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“Ugh, I knew you’d side with him. Just because he’s your hockey hero, it doesn’t mean he’s always right,” Sienna sasses, her hands on her waist. “What if the girls don’t like it too spicy, huh? Then what? No one will eat it.”

“We will,” Calvin pipes up helpfully. “But if they prefer bland food, then leave it as it is.”

Sienna grits her teeth, her cheeks brightening. “My friends don’t like bland food.”

“Maybe it’s just you, then.”

“Aren’t you going out?” Sienna fumes.

“Yeah. Nash is picking me up in a bit.”

Hearing Cooper’s name roll off Calvin’s tongue makes my breath catch.

“Nash is picking you up?” I ask, trying—and, I’m pretty sure, failing—to be nonchalant. He didn’t mention that just now on the phone.

“Yeah, why?”

“N-no reason. I just wasn’t expecting you to say he was going. I didn’t think he ever hung out with you guys.”

I try to convince myself that it’s all in my head, but I’m pretty sure the burning down the side of my face is because Sienna is paying just a little bit too much attention.

She doesn’t know. She can’t.

We’ve been so careful.

“He doesn’t usually. But he agreed when Monroe invited him this time.”

“That’s cool,” I mutter before distracting myself by taking another spoonful of Sienna’s improved guac. “What?” I mutter when she continues studying me a little too closely.

“Nothing. Just waiting for you to start complaining about having to spend your night here with us instead of the guys.”

I don’t think it’s any secret that I’d love to go and hang out with a big chunk of the Vipers’ roster. But I never expected an invitation.

“Why would I want to do that when I get to spend my night with you, testing out new facemasks and nail polish?”

Sienna pokes her tongue out at me while Calvin chuckles.

“You’re a better man than me, G,” he says, pushing himself to his feet. “I should run upstairs and get ready.” He kisses Sienna before swiping his finger through her dip, earning a slap on the back of his hand. “Much better, darlin’. They’re going to love it.”

Thankfully, he’s moving much better these days, or he might not have missed the spatula my sister throws at him as he darts toward the front door.

“Darlin’, really?” he rasps.

“Just get out of here,” Sienna laughs.

“Have a good night,” we both call before he slips from the apartment, leaving nothing but silence in his wake.

“It’s really good guac,” I say, stealing another tortilla and scooping a huge dollop out.

Sienna watches me with an unreadable expression on her face, but before she says anything, she begins to move, eventually coming to a stop in front of the windows and looking down.

I’m on my feet in a heartbeat, and she is a second later as Calvin emerges from the building and walks toward a very familiar car.

“Nash has a big car,” she mutters.

“Uh…so?”

“Just an observation.”