That smile didn't falter, but I noticed something in his expression. It was fast, there and gone again in a flash. But I caught it.
He glanced toward the direction I'd come from, as if he expected to find Rowan behind me. "That's nice. It's been a busy few weeks for him."
I did my best to keep my tone neutral as I watched him. "I noticed. Haven't seen much of him lately."
"He's got a lot on his plate. Sometimes you have to remind him to focus on what's important."
My stomach lurched. I hated that tone. The way he made it sound reasonable and that he was looking out for Rowan. But I heard a different implication underneath it.
I decide what's important. I decide where his time goes.
I forced my expression to stay unchanged. I refused to give him the reaction he was looking for. His gaze stayed on me, calculating, waiting to see if I'd take the bait.
I just nodded and gave a slight smile. "He does tend to get caught up in things."
Marcus chuckled, and he sounded a little too satisfied with himself. "Exactly. He needs someone to keep him on track."
On track.
I clenched my jaw but didn't react outwardly. Pushing back wouldn't get me anywhere with him. Not until I had something concrete to go on. What was I supposed to say?I have a bad feeling about you?That wouldn't help Rowan.
So I kept my stance loose. "Right. Well, I should get going."
He hummed in acknowledgement, but as I stepped past him, he added casually, "I'm sure Rowan will catch up with you when he has the time."
I froze.
It was a simple phrase. Harmless on the surface. But I picked up a pointed, deliberate reminder that Rowan's time wasn't his own anymore. That Marcus decided when and how he was allowed to see me, and I had no say in it at all.
I turned back to meet Marcus's gaze, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.
I'd never wanted to punch someone so badly in my life. My fingers twitched in my pockets, itching to knock that smuggrin off his face and break that easy confidence.
But I didn't. Somehow, I kept my hands to myself and my voice steady. "Yeah. I'm sure he will."
That fucking smile lingered as I turned away again. I could feel his gaze on my back as I started walking again, and I was pretty sure he was waiting to see if I'd say anything else. I didn't.
Only when I was well out of eyeshot did I finally release a slow breath. My fists had clenched so tight in my pockets that my knuckles ached. I hadn't even noticed it until that point.
Marcus was manipulating Rowan. I didn't know how deep it ran, but it was there. If Rowan saw it, he didn't know what to do about it.
And he didn't feel safe enough to talk to me.
Rowan
10
The atmosphere of the café faded into background noise as I rubbed at my temples and stared at the unfinished lesson plan on my laptop. The cursor blinked at me and just sat there. Waiting. Mocking. Judging me for not getting anything done.
I'd spent the entire day bouncing between half-finished drafts and scattered outlines, trying to get ahead before the school year started in two weeks. But no matter how much I worked, I couldn't concentrate on anything.
I leaned back with a sigh and stretched my arms over my head to work out the stiffness in my back. The exhaustion felt bone-deep and heavy in a way that made it hard to think straight.
Across from me, Marcus flipped a page of his newspaper. The sound was sharp but unhurried. He didn't look up when he spoke. "You're thinking too hard again."
I let out a tired breath. "Yeah, well. Comes with the job."
That finally earned me a glance. He folded the paper and set it aside, head tilted slightly as he studied me. "You haven't touched your coffee."
