"As I'll ever be."
In the living room, Marie lounges across Drake's lap playing with his hair. Ragon pretends to scroll through his phone. Jasper sits in the armchair, pen scratching. No one says anything as we leave. Nogood luck, nohave fun.
The evening air is cool as we step out. Eli unlocks the car and opens the passenger door for me.
We pull out of the driveway in silence.
A few blocks later, Eli tries.
"I'm glad you found a class you liked. The studio has good reviews. Owner's a bonded beta, specializes in adaptive choreography. Feels like a safe choice."
"I know. I looked over it with Finn. He did good research."
He huffs. "Of course he did."
The car hums around us. Trees blur past. Streetlights flick on.
"I'm happy Ragon followed through. On the club thing. You deserve something that's just yours."
"Mm."
He glances at me, then back at the road. "You don't have to talk. But this doesn't have to be a silent ride every time."
"I know."
Silence stretches.
"Do you feel safe? About going? If at any point it feels wrong, you message me and I will be at the door before you can finish typing."
"I feel fine. If I suddenly stop feeling fine, I'll let you know."
"Okay. Good."
We pass a small park where kids shriek on swings. A dog drags its human toward some smell. A couple sits on a bench sharing a milkshake, shoulders pressed together.
Eli's fingers tap the steering wheel. "You seem more at ease after you come back from next door. From Alex and Malcolm and Finn's. You stand differently."
"They're nice to me. They don't have any history with me to be disappointed by."
"I'm not disappointed in you."
"You're disappointed in what happened to me. Same difference."
"No. Not the same."
I don't answer.
The gym's neon sign appears at the end of the block. Eli pulls into a parking spot near the entrance.
"I'll walk you in."
"I know where the door is."
He gives me a look. "Humor me."
I unbuckle, slide out. The evening smells like asphalt and someone's fast food. Bass thumps faintly from inside.
At the door, he pauses.
