Sloane’s voice cut through the kitchen. She was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised to her hairline, looking significantly less asleep than she did ten minutes ago.
“We should head out, Riley.”
I jerked back so fast I nearly banged the back of my head on the wall. Caelan stepped back, clearing his throat. His ears had gone red.
“We weren’t...” I started.
“Didn’t say you were.” Sloane’s gaze flicked between us, something protective settling in her features. “But it’s late, and we’ve had a long day. I’ll drive you home.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll return with Thessa...” Caelan began, his ears still flushed.
“Thessa left.” Sloane examined her black nails. “With Jade. About twenty minutes ago. They looked very friendly.”
I exchanged a look with Sloane. There would be an extensive group chat interrogation.
Caelan looked genuinely bewildered. “She didn’t tell me.”
“Probably because you were too busy playing doctor.” Sloane jerked her head toward the door. “Come on, Riley.”
I hesitated. I should let Sloane drive me home alone, put some distance between myself and whatever that almost-kiss was becoming. That was the smart thing.
But Caelan looked lost standing there in the kitchen, first aid kit still in his hands, ears still pink.
“We can drop you,” I heard myself say.
Sloane shot me a look but didn’t argue.
We finished cleaning quickly, Caelan insisting on sweeping up the broken glass with the same intensity he brought to everything, and piled into Sloane’s ancient Honda. I took the passenger seat. Caelan folded himself into the back, his knees practically at his chin, looking deeply uncomfortable. The car was not built for a man his size. Nothing in Lysmont was built for a man his size.
“Where to?” Sloane asked.
He mumbled his address and my eyebrows went up my forehead. It was one block from my apartment.
I stared out the window as Sloane drove, trying to process. He lived one block away. He’d been one block away this whole time. Coincidence? Intentional? Was I being paranoid?
Probably paranoid, yes.
We pulled up in front of a nice building, nicer than mine, and Caelan unfolded himself from the backseat. He ducked down to look through the window, catching my eye.
“Goodnight,” he said. “Friend.”
The way he said it made it sound like something else entirely.
“Goodnight,” I managed.
He disappeared into the building and Sloane pulled away from the curb. I already knew what was coming.
“So,” Sloane said.
“Don’t.”
“Riley-”
“We’re friends.” I interrupted her, and she laughed. Out loud.
“Honey. That man wasnotlooking at you like a friend.”
