** Paige’s POV **
When I turn, Ryder is already crouched naked on the floor. He reaches for the pair of shorts draped over a chair and pulls them on, then pushes to his feet, rolling his shoulders as if they ache.
His eyes meet mine, still alert even through the exhaustion I can feel coming from him. “Sit,” he says simply, nodding toward the chair at the kitchen island.
My legs feel unsteady, but I obey. Ryder drags a chair out and drops into it, his posture still rigid with tension that tells me the fight hasn’t fully left his body. A few seconds later, Parker reappears, sliding into the seat beside me. His thigh presses against mine under the table.
The three of us sit in silence for a long moment. The fridge hums softly, and my pulse thuds in my ears.
Finally, Ryder speaks. “The hu
