Roman nods, then kisses Val’s cheek. “Proud of you, baby. Gotta run. Love you.”
“Love you too, Wreckage,” Val growls, slapping Roman’s butt.
My brother blushes adorably as he glances my way. “Love you, Evie.”
“Love ya, byeeee.”
Val and I are silent until we hear the door shut. Then he arches a brow at me.
“So? How arethings?”
I roll my eyes. “You mean with your brother?”
“If we’re getting specific.”
I groan and rub my hands over my face. “Can I please take a rain check on you grilling me about Vaughn?”
“Mmm…sure. But only because I like you.”
I grin. Then I stiffen.
“Hey—what time is lunch with your dad?”
Val frowns. “Eleven-thirty. Why?”
I smile widely. “I might have a crazy idea.”
Areallycrazy one, possibly verging on “stupid”. But I think Imayhave just found a way to connect with the man I seem to be hopelessly tangled up with on a human level.
35
VAUGHN
“Something’s up with him.”
I glance up from my desk to where Sebastian is pacing my office near the windows.
“Up with who?”
“Carson,” Seb grunts. “There’s something off about him.”
Sitting across the desk from me, Gideon gives Sebastian the closest thing to a smile his face is capable of, his brow arching in thin amusement. “This is news to you after knowing him for close to twenty years?”
Sebastian glares at us. “I meanmore than usual,” he mutters.
I frown. “I haven’t noticed anything.”
“Well gee, no shit,” Sebastian grunts.
“Yeah, you’ve beenslightly distracted, V,” Gideon growls without looking up from his laptop.
“I’m sorry, would one ofyoulike to be Marquis for a week? A fucking day? Anhour, even?” I snap.
“Nope,” Gideon murmurs.
“Hell to the fucking no,” Seb growls. “But you know damn well we're not talking about your official duties.”
My jaw ticks. Seb rolls his eyes.
