That earns a few laughs.
"Or," Liam adds, grinning, "if he ever gets on your nerves, Care, I'm available."
Zach just scoffs, amused. "Keep dreaming, Archer."
Liam shifts forward on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. "Hey, it's been almost a week since Sam was here. She doing okay? Where is she anyway?"
I feel Zach's smile falter beside me.
The lightness that's been there all night dims in an instant, worry flickering back into his expression.
"Yeah," Luke adds, stretching his arms behind his head. "Feels weird not having her around. The place's been way too quiet without her." He chuckles. "She practically lives here."
I like Liam. Both of the twins, actually. But right now?
I kind of want to kick and strangle them both. I spent all day trying to put that smile back on Zach's face, and in two sentences, it's gone.
I reach over and squeeze his hand.
"She got sick," Zach says quietly. "Mom picked her up and took her back to Naples so she could rest."
"Oh, shit. Really?" Liam frowns. "She okay now?"
"Yeah. Mom said she's better today."
Luke shakes his head, smiling faintly. "Man, I miss that little devil already."
"Same," Cody mutters, finally looking up from his phone. "Hope she's back soon."
The sliding door opens then, and Elijah steps inside, the faint smell of smoke following him. He slings his hoodie over a chair, barely glancing our way.
"Hey, Cap," Liam says, looking over. "We were just talking about Sam—she's been sick, that's why she hasn't been around."
Elijah doesn't slow down. "Didn't ask," he says flatly. "Don't care."
The air goes tight for a second.
Zach's jaw clenches beside me, his hand curling into a fist. No one else catches it—but I do.
Luke smirks, trying to cut the tension. "Come on, who are you kidding, Cap? You miss her. We all do. It's too quiet without her pestering everyone—especially you."
Elijah stops halfway across the room, glancing over his shoulder with that usual calm, unreadable expression.
"Actually," he says, voice low and detached, "it's been kind of nice without her around. Wouldn't mind if she stayed sick a little longer—means I get to enjoy some peace for once."
The room goes dead quiet.
Zach's whole body stiffens beside me, shoulders pulled taut, his jaw clenching so hard I can see the muscle twitch.
I can feel the change before I even look at him—the sharp, electric tension rolling off him in waves. His fingers twitch in mine, and for a second, I think he's going to let it go.
Then Elijah keeps talking.
"She's exhausting, man," he adds with a humorless chuckle. "Maybe being sick will finally slow her down a little. That girl never knows when to quit. Honestly, if this is what it takes to keep her off my back, I'm not complaining."
"Zach," I whisper, my hand tightening around his, a plea.
Too late.
