Her eyes flick between the two of us like she’s not sure if she wants to scream, faint, or kiss us both.
Probably all three.
I can tell she is still rattled. Her hands are trembling as she reaches for her water. Mikey also notices and rubs his knee against hers under the table. Mine does the same a second later. I feel her stop trembling for a moment.
Cross leans forward with wide eyes. “So, Julia, is this like… a Snow White thing? But instead of the dwarfs, you get the Monroe twins?”
Mikey looks at him and shakes his head. “Cross, shut the fuck up.”
Luca laughs. “Bro, relax. She likes you. You’re glowing.”
“I’m not glowing,” Mikey snaps.
“Yeah, you are,” I say, sipping my beer. “You look like you got laid for the first time in your life.”
The table erupts in laughter and cheers.
Mikey rolls his eyes at me. “Fuck off.”
Julia blushes, but there is also a little spark in her eyes; embarrassed but amused. Good. Anything that isn’t fear is good.
Mel returns with shots, and I roll my eyes. Of course she does. She hands two to Julia.
“For courage,” she says with a wink.
Julia downs both shots like she’s trying to drown the entire last hour.
Mikey leans closer to her, “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.”
She looks up at him with mischief gleaming in her eyes. “Oh, I want to.”
I swear to god the growl that leaves my throat is involuntary.
Sinclair raises a brow at me. “Damn. Kai’s down bad.”
“I’m not down bad,” I mutter.
“Yes, you are,” Mikey fires back instantly.
The whole team turns and watches us like they’re witnessing a car crash they can’t look away from.
Julia drags her teeth across her bottom lip, a nervous habit maybe, but it sends a shock through both of us. Mikey’s fingers tap on the table, and my jaw clenches.
When she notices, her cheeks flush, the tension ratchets up until even Luca looks uncomfortable.
He whistles and stands. “Alright, boys, I’m gonna go… talk to someone who won’t end up as a homicide headline.”
The team disperses slowly, leaving only the three of us in our bubble of heated silence.
Julia is the first to break the silence. “Are you guys okay?”
“No,” Mikey says honestly, as her eyes lock on her.
“Not even close,” I add.
She swallows hard, and her fingers twist in the hem of her hoodie.
“I didn’t mean to make things weird.”
