Christ," Beckett mutters. "Just putting it all out there."

Gray goes rigid. Several of the guys who didn't know about the knotting look shocked.

"Wait, you actually knotted her?" Zane asks, looking between them. "Like, full knot?"

"Focus," Gray grits out, his face flushing.

"Zane," Reese continues, ignoring the interruption, and he straightens. "What happened on the bus wasn't just about managing my heat. There was want there. Real want."

His adam's apple bobs as he swallows. "Yeah. There was."

"On the bus?" Beckett asks. "What happened on the bus?"

"None of your business," Zane says quickly.

Tyler clears his throat. "You were literally right there. I was providing auditory cover. Talking very loudly about post-race nutrition."

"Wait, that’s why you were droning on about that nonsense? You knew?" Beckett's eyes widen with delight. "Tyler Wu, you beautiful enabler."

"Someone had to keep the coaches from noticing," Tyler says defensively. "It was a practical solution to an immediate problem."

"Is that what we're calling it?" Beckett grins. "Practical?"

"He ate her out," Tyler says flatly, apparently deciding if he's going down, he's taking Zane with him. "During her heat spike. While I discussed protein synthesis at volume ten."

"I hate all of you," Zane groans.

"Eli." She turns to him, cutting through the banter. "What happened in the hallway—"

"Changed things," he finishes. "For all three of us." His eyes find Jackson meaningfully.

"Oh my god, can we finally talk about you two?" Beckett practically bounces, his Golden Retriever energy going off the charts. "Are you admitting it? Because we all know. The walls are not that thick."