Rose, the traitor, smiles and sticks a hand out. I guess I should have told her the full story. “Nice to meet you. I’m Rose.”

“Gray,” he replies, shaking it.

She looks at me and raises both eyebrows. I stare stubbornly at my red soup.

“Everleigh Claire Collins.”

I threw his full name at him when I left, and he’s tossing it right back with a not-so-subtle I know you too. I’ll never be able to avoid him forever. This conversation will have to take place sometime. But still, I don’t move. It feels too raw, too fresh.

“I’ll drag you out of here if I have to,” Gray warns.

I’m not sure I believe him, but I stand up anyway. Rose has already figured out there’s more to the story than a drunken hookup—if her curious eyes bouncing between us are any indication—and she’s my only friend at work. I don’t want her figuring out we have history or that he’s the chief’s son. I’m sure there are already whispers about how I’m the only resident Chief Phillips knows by name. “There’s an empty on-call room or two,” she teases. “To talk or…” Her voice trails off suggestively.

“I’ll see you later, Rose.” I give her a hard look that makes it clear the suggestion was not appreciated, then risk a glance at Gray.

He looks amused. I gather up the article I was reading and toss the mostly empty container of soup in the trash.

“Come on,” I mutter, walking toward the doors.

Gray falls into step beside me. “You told her about last night.”

I don’t deny it.

“What did you tell her?”

“That you were a lousy lay.”

“Compared to who?” His voice is lofty, cocky. Possessive.

It simultaneously pisses me off and turns me on.

I say nothing as I lead the way down the hall and into an empty on-call room. I shut the door behind us and lean back against it, arms crossed. “You wanted to talk. So, talk, Gray.”

“I’m sorry.”

I’m taken off guard by his apology, which is a sad testament to his effect on me. Anyone else, and I never would have talked to them again. I still would have expected an apology, though. The thought didn’t occur to me with him. I didn’t think I’d see him again before he left. As much as I hate how he callously pointed it out, I did know I was one hookup in a long line for him. And that the list would keep growing.

I nod once in acknowledgment.

“Are you…okay?” He asks the question like it’s one he’s never spoken before. Maybe it’s not.

“Yep. Great.”