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NM: He lives

NM: And no

Bennett: You’re a pain in my ass, Marzano

NM: Only the good kind

A throat cleared pointedly in Bennett’s kitchen. Shit, Lauren was still here. Guiltily, he put the phone face down on the bar. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”

“Okay, spill. Who is he and why are you smiling like that when you’re texting him?”

Bennett reached for a container and put some pad thai on a plate for Lauren. “I’m not smiling. And it’s nothing. Just someone who wants my help with something.”

“Who do you think you are fooling? This is me. I’ve known you since you were fourteen, babe. You’ve never had that gooey smile on your face before.”

That couldn’t be true. Was it? “You make me sound like peanut butter.”

“More like hazelnut spread. Because you’re sweet.” She gave him a toothy, sarcastic grin, the one she’d been giving him since they were teenagers.

“Weirdo.”

They started eating, but tension was digging into Bennett’s shoulders like talons and wouldn’t let go. No chance Lauren would give this up, especially when Bennett’s phone kept buzzing. He knew it was only a matter of time. “Ignore it,” he said around a mouthful of steak.

“How can I when he’s texting you like a teenage girl?”

“I never said it was a he.”

“True, but you also didn’t say it wasn’t.” She nudged his knee with hers. “You can talk to me about it, you know.”

Bennett knew this. She was the first person he’d said the words I’m gay to all those years ago. And he’d called her from the draft combine when he was freaking out, worried his gayness would somehow present itself and prevent him from being drafted. He’d held her hand all through her dad’s funeral, and she’d been there for him when his mom died. They had shared everything, all the big life events. There was no reason for him not to tell her about this.

Except he was embarrassed.

“I don’t know where to start,” he admitted.

“Just start at the beginning.”

So he did.

Bennett told her about Nico’s first visit to the apartment, how a teammate had drugged Nico’s cousin. Nico at the arena, then his apartment. The night at the club. He left out the details about sex for obvious reasons, knowing Lauren could probably draw her own conclusions about that.

When he finished, she placed her fork down on her plate and angled toward him. “Let me get this straight. Some guy on your team has been drugging women⁠—”

“We only know of one woman.”

“Sure, right. Because it seems highly likely that this is a one-off. Come on, Ben. You said he wore a baseball hat and avoided the cameras. That feels like he’s done it before.”

“Agreed, but we can’t jump to any conclusions.”

“Please.” She flicked her fingers before picking up her fork again. “Jumping to conclusions is my second-favorite pastime, right after getting my nieces and nephews all hyped on sugar then dropping them back off at home.”

Bennett chuckled. “Which is why you’re their favorite aunt.”

“Yep.” She sobered, her smile dropping. “Okay, back to this teammate. Because what the actual fuck?”

“I know. I’m horrified and furious. I can’t believe someone is hiding a secret like that and no one has found out.”

“Ben,” she said softly, meaningfully.