We file off the bus, me much slower than the rest of the guys. Mav’s got an energy drink in hand as he steps up beside me. “Hey, buddy, how ya feeling?”

“Like I got hit really fucking hard in the ribs.”

He grins. “Need me to drive?”

I toss him the keys and manage to get myself into the passenger seat with a lot of wincing.

“Text Ginny,” I tell the Bluetooth once Mav is headed to the house.

When prompted for the message, I say, “Back. On our way” and send.

Her response pings over the speakers and the feminine British voice asks if I’d like her to read it aloud. I glance at Mav. “Earmuffs.” And then, “Yes.”

“Already here,” the British voice reads the text, but I hear it in Ginny’s bubbly voice.

I blow out a breath. Tired, but excited to see her.

“Ginny’s at your place waiting?” Mav asks. “How’d she get in?”

“Her brother gave her a spare key.” I grin. Wasn’t that nice of him? And super convenient for me.

“I hate to be the one to rain on anyone’s parade, bro, but don’t you think you oughta tell him?”

“What? No. Why would I do that?”

“Look, at first, I understood you guys wanting to keep it from him while you figured out what it was, but it’s been weeks and you’re spending a shit ton of time together. He’s going to figure it out.”

“Ginny doesn’t want to. Besides, he won’t understand. You know what he’s like in relationships. All in. Balls to the wall.” I squeeze the phone in my hand. “He won’t understand,” I repeat.

“Maybe not. I still think it should come from you.”

“Hey, Scott, guess what? I’m hooking up with your sister, but don’t worry, it isn’t that serious.” I glance at Maverick with an annoyed glare. “That what you had in mind?”

He laughs. “Maybe work on the delivery.”

A bead of sweat has formed on my forehead by the time I make it into the apartment, and that’s with Mav carrying my bag.

“Just set it there.” I point to the spot in the living room where our bags usually end up. “I’ll get it tomorrow. Thanks, buddy.”

He grins, knowing exactly why I don’t want him to bring it to my room. Adam went straight to Taryn’s, and Rauthruss heads to his room while I limp to mine. The light’s off, and I wonder how she’s handling the dark. I push open the door and find her sitting on my bed with her laptop; the screen is dimmed but providing a decent amount of soft light.

I flip on the overhead light and she closes the laptop and sits up. As I walk, her eyes narrow in concern. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Bruised ribs.”