"I'm sorry for lying about it," I clarify. "For making you think it was coincidence. But I'm not sorry for buying us eight moredays. Eight days of you being happy and relaxed and ours before reality crashed back in."
She's quiet for a long stretch. "The thing is, I get it. I understand why you did it. But you have to stop trying to control every variable. You can't manipulate people and situations to get the outcome you want."
"I know."
"Do you? Because watching from across the street doesn't exactly scream 'respecting boundaries.'"
"I panicked," I admit. "I watched you text with him all week, saw you smile at your phone, knew he was coming here to try to win you back. And I couldn't sit in the house wondering if I was about to lose you."
"So you stalked us."
"I prefer 'conducted reconnaissance.'"
"Call it whatever you want. It's still not okay." But her voice has softened. "What did you think you'd see? What was the plan?"
"I don't know." And that's the truth. "I needed to see you with him. Needed to know if you looked at him the way you used to look at us. Before we ruined everything."
"And?"
"And you don't." Relief floods through me. "You were kind. Gentle. But distant. Like you were letting go of something that mattered once but doesn't anymore."
"Perceptive, for a stalker."
"I've had a lot of practice observing you."
"That's not the flex you think it is, Corvus."
Despite everything, I smile slightly. "Noted."
She stands, grabs her empty cup. "Come on. Let's go home. The others are probably losing their minds wondering what's happening."
"You're not going to punish me? Make me sleep on the couch? Withdraw privileges?"
"What privileges?" She raises an eyebrow. "You don't have sexual privileges. You don't have claiming privileges. You barely have 'allowed in the same room' privileges."
"I have 'helping with homework' privileges," I point out. "And 'making coffee' privileges. And 'sitting in comfortable silence' privileges."
"True." She considers. "Okay, you lose comfortable silence privileges for a week. Every silence will be awkward and full of me judging you for being a creepy stalker."
"I can live with that."
"Good. Now come on. And Corvus?" She pauses at the door. "Next time you feel the need to conduct reconnaissance on my personal life, ask. I'll tell you what's happening. You don't need to spy."
"Even if it's about Ben?"
"Especially if it's about Ben." She holds my gaze. "I chose you. All three of you. That means something. Trust it."
I follow her out to the parking lot, watching her get in her car. She drives off first, and I stand there, processing.
She chose us.
Actually chose us.
Not because we eliminated other options or manipulated circumstances or delayed transfers.
Because she wanted to.
I get in my Tesla and head home, feeling something unfamiliar settle in my chest.
