Damn it, there she goes, touching his arm again. “Like I told you before, it’s my pleasure, and I’m always here for you.”
I can’t take any more. Clearing my throat, I step farther into the room. “Am I interrupting?”
The woman’s head snaps up, her bright blue eyes wide.
Lincoln swirls around and stands, causing the woman’s foot to fall from his lap. She winces, and I fight the urge to do a little victory dance when he doesn’t pay her any further attention.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, moving toward me.
“I brought you dinner, thought you might be hungry,” I say, holding up the bag of food. “But if you’re busy, I can just leave the food and meet you at home.”
Lincoln shakes his head and reaches for me. His hand curls around my hip, and he leans in to kiss my cheek. “I’m not busy. Just a little surprised to see you.”
My eyes drift to the woman over his shoulder. She’s watching us carefully. I might be jealous that she gets to be here with him when I don’t, but I still have manners. Handing the bag to Lincoln, I step around him an
d hold out my hand.
“Hi, I’m Adley.”
The girl swallows. She looks a little nervous, but she takes my hand. “Rose.”
The handshake is awkward and long, and I eventually pull away. I give Lincoln my best fake smile.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve called first. I’ll head back to your place. It’s been a long day, and I could use a hot shower.”
Lincoln’s eyes widen, and he takes a step forward, blocking me from leaving. “Stay.” He looks to Rose. “Can you walk? Or I can have one of the guys come help you?”
“Oh. Umm…” Rose looks at her swollen ankle and tries to stand. She’s a little wobbly at first, but takes a few steps with relative ease. “I’m good. It’s sore and stiff, but I can make it.”
“Rest, ice, compress, and elevate,” he tells her as she hobbles past.
“Yeah, yeah.” She waves him off. “This isn’t my first rodeo, and it won’t be my last.”
Neither one of says as a word as Rose walks out of the locker room. Finally, I turn toward Lincoln, but he doesn’t look at me.
Instead he nods toward the door. “Let’s get out of the locker room.”
I follow him down the hall to a back room that looks like someone’s office. Boxes and papers are stacked up in the corner, but other than the clutter, the place is clean.
Lincoln puts the food—which I’m sure is cold by now—on the desk and sits down. He blows out a breath and rubs his hands over his face. “You know I don’t want you here.”
“Because of her?”
“No,” he scoffs. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Really? I’m being ridiculous? You go all caveman when I have a study group with some of the guys in my class, but I walk in on you and Rose alone in the locker room, and I’m ridiculous? Her foot was in your lap. You were touching her and laughing with her.”
“She twisted her ankle.” He sighs. “I was the only one she trusted to look at it.”
“Oh, I’m sure that was her excuse.”
“Stop it, Adley. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. Are you really going to get mad at me for helping someone out? Should I have left her on the floor?”
“No,” I sigh. “But who is she, Lincoln? Why is she here, and why was she looking at you like that?”
“Like what?”
Is he blind? “Like she’s in love with you.”