Stay away from him.
Nathan’s words echoed in my mind, but I shoved them right into the same attic I was forcing most of my thoughts into, adding to the list of warnings I chose to ignore.
“Gotta say, you blew away every expectation I had for tonight,” Shane said. “This was… huge, Ari. For the kids, for the foundation. For the team, too, whether they realize it or not.”
The compliment landed deep, under all the layers of numbness and performance.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “That means a lot.”
He took a step closer, enough that I could see the darker gray ring around his blue irises. My heart kicked hard against my ribs.
“How’s the wrist?” he asked.
The question was gentle, but it still felt like a spotlight. Instinctively, I tucked my injured hand closer to my body, my bracelets chiming together with the movement.
“It’s fine,” I said too quickly. “Just… sore. The pan was heavy.”
His brow lifted, the faintest hint of skepticism tugging at his mouth.
“Right,” he said. “The pan.”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “What else would it be?”
His jaw clenched once, a tell I knew as well as my own reflection. “Nothing,” he said. “Just… maybe let someone else do the heavy lifting for a bit. At least until you can open a jar of pickles without swearing.”
A real laugh bubbled up, surprising both of us.
“There she is,” he murmured, so soft I almost didn’t hear it.
The bin on the table seemed to grow heavier just from looking at it.
“I should get this to the back before facilities locks up,” I said, wrapping my good hand around the edge again, like if I kept busy enough, Shane would go away, and I wouldn’t have to feel this pull between us.
Before I could get leverage, his hand came down over mine.
“I’ve got it,” he said.
For a suspended second, neither of us moved. My skin buzzed where we touched, his fingers brushing the inside of my wrist, just above the hidden bruise. I watched his gaze flick down, lingering on the flash of discolored skin peeking out from under my bracelet before dragging back up to my face.
My lungs felt like wet paper bags.
I snatched my hand back like I’d been burned, heart racing at the thought of Nathan finding us together any second, along with the thought of Shane calling my demons to the light. “You don’t have to—”
“I know,” he said. “Let me anyway.”
He lifted the box like it weighed nothing, the muscles in his forearms flexing where he’d shoved his jacket sleeves up. I stared at the spot where our hands had been, heat crawling up my neck.
“Ari,” he said after a beat, and when I dragged my gaze up, his eyes were on me, steady and serious. “About the other night…”
My heart lurched.
“I’m not going to push you,” he said quickly, clearly reading the panic that must have flashed across my face. “I just… I left your house feeling like I’d failed you. Again.”
I winced.
“And I wanted you to know that if you ever need… anything. A ride. A couch to crash on. Someone to yell at a wall with you… I’m here.”
I shook my head automatically, the denial ready on my tongue before I’d even thought it through.
