I plucked one as I passed and put it on her tray when she wasn’t looking.

“How was it out there for you?” She nodded at a cut I had haphazardly cleaned on my forearm. “Looks like it was rough.”

“It wasn’t an easy one, but at least we weren’t in pads,” I said. “I’ll take that any day.”

We both kept our focus on filling our trays, Giana telling me about all the media lined up for tonight while I smiled and nodded and listened.

But when we had our trays full and turned to find a table, we were both frozen by the stares.

Giana swallowed, glancing up at me, and I just nodded toward the table where Holden, Zeke, and Riley were. She followed tentatively behind me, and while I ignored everyone staring, I saw her scanning the room out of my peripheral.

I took a seat next to Leo, but Giana was still standing, her little fingers clamped around the red tray in her hands.

“Actually, I think I’m going to take my lunch in the office,” she said, forcing a smile that I knew was covering the fact that she was absolutely freaking out at how many people were still watching us. “The buzz of Chart Day doesn’t stop. See you on the media line?”

I smiled, wrapping my hand gently around her forearm and guiding her down a bit so I could press a kiss to her cheek.

“Can’t wait,” I whispered.

She couldn’t hide the shy smile as she gave a small wave to the rest of the table and ducked off, weaving through the tables until she was through the doors and down the hall.

I watched her go the entire way, and the smile I wore was one of genuine surprise as I finally turned back around, grabbing my knife and fork and cutting into the pound of grilled chicken I’d piled on my plate. I had my fork halfway lifted to my mouth when my arm was elbowed harshly, and the chicken went flying down to the table.

“Bro,” Leo said, looking behind me where Giana had disappeared before he stared at me again. “What the fuck was that?”

I shrugged. “What?”

“What do you mean what?” Zeke chimed in from across the table. “Are you two… together?”

A sly smile was all I gave in answer, cutting a new bite of chicken and popping it into my mouth.

Zeke shook his head, Riley watching me cautiously from the seat beside him as Leo threw his arm around my shoulder.

“Hell fucking yeah, man. Giana is hot as fuck.”

I told myself I was still in acting mode as I went rigid at his comment, turning slowly in my seat to face him. His smile slipped, and he coughed, removing his arm from my shoulders and readjusting in his seat.

“You know. Respectfully.”