Rowan’s mouth twitches like he’s fighting a smile. “Boss man is something Shiloh is going to take and run with. At least when it comes to you, I know if I ignore it, you’ll eventually shut the fuck up.”
Korbyn cackles, choking on her protein shake. “You walked right into that one.”
“Proudly,” Linkin says, leaning back like a smug cat. “Some of us like living dangerously.”
“Yeah, well,” Rowan says, reaching past him to snag a piece of bacon from the communal plate, “you also like being punched in the face, so that’s not saying much.”
“That was one time,” Linkin says defensively.
“Three,” Shiloh corrects flatly, not even looking up from braiding a tiny silver thread into her hair. “And technically, the last one was from a stage tech.”
“Semantics,” Linkin mutters.
I shake my head at their antics. “You’re all hopeless.”
“Hopelessly sexy,” Linkin corrects, earning a chorus of groans.
Rowan leans his hip against the counter beside me, the corner of his mouth curving. “You enable him, you know.”
“I keep him fed,” I counter. “That’s not enabling, that’s survival.”
He hums, low and amused, it feels like we’ve been doing this rhythm of teasing and chaos that somehow always finds its balance. He might not play in the band, but Rowan’s as much apart of Umbra as the rest of us. He’s the gravity that keeps us from spinning off into the void.
“Okay, so—” I say, pointing a spatula at Korbyn like it’s a weapon. “We’re not gonna skate past the fact thatsomeone’sbirthday is tomorrow.”
Korbyn smirks, clearly ready. “Damn right. I am so excited James is flying in tonight.”
Linkin perks up instantly, grin sharp and full of mischief. “Oooooh, birthday smoochies.”
“Grow up,” she says, flipping him off without missing a beat.
“What are your big birthday plans?” I ask, needing to know what they are, so I can have her present ready.
Korbyn leans back, feigning casual, but her eyes are bright. “I don’t know exactly what they are. But—okay, I wasn’t snooping—”
“Liar,” Shiloh mutters.
“—I was just checking our joint account,” Korbyn continues, undeterred, “to see if I got double-charged for something, and I noticed James boughtsomethingfrom my favorite jeweler.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “He did what now? I thought he told you adult birthday presents are a scam.”
“Exactly!” Her answering smile is dreamy. “Heneverbuys me jewelry without me literally begging him.”
“You think it’s the necklace you’ve had your eye on for the last few months?” Shiloh asks.
“I’ll give you a necklace, Sweet Cheeks,” Linkin adds as he playfully raises his hand like he’s going to give her a hand necklace.
“Linkin Lane Parke!” I bark, trying and failing, not to laugh. “Bad boy—no! I told you to stop with that nickname.”
“But that ass though…” He says with a wink as he trails off.
Korbyn snorts, rolling her eyes but smiling at his teasing. “It honestly could be anything,” she says, pretending nonchalance. “I’ll just pretend to be surprised.”
“Oh, please,” Shiloh says, voice dry. “Knowing you, you have already stalked the jeweler’s Instagram for new arrivals.”
Korbyn presses a hand to her chest, mock-offended. “I would never—”
“Liar,” Rowan and I say at the same time.
