Katya’s face fell. I know she loves that I live with her and that we go see Anya together. We’re sisters, and it’s special to live together.
“I told him I need time.”
She releases a long breath. “Mia, if you want to?—”
“Nope. Not ready,” I cut her off. “Not everything is about you. This is aboutme.”
But the truth is, and she knows, that I don’t want to leave her when Anya is so ill. I also don’t want to be without her because we’re the two people alivein the world who love Anya the most. When she goes, we’re going to break. I know it, and so does she.
She looks bereft, and I hate leaving her alone at home, but I’m going to see Hux and Aiden; he specified that this wasnota date but just dinner.
He’s being cute and I’m there for it.
“You sure you don’t want to join me for dinner?” I ask again.
“Not in a good place, Mia.” Katya wraps her arms around her belly.
“You want me to?—”
“No,” she says emphatically. “I want to be alone. Go away. I also told Cristiano to leave me be. He was going to come over with popcorn and watchDunewith me.”
I know she wants to be alone to grieve Anya.
I get it.
“And you want to watchDunealone because of all your lusty thoughts about Timothée Chalamet,” I tease.
She chuckles. “Yeah.”
We both pretend she’s alright, but I know she isn’t.
I kiss her cheek. “You need me, you call me.”
“You know I will.”
I walk to the restaurant where I’m meeting Aiden—it’s only twenty minutes from Katya’s place, and I need the time to think. About her. About Anya. About me and Aiden.
By the time I get there, I’m no wiser but definitely calmer.
Hen of the Woods is a cozy, warm space with exposed beams, flickering candles, and the kind of moodylighting that makes everything feel like a secret worth keeping.
The scent of roasted garlic and woodsmoke hugs the air, and the wine list is so impressive that I gawk, flipping the pages.
I’m already seated with Aiden when Huxley arrives. He stops short, does an exaggerated double-take, and throws a hand to his chest like he’s shocked.
“Well, well,” he drawls, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “You with him, darling?”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips.
“I thought maybe he was delusional when he told me you’d be coming along,” Huxley continues, settling into his chair with the ease of someone who owns the room.
“He told me you were desperate to see me, so I felt obliged,” I shoot back, slipping into the banter like it’s a language I never forgot. Because it is. Huxley and I always got along—unlike the rest of Aiden’s family.
“Like I said, the man’s losing his marbles.”
Aiden gives him a dry, long-suffering look. “Do not scare off my date.”
I arch an eyebrow at Aiden, savoring his choice of words. “I thought this wasn’t a date?”
