"Both great. My girl started preschool and is already bossing the other kids around."
"That tracks." Ainsley laughs, then glances at Kevin. "Are you doing okay, Kevin?"
There's weight in the question. Something unspoken.
Kevin nods. "I'm good. You?"
"Fine." She meets his eyes, and some silent understanding passes between them. Protector and protected, maybe. Or just friends who've been through enough to know when to check in.
Kevin seems satisfied, because he lets it drop.
Ace, on the other hand, grins like he knows something I don't. "Hey, Ainsley, have you met Troy? New guy on the crew. He just moved to town yesterday."
Ainsley's eyes flick to me before glaring at Ace, who has a big grin on his face. There's heat on her cheeks. Just a touch. "We've met."
Ace smirks. "You have?"
Ainsley glares at him. "He's renting my spare room."
Levi bursts out laughing. "No shit," he says. "You're the roommate?"
Ainsley's cheeks go from pink to red. "Yes. He's the roommate."
Ace looks between us, grin widening. "So you're living together?"
"We're roommates," Ainsley says firmly. "There's a difference."
"Is there, though?" he asks.
She narrows her eyes at him. "Do you need another beer, or are you just here to annoy me?"
"Can't it be both?"
She rolls her eyes, but her mouth twitches like she's fighting a smile. "Food'll be out soon. Let me know if you need anything else."
She turns to leave, but Kevin stops her. "Is everything really okay, Ainsley?"
The question is careful. Weighted.
Ainsley's expression softens. "I'm fine, Kevin. Promise. You don't need to worry."
"Just making sure." His gaze flicks to me, then back to her. "You know if you need anything—"
"I know." She glances at me, something unreadable in her eyes, then back at Kevin. "I'm good."
Kevin nods, and Ainsley moves down the bar to help another customer.
The second she's out of earshot, all three of them turn to me.
"You're living with her," Levi says, still grinning. "And you didn't mention this earlier because...?"
"Didn't come up."
"Didn't come up," Levi repeats, laughing. "Man, that's perfect."
Ace leans back on his stool, arms crossed. "So what's it like? Living with Ainsley?"
"Fine."
