"You came," he said, and I heard genuine surprise beneath the approval in his voice.

"Did you think I wouldn't?"

"Honestly?" A slow smile spread across his face. "Part of me thought you'd chicken out. That you'd realize how insane this is and bail. Would've respected that, by the way."

"I don't chicken out," I said, stepping inside. The house was quieter than usual—I could hear voices from deeper inside, but no music, no chaos. "And I don't bail on challenges."

"Good to know." He closed the door and locked it—a deliberate sound that made everything feel suddenly very real. "The guys are in the main room. But first—" He...