Thankfully, I don’t.
“Anything,” I manage, eventually. “You know they’ll answer.”
Then it takes everything in me not to move closer.
She watches me, the evidence of her smile still softly in place, then takes the phone and types. She doesn’t shield the screen and her height means I can easily see over her shoulder. I frown as I read her words.
Me: She wants to know about Kacey. How we met.
“Kacey told me last night,” she murmurs, carefully watching the screen for their replies. “It’s one of the reasons I even bothered speaking to you today.”
I need to thank Kacey.
I need to build her a larger atrium.
I need to speak with Ezekial immediately—
Ezekial: Ask Kacey first. Don’t say no, just that you need to ask.
“Damn, that’s a good response,” she says, brushing her lower lip with her thumb.
Another action I drag into my mind.
She peers up at me. “Whydidyou help her?”
I’m still too busy replaying the way her thumb moved, it takes me a moment to put words together, to realise she’s talking about Kacey.
“In some ways, mine and Kacey’s story are similar,” I say slowly. “I saw some of myself in her, as did Ezekial, and so did the others.”
She exhales. “That was a good answer too. Shit.” Her gaze drops as another message appears.
Sai: Plz make us sound extremely heroic.
She scoffs briefly under her breath. I’m honestly relieved she isn’t irritated by Sai like most beings. She taps the edge of the phone for a moment, then types again.
Me: OK. I know what happened. But what is Kacey to you all?
“Shit!” She taps the message repeatedly, but I’m not quite sure what she’s trying to do. Then she peers up at me, panicked. “How do I delete that? I didn’t say it right! It doesn’t sound like you’re asking, it sounds like me—”
But it’s too late.
They’ve read it.
And Sai, of course, is the first to respond.
Sai: Red?
“Shit!” she yelps, eyes fixed on Sai’s message. But I hear the slight rasp of her voice, like her breath caught at just the sight of Sai’s annoying nickname.
She starts to pass the phone back, but her eyes flick to the screen again, darting over another message. No. Multiple messages.
She slowly lowers the phone, now holding it with both hands, gaze sweeping over the rows of text from each man.
Sai: Have you stolen his phone? That’s some impressive shit, Red. And to answer your question, what is she to us? You think... hell no. Kace? Seriously? She’s like an annoying little sister who’s half terrified of us. Not my type, Red. Not even close.
Julien: Kacey reminds me of someone from my past life. I feel an urge to protect her, the way a parent might protect their child. I trust Kane has explained himself, but allow me to extend my apologies all the same. I also apologise on Sai’s behalf for his… over-excitement. And I apologise for not telling you the full truth the moment I knew what you were to us.
Sai: Shit. I’m so sorry, Red. Really. I wanted to tell you so badly. I didn’t mean to make it worse.
