I drop my fork and it hits the plate with a loud clang. "Dude, what's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem."
"Really? Because you've been acting like—"
"Like what?" He finally looks at me. “Listen, we're giving her a room. Heat. Food. I'm not interested in playing house with some big-city lawyer who's counting the minutes until she can get back to New York and forget this town exists.”
“Firstly, she never said anything like that,” I say, keeping my voice as steady as I can. “Secondly, she’s here because Mia begged her to help. Thirdly, she did not ask to be snowed in with us.”
“Yeah, well,” he mutters, “neither did we.”
My shoulders go tight. “So what? Are we just gonna pretend she doesn’t exist until the snow melts?”
"Sounds like a great plan actually," he says. "She's got everything she needs. What else do you want?"
“I don’t know, Silas. Maybe just show basic human kindness?”
He snorts. “Basic human kindness… That's what you're doing, right?"
The jab lands. I feel my jaw clench. “Watch it.”
"Silas. Felix." Liam's voice cuts through. "Enough."
I bite back what I want to say. Pick up my fork. Put it down again.
"Whatever." Silas grabs his plate. "I'm going to bed."
“It’s eight,” I say.
“Storms are exhausting.” He collects his dish, walks to the kitchen, and drops it into the sink with a clatter.
On his way down the toward our hallway, he stops. Doesn’t turn.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Felix,” he says.
I roll my eyes at his back. “Like what?”
“Like whatever you’re thinking about doing.”
His footsteps thud down the hall. His bedroom door opens and shuts a moment later.
Liam clears his throat softly. “He’ll cool off.”
“Will he?” I look at him. “Because that sounded more like a whole mood than a passing weather pattern.”
He presses his lips together. “He’s not entirely wrong though.”
"I can't believe you're taking his side." My jaw ticks.
“I’m not saying ignore her,” he adds. “You’re right, she shouldn’t feel like she’s unwelcome here. But he’s right to worry, too."
I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. “I just want to make sure she’s eaten and not curled up on the floor having another panic attack.”
“I know,” Liam says, standing up with his plate. “Just… be careful." He gives my shoulder a light squeeze on his way past. “Gonna shower. Night.”
“Night,” I say.
He drops his plate in the sink and disappears down the hall. A moment later, I hear his door click shut.
