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“So your love for reptiles started young. It’s all starting to make sense.”

“Don’t read too much into it, Vu. Sometimes a favorite animal is just a favorite animal.”

“Vu?” She cast a sideways glance at me. “Since when do you call me by my last name?”

“Samson calls you Cece,” I said defensively.

There was a beat of silence. “How do you know that? He’s only called me that once.”

Heat crept up my neck. “He mentioned it after training.”

“You were talking about me after training?”

The heat spread to my face and chest. I shifted, irritated by my body’s inability to regulate its temperature properly. “Don’t flatter yourself. Your name only came up because the guys heard I’d hired you.” That was technically true.

“Sure.” Her voice contained a glimmer of laughter. “Is it weird for you to read dinosaur erotica for the team’s book club when your favorite childhood movie is Jurassic Park? Feels sacrilegious.”

I stared at her, aghast, and more than a little thrown by the abrupt change in topic. “It wasn’t, but now it is. How the hell do you know about the book club?”

“It’s the world’s worst-kept secret. Plus, you forget that both my best friends are dating team members.” Carina nudged her knee against mine. “Which book is your favorite? The Raptor in Apartment B? Topped by the Triceratops? Ooh, no. I bet it’s Fucking My Theropod Therapist. You seem like you’d appreciate a good therapy session.”

“I think I need one after this conversation. Should I be concerned that you can name so many of those titles off the top of your head?”

“Hey, I was curious, and I do my research. Answer the question, Wilson.” She peered up at me through thick, dark lashes. It took extraordinary effort to keep my expression neutral. “Which one’s your fave?”

“None. I’m forced to participate in the book club against my will.”

The book club was Adil’s baby, and there was no stopping him once he set his heart on something.

Carina wrinkled her nose. “Boo. And here I thought there was one interesting thing about you.”

“There are lots of interesting things about me,” I said, offended.

“If you say so.”

“I do say so.”

“Name one that doesn’t involve football, fatherhood, or reptiles.”

I pressed my lips together. “I can’t believe I’m paying you to insult me.”

“I never insulted you.”

“You literally just called me, and the sport I’ve dedicated my entire life to, boring.”

“Technically, I didn’t say that. You inferred it.”

I grumbled under my breath. Carina grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Onscreen, the documentary segued into end credits. I couldn’t hear the piano anymore either. Evie must’ve finished practice, which made this the perfect opportunity to get up and leave, but something kept me rooted to my seat.

The moment stretched on. Carina’s smile gradually faded, and the air thickened with a sudden, charged stillness.

It was strange, how someone could set me at ease yet put me utterly on edge at the same time. I could sit here without moving a muscle, yet every inch of my skin tingled with painful awareness.

“For the record, I don’t mind if you call me by my last name,” she said, breaking the silence. “As long as I get to call you by yours.”

“Seems fair.”