Not today, anyway…
The coffee really is perfect. And that pisses me off a little.
I sit at the table, my left leg curled under me, like the casual seating changes the moment. My borrowed shirt slips off one shoulder, and I fix it as I stare down the three men who’ve rewritten the definition of unethical tech support.
They stand like suspects in a police lineup. A very attractive, very dangerous lineup.
Cuffs not present.
I take another sip of my perfect coffee and blurt out the first question that pops into my mind. “Did you draw straws before you started flirting with me, or was it more of a first-come, first-unhinged type of situation?”
Kieran chokes, and Jace pats his back, grinning like he’s been waiting for this.
“We all came unhinged at the same time,” Silas deadpans. “You just didn’t notice.”
“Oh, I noticed,” I say lightly, rolling my eyes. “Some of you were better at hiding it.”
Jace’s smile softens, just a fraction. “You’re taking this… surprisingly well.”
“What would you prefer?” I tilt my head, raising a brow. “Screaming? Crying? Running?”
I don’t wait for an answer.
“My stalker ex already broke into my home. He thought heownedme just because I let him touch me. Compared to that?” I shrug. “Three men who watched too closely and cared too hard barely register as a crisis.”
Kieran exhales a laugh he tries to smother. “You’re terrifying.”
“Only when I’m hungry,” I pop back, shaking my head.
Nothing I’ve said or done is remotely terrifying, but they’re too hung up on me not running from them. They don’t quite seem to understand…
Silas’s gaze sharpens, not amused by my retort. I see the moment he begins his assessment of me, clocking the shift in my tone. The way I’m not spiraling; I’m simply organizing.
Because that’s what this is.
I’m getting the words out now, while I still control the conversation.
“Eat,” Silas says, nodding toward the food in front of me. “Then ask.”
“That’s generous,” I reply, dragging my fork through the eggs without taking a bite. “But I’m not actually hungry, and I’m not done asking questions.”
They wait, all three of them with varying degrees of patience, like they understand something is happening here and don’t dare interrupt it.
I point my fork at Jace. “Why didn’t you tell me the day you installed the cameras?”
He frowns, but he doesn’t dodge it. “Because I didn’t want to be the reason you shut the door.”
“You mean like you did.” My grip tightens ever-so-slightly on the fork. “That night… when you texted me about professionalism?”
His jaw flexes. “Yes.”
There it is. The real answer he’s been carrying. He wanted to say something but didn’t want to ruin what might be a thing…
I nod once and move on before it can soften me.
“Kieran?” I turn to face him, watching as he sets his drink down before taking another sip. “Why do you always sound like you’re talking me down from a ledge?”
He blinks as if he’s lagging. “That’s… oddly specific.”
