“For what?”
“For that night out on the balcony.”
“Didn’t we already talk about it?”
He shook his head.
I was pretty positive we had made a joke about it, but fine. “I’m living in your house, using your water and electricity, and hoping you’ll protect me if anyone ever comes for me. Your family is going to help me figure out a fresh start to my life. Your brother wants me to teach Asami Spanish. You don’t owe me anything.”
He exhaled, not seeming even a little surprised about my mention of Achilles. He was probably aware of that too since he seemed to be able to get in contact with everyone else but me. “I do.”
“No. I’m good. If anything, I owe you rent.”
“No.”
“Pretty sure I do.”
Alex shook his head. “I like to repay my debts.”
That I knew.
Wait. “Are you leaving again already?” I asked him, trying to keep my tone even. “For a long time?”
His eyebrows curved as he frowned. “No, not again, Gracie. I won’t leave you for that long again.”
“I was just wondering,” I told him, knowing this whole conversation just felt off and weird and strained.
I missed my Crabby Pants, I thought just as my heart freaking pulsed.
Oh no. Oh, no, no, no.
I couldn’t think about it. I wouldn’t. “I know you have things to do. I just… don’t know how much longer it’ll be until my ID stuff gets sorted, and I wanted to tell you bye just in case. You know, if you’re gone doing Defender stuff, and I’m moving out….”
Alex’s face tightened. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I gave him a weak smile that I was sure he could tell I wasn’t holding my breath on that actually being the case.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he insisted. “I was only gone that long because there were things I needed to think about.”
That didn’t sound ominous as fuck.
“I had to think about the future,” he said, like he could read my damn mind. “I had to come to terms with some things.”
The future, huh? And what things? I hummed and dropped my attention to my hands, reminding myself of what was and what wasn’t. “I’m really glad you decided to keep being a member of the Trinity, by the way.”
The way he grunted was so suspicious, I flicked my gaze up. His eyes moved over my face so slowly…
My stomach churned.
“What do you want?” Alex asked suddenly.
“For what?”
“To repay you,” Alex answered seriously.
Oh boy. He wasn’t going to let it go, was he? Clenching my hands into tight fists, I shrugged at him. “Just make sure nothing happens to me. If you’re around.”
He’d started shaking his head before I finished talking. “I’m already going to do that. Tell me what else you want.”
