That question pulled me back into work mode.
I straightened a little. “Better than expected, actually.”
“Oh?” His interest picked up. “No disasters?”
“Not yet,” I heaved a sigh of relief.
That made him chuckle.
“Good sign,” he said. “And that guy—Mason, right? He didn’t stress you out like last time?”
My fingers paused briefly on my notebook.
A beat.
Then I shrugged. “He was… manageable.”
Ethan nodded slowly, like he was storing that information away. “See?” he said lightly. “My advice is working.”
I gave him a look. “Your advice?”
“Yes,” he said confidently. “I told you don’t push too hard at once. Athletes are like… wired differently.”
I let out a small breath, almost amused. “And you’re an expert now?”
“I wouldn’t say expert,” he replied, leaning slightly on the edge of the
